INTRODUCTION TO UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

GEOG 379

Introduction to state-of-the-art technologies that capture properties of the landscape, which is critical to better characterize and understand environmental properties and change. Develop skills in geospatial systems applicable to a variety of research and industry fields. Includes an overview of unmanned aerial systems (drones), light detection and ranging (LiDAR), high-grade Differential GPS (DGPS), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), virtual reality, optical sensors, geocaching, and geotagging.

EMA/ME 458

Feedback control theory fundamentals; numerical optimal control algorithms underpinning autonomous systems; quadcopter kinematics dynamics; quadcopter control and trajectory planning; hands-on labs on a nano quadcopter platform.

ENVIRST 971

Many diverse technologies for monitoring the environment have become available in recent years, including traditional remote sensing data sources: aerial photography and satellite imagery, hyper-spectral data, imagery on demand, RADAR and LiDAR. Other new data sources are quite unconventional, with many emerging relatively recently: unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones), social media, smartphones as sources of crowd-sourced data, and more. Sophisticated data management, analytics, and presentation technology are required to effectively leverage both the spatial (including 3D) and temporal dimensions of these often untapped data sources. Intended to survey and explore these newly developing technologies, and provide direct experience to the student to understand and interact with the data and methods (geocomputing, coding, cloud-based platforms), and to learn to plan, manage, and utilize them effectively.

EMA 200

An introduction to the fields of aerospace engineering and mechanics. Fundamental concepts in engineering, including modeling, analysis, design, fabrication and experimental testing. Career paths, engineering ethics, shop safety, and oral and written technical communication.

EMA 523

Aircraft longitudinal and lateral static stability. Aircraft equations of motion. Stability derivatives. Longitudinal and lateral dynamic stability of uncontrolled motion. Open-loop aircraft control. Closed-loop aircraft control.