UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

AE 441: Aerospace Design Spring 1996

Project Schedule - Primary Milestones Summary

Some Details on Deliverable Items:

Individual Deliverable Items: ( All Items must be submitted in order to receive a course grade)

1. Due each Tuesday : "Time Cards"

2. Due 18 Jan.: Individual Mission Evaluation - A written discussion of the "mission," highlighting critical issues and areas of concern. This should be 1-3 pages in length and attempt to identify each "phase" of the mission as outlined in the RFP and quantify as many requirements as possible as posed by the RFP.

3. Due 23 Jan.: Proposal Assessment - A 1-2 page written assessment of a previous proposal emphasizing strengths and weaknesses in the design and in the report. One should emphasize the ability of the proposal to justify the design decisions and identify key design issues. Could you effectively evaluate the potential of the design from the proposal?

4. Due 25 Jan.: Individual Aircraft Concept - Each member will develop their own aircraft concept for this mission, this concept must include a detailed "hand" (not computer) sketch of a three view external drawing of their aircraft with approximate scale and two (top and side) view internal layouts. This should also include a two page written concept description highlighting strengths and potential problems with the proposed concept. Key technical requirements must be identified.

5. Due 22 Feb., 7 Mar.: Individual Parametric Trade Studies - Details provided later in this handout.

6. Due 30 Apr.: Individual Peer Review - Management team will provide form which each team member will complete.

Design Team Deliverable Items:

1. Due 30 Jan.: Design Requirements and Objectives (DR&O) - Formal written report [3-5 pages] This is a very critical document since the team's accomplishments will be evaluated against their own quantitative objectives. This is the source of your "performance guarantees."

2. Due 30 Jan.: A tabular listing of the group "data base." Those parameters selected from previous design studies to define configurational or performance characteristics.

3. Due 1 Feb: Written description of group organization and technical assignments.

4. Due 6 Feb.: Concept Selection Complete - Three view sketch to scale for presentation at PDR.

5. Due 8 Feb.: Project Plan Review [PPR] - A formal, 45 minute presentation by each group describing their plan for this project. It should include scheduling, tasks and tool development discussions. All team members must participate in the presentation.

6. Due 2 Mar.: Each team will submit a written request detailing their propulsion system requirements including motor, batteries, wiring and controls.

7. Due 26 Mar.: Draft Design Proposal - The primary product of the course is a final report which will take the form of a Formal Design Proposal. Details on the content of the proposal are provided in another document. Emphasis will be placed on quality of content and organization, not quantity. The body of the text should include primary discussions, trade study results and appropriate tables and figures. Detailed supporting technical data, computer output and programs and other pertinent data should be included in Appendices or a second Technical Data Volume. A major component of the group "grade" on this report is associated with this draft. The group may be required to make certain changes in the final submission but the "draft" should be their best effort.

8. Due 2 Apr.: Critical Design Review - This 45 minute, formal oral presentation will take place during the lecture/lab period and will be videotaped for review and evaluation. The design is "frozen" at this point and all further efforts are associated, validating the design through part fabrication, assembly and flight test.

9. Due 11 April: Final Design Proposal (NLT 5:00 p.m. EST) - It must contain all required changes, as identified by management, from the draft submission. It should be considered as one of your first professional publications and treated as such. Each group will submit a single, unbound copy of the report and all attachments.

10. Each group will construct a technology demonstrator for their proposed flight vehicle system. The purpose of the technology demonstrator is to validate the design and the manufacturing process. The performance of the aircraft will be evaluated against the requirements and goals specified in the group's DR&O. If judged to be airworthy, flight tests will be conducted on the technology demonstrator. The design groups are responsible for complete documentation of the manufacturing phase of the project and this documentation will be included in the Final Design Proposal. The group deliverable items during this phase of the project are:

a. Due 16 April: Technology Demonstrator Assembly - All components for the technology demonstrator must be fabricated by the beginning of the lab period. At 9:30 a.m. each group can begin final assembly of their aircraft. The assembly process will be monitored and appropriate information recorded by the group.
b. Due 23 April: Technology Demonstrator Completed - All systems should be installed and the aircraft ready to participate in low-speed ground handling and taxi tests at the Loftus Center.
c. Due 25 April: Technology Demonstrator In-door Flight Test - The aircraft must be prepared for flight testing and delivered to the flight test area at the designated time. At this time the storage and assembly requirements will be evaluated. Each member of the group should be prepared to fly the aircraft in a "straight-line" taxi, takeoff and landing mission. In-door, closed course flight tests will also be conducted by a "professional" pilot at that time.
d. Due 30 April: Technology Demonstrator Fabrication and Flight Demonstration Report - A written Appendix to the Final Proposal documenting the fabrication and flight tests is due. This should include all cost details for the project. Each group will make a 20 minute informal presentation summarizing their design.

Group Presentation Schedule:

8 Feb. Project Plan Review (40 minutes, formal presentation)

2 Apr. Critical Design Review ( 45 minutes, formal presentation with industrial guests)

30 Apr. Technology Demonstrator Review (20 minute, informal presentation)

Preliminary Design Review (PDR) Topic Schedule:

Each group will prepare a number of specific items for discussion at each review. The presentation must be made by one group member (each group member must participate at least once during the semester). The data items will be posted in the design lab during the week prior to the PDR.

30 Jan. DR&O

6 Feb. Concept Description

13 Feb. Initial Sizing (Level 0)

20 Feb. Aerodynamics

27 Feb. Weights and Structures

5 Mar. Propulsion

19 Mar. Performance and Loads

26 Mar. Stability and Control

9 April Fabrication and Economics

TRADE STUDY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Trade study requirements outlined below apply to both individual trade studies.

1. Brief statement of purpose of study.
2. Detailed list of design variables - those parameters which you can control. List any constraints on the design variables.
3. Detailed description of measures of merit - those parameters which you will use to evaluate the design.
4. Detailed description of the tools used with particular emphasis on the assumptions associated with them and their limitations.
5. Presentation of results of the study - graphical (carpet plots) and tables are preferred
6. Discussion of the results of the study.
7. Brief discussion of the impact of the study on the design.

The basic format for the presentation of the trade studies is up to each engineer. A tech memo format might be ideal. The report should not exceed 5 pages which includes all background, discussion and results.

Trade study #2 (7 March) only:

1. One or two viewgraphs which are capable of describing the purpose and results of your trade study. You will present this to the class and be given 3 minutes to overview your study and its results.