Cranfield University

Course Details

Avionic Systems Design option - MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design

Course Description

This option is comprised of 14 compulsory modules and a minimum of 60 hours of optional modules, selected from a list of 10 options. You are also required to complete a group design project and an individual research project. Delivered via a combination of structured lectures, industry guest lectures, computer based workshops and private study. A unique feature of the course is that we have four external examiners; two from industry who assess the group design project and two from academia who assess the individual research project. Group project The extensive group design project is a distinctive and unique feature of this course. This teamwork project takes place over six months, usually between October and March; and recreates a virtual industrial environment bringing together students with various experience levels and different nationalities into one integrated design team. You will be given responsibility for the detailed design of a significant part of the aircraft, for example, forward fuselage, fuel system, or navigation system. The project will progress from the conceptual phase through to the preliminary and detail design phases. You are required to run project meetings, produce engineering drawings and detailed analyses of their design. Problem solving and project coordination must be undertaken on a team and individual basis. At the end of the project, groups are required to report and present findings to a panel of 200 senior engineers from industry. This element of the course is both real and engaging, and places the student group in a professional role as aerospace design engineers. Students testify that working as an integrated team on real problems is invaluable and prepares them well for careers in a highly competitive industry. Watch past presentation YouTube videos to give you a taster of our innovative and exciting group projects: Blended Wing Body Aircraft A9 Dragonfly Box Wing Aircraft MRT7 Tanker Aircraft A-13 Voyager SL-12 Vimana. Individual project The individual research project aims to provide the training necessary for you to apply knowledge from the taught element to research, and takes place over six months. The project may be theoretical and/or experimental and drawn from a range of topics related to the course and suggested by teaching staff, your employer or focused on your own area of interest. Recent Individual Research Projects include: • Analysis and Design of Stability and Flight Control System of Unconventional Aircraft/ Rotorcraft • Advanced Control System Design of VTOL Aircraft in Hybrid Flight Mode During Take-off and Landing • Analysis of Airframe Noise of Hybrid-Wing-Body-Type Aircraft in the Terminal Area • Simulation of Optimised TMA Manoeuvring, Stand Instrument Departure (SID) and Standard Arrival (STAR) under CNS/ATM Constraints • Design of Autopilot Flight Control Systems of Unconventional Aircraft/ Rotorcraft. Assessment Taught modules 10%, Group project 50%, Individual research project 40% University Disclaimer Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels. To give you a taster, we have listed the core modules and some optional modules affiliated with this programme which ran in the academic year 2016–2017. There is no guarantee that these modules will run for 2017 entry. All modules are subject to change depending on your year of entry. Core modules Navigation 1 - Inertial and Satellite Navigation Systems Control Systems Avionics Data Networking, Hardware Intergration and Testing Aerospace Software Engineering and ADA Aircraft Stability and Control Aircraft Performance Airframe System Design Modelling of Dynamic Systems Fault Tolerant Avionics Design Navigation 2 - Integrated Navigation Systems Flight Experience Radio Systems SATM Cockpit Environment Avionics Air Traffic Control Detail Stressing Finite Element Analysis Initial Aircraft Design

Course Duration

NumberDuration
1year

Career outcomes

The Avionic Systems Design option is valued and respected by employers worldwide. The applied nature of this course ensures that our graduates are ready to be of immediate use to their future employer and has provided sufficient breadth of understanding of multi-discipline design to position them for accelerated career progression. This course prepares graduates for careers as project design engineers, systems design, structural design or avionic engineers in aerospace or related industries, with the aim of progressing to technical management/chief engineer. Graduates from the MSc in Avionic Systems Design can therefore look forward to a varied choice of challenging career opportunities in the above disciplines. Many of our graduates occupy very senior positions in their organisations, making valuable contributions to the international aerospace industry. Typical student destinations include BAE Systems, Airbus, Dassault and Rolls-Royce plc.




Avionic Systems Design option - MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design Cranfield University