Course Title: Aerospace Dynamics and Control

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Aerospace Dynamics and Control

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

AERO2253

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016

AERO2253

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr Anna Bourmistrova

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 8081

Course Coordinator Email: anna.bourmistrova@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You should have satisfactorily completed the following courses before you commence this course.

MIET2124 Dynamics

AND

MATH2414 Advanced Mathematics for Engineers


Course Description

This course develops and equips you with the fundamental theoretical basis for modelling and control of dynamic systems, with a focus on aerospace systems. On completion of this course, you will be able to develop models describing the behaviour of dynamic systems, critically analyse system stability and response, and design control strategies to achieve desired system behaviour. The theoretical and analytical tools are applied to analyse simple mechanical aerospace systems with multiple degrees of freedom and rigid body dynamics of fixed-wing aircraft. You will also develop theoretical tools to understand basic aircraft stability augmentation and autopilot systems. 

Please note that if you take this course for a bachelor honours program, your overall mark in this course will be one of the course marks that will be used to calculate the weighted average mark (WAM) that will determine your award level. 
This applies to students who commence enrolment in a bachelor honours program from 1 January 2016 onwards. See the WAM information web page for more information. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following program learning outcomes for students who commenced their program prior to 2023:

  • Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline
  • In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline
  • Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources
  • Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains

This course contributes to the following program learning outcomes for students who commenced their program in 2023:

  • PLO1: Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of fundamental engineering and scientific theories, principles and concepts and apply advanced technical knowledge in specialist domain of engineering.
  • PLO2: Utilise mathematics and engineering fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to design engineering systems for complex engineering challenges.
  • PLO5: Communicate respectfully and effectively with diverse audiences, employing a range of communication methods, practising professional and ethical conduct.


Upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to:

  1. Define and apply the fundamental concepts for the analysis of dynamic systems with multi-degree freedom;
  2. Analyse and interpret the frequency response of linear dynamic systems;
  3. Apply rigid body equations of motion for fixed-wing aircraft;
  4. Analyse the stability and response of fixed-wing aircraft in relation to aircraft flying and handling criteria;
  5. Define and apply fundamental concepts for the analysis of systems with feedback;
  6. Develop feedback control approaches for dynamic systems;
  7. Describe basic aircraft stability augmentation and autopilot systems;
  8. Apply software to analyse dynamic systems and verify analytical solutions;
  9. Communicate aircraft dynamics and control concepts and results  in the form of a technical report.


Overview of Learning Activities

Weekly pre-recorded lectures will introduce you to the key theoretical concepts that are further illustrated through practical worked examples. Additional handouts will be provided to you to supplement the content delivered verbally in the lectures.

Regular tutorials will require you to apply theory to problems that have been specifically aligned with the lecture content for that week. Tutorials will also require you to develop your skills in the use of mathematical software packages.

You will be required to complete assignments / quizzes as part of the assessment for this course. These are closely aligned with questions presented in the lectures and tutorials and are intended to support the ongoing/progressive learning throughout the semester. You should use these as opportunities to test your comprehension of key concepts.

The learning activities for this course include a progressive assignment that will require you to work in a team in applying your knowledge to a hands-on problem. The assignment will reinforce theory through application and real-world demonstration


Overview of Learning Resources

All course materials (inclusive of weekly lecture slides, lecture recordings, associated handouts, tutorials and tutorial solutions, assignments and related readings) will be made available to you via the course Canvas website. 


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment 1: Assignment 1
Weighting: 20%
This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2, 8, 9

Assessment 2: Quizzes
Weighting: 25%
This assessment supports CLOs 1-7

Assessment 3: Assignment 2 (Group)
Weighting: 15%

This assessment supports CLOs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Assessment 4: Final Assignment
Weighting: 40%
This assessment supports CLOs 1-9