Design, Build, Code, Fly: Aerospace Autonomy Capstone at the Pennsylvania State University

  • Sara Lego
  • , Thanakorn Khamvilai
  • , Vitor Tumelero Valente
  • , Eric Johnson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper summarizes the curriculum design and development, as well as lessons learned, of one of the senior-level undergraduate capstone courses at the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, called "Autonomy Capstone". This effort started in the Fall of 2019 as a special topic focusing on autonomous aerial systems in undergraduate aerospace education, then was approved to integrate into the department curriculum in the Fall of 2024. The ultimate goal is to equip undergraduate students with knowledge of advanced autonomy algorithms in aerospace, including sensing, state estimation/navigation, planning/guidance, and control. Due to their importance in aerospace, automotive, and embedded system industries, the course also aims to incorporate hands-on, low-level coding and simulation skills into the traditional design-build-fly (DBF) framework, termed design-buildcode-fly (DBCF).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, AIAA SciTech Forum 2025
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA
ISBN (Print)9781624107238
DOIs
StatePublished - 2025
EventAIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, AIAA SciTech Forum 2025 - Orlando, United States
Duration: Jan 6 2025Jan 10 2025

Publication series

NameAIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, AIAA SciTech Forum 2025

Conference

ConferenceAIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, AIAA SciTech Forum 2025
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando
Period1/6/251/10/25

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Aerospace Engineering

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