HELP! Need ideas for senior project (Aerospace Engineering)

[aeroguy]

I will be graduating next December with a Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering (job openings anyone?) but need to start thinking of a senior project now.

My Likes: Design, performance, programming, propulsion
My very interested in but haven't taken any classes on: Composites, CFD (hopefully will take classes on these next fall, but will need an idea well before then)
My kink of likes: V/STOL, aerodynamics, structures, astrodynamics
My dislikes: Controls, blah!

Initial idea: What would happen if I slapped a pair of ducted fans on a small aircraft (like cessna 172) instead of using a prop, performance and design analysis. See Awe Inspiring Link. Imagine without the funky wing. I think this project might be too extensive for a senior project.

Thanks in advance,
Nick

 

[notfred]

Build a human powered aircraft.

I don't think you can certify a Cessna w/ ducted fans on it w/ the FAA. You'll probably have to build the whole plane yourself and get it certified experimental.

 

[SlowSS]

Do one on aero performance of tail-less aircraft.

 

[aeroguy]

Originally posted by: notfred
Build a human powered aircraft.

I don't think you can certify a Cessna w/ ducted fans on it w/ the FAA. You'll probably have to build the whole plane yourself and get it certified experimental.

I know that, I can't rip off a cessna! I don't want to certify it. It's just a project that can be totally disregarded after I graduate if needed. I'm just supposed to apply my skills.

 

[aeroguy]

Originally posted by: SlowSS
Do one on aero performance of tail-less aircraft.

That's a good idea, but would require more stability and control than anything (which I hate)

 

[ElFenix]

you could build a model of the ducted cessna... though models work pretty well with ducted fans

 

[ScoobMaster]

Get 2 of your classmates together and go to TLC's "Junkyard Wars" and build a VTOL aircraft from scrap parts!

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: aeroguy

Originally posted by: notfred
Build a human powered aircraft.

I don't think you can certify a Cessna w/ ducted fans on it w/ the FAA. You'll probably have to build the whole plane yourself and get it certified experimental.

I know that, I can't rip off a cessna! I don't want to certify it. It's just a project that can be totally disregarded after I graduate if needed. I'm just supposed to apply my skills.

Wouldn't you at least have to fly it once? Anyway, do you have $50k to buy a cessna with?

 

[SlowSS]

Originally posted by: aeroguy

Originally posted by: SlowSS
Do one on aero performance of tail-less aircraft.

That's a good idea, but would require more stability and control than anything (which I hate)

Haha, that is the one of the issues we had to deal with Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle that we are
designing for the Navy. It was a major pita, because we had to make sure that we met "wind over the deck"
criteria for carrier landing.

 

[The Stigenator]

you might want to do something in CFD.. something funky..

like a coeff drag of say a dragster or a VW Beetle (never mind that one my dad did that one).

If your going to build one, build a reusable rocket or a solar powered plane or something of that sort.

 

[aeroguy]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: aeroguy

Originally posted by: notfred
Build a human powered aircraft.

I don't think you can certify a Cessna w/ ducted fans on it w/ the FAA. You'll probably have to build the whole plane yourself and get it certified experimental.

I know that, I can't rip off a cessna! I don't want to certify it. It's just a project that can be totally disregarded after I graduate if needed. I'm just supposed to apply my skills.

Wouldn't you at least have to fly it once? Anyway, do you have $50k to buy a cessna with?

No, I wouldn't have to fly it. I meant a performance simulation on computer.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: aeroguy

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: aeroguy

Originally posted by: notfred
Build a human powered aircraft.

I don't think you can certify a Cessna w/ ducted fans on it w/ the FAA. You'll probably have to build the whole plane yourself and get it certified experimental.

I know that, I can't rip off a cessna! I don't want to certify it. It's just a project that can be totally disregarded after I graduate if needed. I'm just supposed to apply my skills.

Wouldn't you at least have to fly it once? Anyway, do you have $50k to buy a cessna with?

No, I wouldn't have to fly it. I meant a performance simulation on computer.

oh. That's boring.

 

[aeroguy]

Originally posted by: aeroguy

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: aeroguy

Originally posted by: notfred
Build a human powered aircraft.

I don't think you can certify a Cessna w/ ducted fans on it w/ the FAA. You'll probably have to build the whole plane yourself and get it certified experimental.

I know that, I can't rip off a cessna! I don't want to certify it. It's just a project that can be totally disregarded after I graduate if needed. I'm just supposed to apply my skills.

Wouldn't you at least have to fly it once? Anyway, do you have $50k to buy a cessna with?

No, I wouldn't have to fly it. I meant a performance simulation on computer.

It's not boring, it's very challenging, and probably a lot more difficult than you think.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: aeroguy
I will be graduating next December with a Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering (job openings anyone?) but need to start thinking of a senior project now.

My Likes: Design, performance, programming, propulsion
My very interested in but haven't taken any classes on: Composites, CFD (hopefully will take classes on these next fall, but will need an idea well before then)
My kink of likes: V/STOL, aerodynamics, structures, astrodynamics
My dislikes: Controls, blah!

Initial idea: What would happen if I slapped a pair of ducted fans on a small aircraft (like cessna 172) instead of using a prop, performance and design analysis. See Awe Inspiring Link. Imagine without the funky wing. I think this project might be too extensive for a senior project.

Thanks in advance,
Nick

That link is very interesting. As soon as I saw it, I knew that the senior design program @ VT had changed leadership. Several years ago our design team was severely criticized/ridiculed/publicly crucified for considering a joined wing concept. Dr. Mason wasn't interested in alternative planforms.

Here a good Link

Is your senior project a solo deal or a team project? That Ikelos thing is definitely much to big for a solo project.

I'd say there are two schools of thought on this...

1. Do something modest/safe but do it very well. This is less likely to run you up against walls both technical & "political" and will likely leave you more time to crank on your other classes & have fun.

2. Pick something risky, revolutionary. Opposite of 1, very likely to fail (but this shouldn't matter so long as your research & effort was good). And it may be a long time before you have the opportunity to work on something like that in your proffesional career.

 

[aeroguy]

That link is very interesting. As soon as I saw it, I knew that the senior design program @ VT had changed leadership. Several years ago our design team was severely criticized/ridiculed/publicly crucified for considering a joined wing concept. Dr. Mason wasn't interested in alternative planforms.

Here a good Link

Is your senior project a solo deal or a team project? That Ikelos thing is definitely much to big for a solo project.

I'd say there are two schools of thought on this...

1. Do something modest/safe but do it very well. This is less likely to run you up against walls both technical & "political" and will likely leave you more time to crank on your other classes & have fun.

2. Pick something risky, revolutionary. Opposite of 1, very likely to fail (but this shouldn't matter so long as your research & effort was good). And it may be a long time before you have the opportunity to work on something like that in your proffesional career.[/quote]

Yes, it is a solo deal. I thought if I only focused on the changes in performance on an existing aircraft by replacing props with ducted fans, it might be managable.

Just out of curiosity, where do you work now?

Nick

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: aeroguy

It's not boring, it's very challenging, and probably a lot more difficult than you think.

Something can be both boring and challenging. I didn't say it wouldn't be difficult, I'm jusat saying that watching you fly an airplane w/ ducted fans on the sides would be a lot more interesting than watching a 3d wireframe of the plane in a simulated wind tunnel on the computer.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: aeroguy

Just out of curiosity, where do you work now?

Nick

Fate & the Air Force changed my career path a bit. My academic background is in composites & aerospace structures, but my current work is a mix of astrodynamics and AI.

 

[LordSnailz]

My dislikes: Controls, blah!

aww ... one of my favorite subjects =) I find talking with professors a great way of getting the ideas flowing ... ask them about their research work, current trends in the industry ... blah blah, good luck.

 

[Yossarian]

For your senior project I recommend you change your major to mechanical engineering. Same education, more jobs.

 

[FenrisUlf]

Originally posted by: aeroguy
I will be graduating next December with a Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering (job openings anyone?) but need to start thinking of a senior project now.

My Likes: Design, performance, programming, propulsion
My very interested in but haven't taken any classes on: Composites, CFD (hopefully will take classes on these next fall, but will need an idea well before then)
My kink of likes: V/STOL, aerodynamics, structures, astrodynamics
My dislikes: Controls, blah!

Initial idea: What would happen if I slapped a pair of ducted fans on a small aircraft (like cessna 172) instead of using a prop, performance and design analysis. See Awe Inspiring Link. Imagine without the funky wing. I think this project might be too extensive for a senior project.

Thanks in advance,
Nick

I did mine (this was 10+ years ago) on modeling an electric powered ducted fan for R/C and scale test aircraft. Back then nobody had done this that I'm aware of so I was more or less on my own. Now I can find half a dozen in a hobby catalog, but technology has improved. I had to build the whole assemby myself, as well as adapt a special motor and build several impellers. I had access to a wind tunnel and did alot of runs at various velocities and impeller configurations to gather thrust, exit velocity, and power usage data. It was a pretty radical project for the time, and it took far longer to do than I anticipated. That's the danger with a higher risk project - it's more fulfilling, but it will suck up your time.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Build a drone that can get a mid air battery replacement. So another drone goes to it and then swaps batteries. This could have utility value in certain applications such as filming a long event or doing surveying etc where the drone can't afford to stop whatever it's doing.

Bonus: play Interstellar theme while it's being demonstrated.

 

[TXHokie]

Shout out to VT AOE class of 89 here. Team solar sail ship design got us an A. Not a new idea but a new design with actual engineering research, CAD, and computer simulations work.
Sadly didn’t get a career in aero but it was a fun project.