Big Blue: A Multidisciplinary Capstone Engineering Design Project
- Conference
- Location
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Chicago, Illinois
- Publication Date
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June 18, 2006
- Start Date
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June 18, 2006
- End Date
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June 21, 2006
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Systems Engineering Constituent Committee
- Page Count
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11
- Page Numbers
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11.272.1 - 11.272.11
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--1054
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/1054
- Download Count
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524
Paper Authors
William Smith University of Kentucky-Lexington
William T. Smith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Kentucky. He joined the faculty in 1990. He also worked as a Senior Engineer in the RF Design Group at Harris Corp., Melbourne, Florida, from 1981 to 1984. He has a BSEE from the University of Kentucky, 1980; MSEE and PhDEE from Virginia Polytechnic and State University, 1986 and 1990, respectively. He is a member of IEEE and ARRL.
Jamey Jacob University of Kentucky
Suzanne Smith University of Kentucky
Suzanne Weaver Smith is the Donald and Gertrude Lester Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kentucky. She received BSME and MSEM degrees from Clemson University in 1978 and 1980, respectively, and a Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech in 1988. From 1980 through 1984, she worked at Harris Corporation, primarily performing structural dynamics analysis and vibration testing of ground and space communications systems. She is an Associate Fellow of AIAA and a Member of ASME, SEM and ASEE. Her research interests include modeling, analysis and test of nonlinear structural dynamics for inflatable and other large flexible spacecraft and of cable-stayed bridges.
James Lumpp University of Kentucky
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
BIG BLUE: A Multidisciplinary Capstone Engineering Design Project
Abstract The BIG BLUE project at the University of Kentucky is an attempt to integrating systems engineering concepts and processes into undergraduate engineering education. NASA is addressing the anticipated shortage of aerospace engineers through workforce development projects of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. BIG BLUE is a workforce development project currently in its fourth year at Kentucky funded by NASA. BIG BLUE is a comprehensive systems engineering experience for undergraduate engineers to propose, design, and implement a complex aerospace system while managing the financial and human resources. The system the students develop is a Mars aircraft and a prototype high- altitude test-bed UAV that is launched in high Earth atmosphere. In essence, students involved in BIG BLUE joined the aerospace workforce while participating in the project, which influenced their decision to choose and pursue an aerospace career. Opportunities were also available to visit and work with practicing aerospace engineers in industry and at NASA. Annual support and expenditures, student and faculty involvement in project management and aerospace workforce development results are included. With three successful flight experiments in three years, a review of BIG BLUE reveals the effort, cost and results of experiential systems engineering and aerospace workforce development.
Introduction
BIG BLUE is a high-altitude experiment developed, designed, built, conducted and evaluated primarily by undergraduate students. BIG BLUE (Baseline Inflatable-wing Glider, Balloon- Launched Unmanned Experiment) was first proposed in 2002 to NASA’s Workforce Development program with the objective to involve talented engineering students in a state-of- the-art aerospace project, with opportunities to do complex multidisciplinary research and development and to interact as peers with researchers at NASA centers and in the aerospace industry. BIG BLUE was first conceived as a demonstration of unique inflatable-wing technologies with potential application for extraterrestrial exploration.1-3 Currently, technologies are developed for BIG BLUE with additional consideration of other Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications. In essence, students join the aerospace workforce while participating in this project, and consequently learn about careers in aerospace engineering.
Development and execution of BIG BLUE is a complex combination of spacecraft and aircraft concepts and technologies including aeronautics, communications, power, microprocessor control, structural analysis and system testing. Consequently, it provides a comprehensive technical experience for all involved. The experience of developing a complex aerospace system of the scope of BIG BLUE is uncommon in engineering curricula, and produces graduates with technical expertise, as well as unique experience in systems engineering and with multidisciplinary teams. These students are valuable to all employers, but especially so in the aerospace industry. A number of BIG BLUE students have chosen to pursue aerospace careers when such a choice was unlikely without their involvement in the project. To date over 160 students, primarily in mechanical engineering and in electrical and computer engineering at UK,
Smith, W., & Jacob, J., & Smith, S., & Lumpp, J. (2006, June), Big Blue: A Multidisciplinary Capstone Engineering Design Project Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--1054
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