Aerospace Mechanics & Control

Learning Outcomes

Full CEng Programme Level Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• C1/M1 Apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics and principles to the solution of complex aerospace mechanics and control problems especially applied to determination of response, stability and control characteristics, which are assessed via quizzes, lab report and final assessment.
• C2/M2 Formulate and analyse complex aerospace mechanics and control problems to reach substantiated conclusions. This will involve evaluating available data using first principles of mathematics, statistics and engineering principles, and using engineering judgment to work with information that may be uncertain or incomplete, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed. This will be assessed via lab report and final assessment.
• C6/M6 Apply an integrated or systems approach to the solution of complex aerospace mechanics and control problems. This will be assessed via coursework and lab report.
• C3/M3 Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model complex aerospace mechanics and control problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed. This will be assessed via lab report and final assessment.
• C12/ M12 As part of the course work, students will use practical laboratory skills (e.g., numerical simulation of full closed-loop control system) to investigate complex aerospace mechanics and control problems.
• C17/M17 Students will produce a lab report to communicate effectively on complex engineering matters (i.e., reporting on the design, analysis and assessment of a closed-loop control system) with technical and non-technical audiences, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used.
• C8/M8 During lectures, students will identify and analyse ethical concerns involving aerospace mechanics and control topics, and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct. Relevant case studies of recent aerospace vehicle accidents related to control systems will be discussed. This will be assessed via quizzes and lab report.
• C9/M9 As part of the coursework, lab report and exam, students must use risk management strategies (e.g., stability margins, noise suppression) to identify, evaluate and mitigate risks that arise due to uncertainty in plant modelling, sensor-induced errors (e.g., time lag) and external perturbations (e.g., turbulence, gusts).

Partial CEng Programme Level Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• As part of the coursework and the lab report, students will design solutions for broadly defined aerospace control design problems that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs reflecting on stability, margins and control performance. This will involve consideration of applicable safety, codes of practice and industry standards such as the FAR/MIL standards and handbook.
• As part of the coursework, students will apply appropriate engineering technologies and processes to analyse aerospace dynamic systems and develop appropriate control systems, recognising their limitations.

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Design and evaluate closed-loop control strategies to ensure stability of single-input-single-output systems.
• Model, analyse, and design a sensing system for control of single-input-single-output systems.
• Model and analyse single-input-single-output systems mathematically.

Dynamic system (12 lectures + 1 lab)

• Physical system (System characteristics, actuators, sensors, control system).
• Abstraction: System dynamics (Nonlinear modelling, PDE -> ODE -> LTV -> LTI).
• Mathematical modelling of 1-DOF systems example: pitching aircraft and rocket + fins.
• Linearisation.
• Frequency response of linear systems (Bode plot).
• Stability analysis of linear systems.
• Tutorial – stability analysis of 1-DOF system (Aircraft’s SPO).
• Lab 1: 1-DoF aircraft dynamics (dynamics simulation, frequency response analysis, Bode plot).

Control system (12 lectures + 1 lab)

• Engineering applications of stability.
• Control (Definition, Aim and objectives).
• Types of control (SISO and PID, MIMO, Advanced control).
• PID controller definition.
• PID tuning (concept, algorithms, example).
• Control robustness (motivation, gain/phase margins, stability/manoeuvrability trade-off).
• Lab 2: Closed loop control system design (PID controller design, robustness assessment).

Sensing system (9 lectures + 1 lab)

• Sensing systems overview (types, working principle).
• Sensor fusion.
• Sensor system design (selection, suitability, characteristics).
• Sensor as dynamic system (transfer function).
• Signal conditioning (calibration, filtering).
• Lab 3: Effects of filter-lag on dynamic response.

Teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Worked examples and problem sheets

Learning activities include:

• Working through examples in lectures and self-study time
• Computer laboratory
• Directed reading

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.