Improving Aerospace Engineering Students´ Achievements by an Open Aero Control Experiment Apparatus

This paper describes the development of an aero control experiment apparatus (ACEA) for use in aerospace control practical courses. The ACEA incorporates a systematic multihierarchy learning and teaching method, and was designed to improve aerospace engineering students´ understanding of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control systems. It offers a number of standard experimental modules at three levels: component, system, and simulation and evaluation. The software and hardware design methods used in the modules were chosen to allow students to conduct experiments in a simple, more hands-on manner. As a result, they were able to select or reconfigure their experiments and so continuously improve their skills and extend the ACEA itself. The practical curriculum modules-grouped in three skill levels of basic experiments, case study, and independent design-were applied in a 3-year M.Sc. course, UAV Control Systems. The marking criteria created to evaluate students´ achievements are presented, along with some results of this evaluation.