Outline

Overview

This unit aims to teach students the fundamental principles and methods of designing solutions to estimation and control problems in aerospace engineering applications. Students will apply learned techniques in estimation and control theory to solving a wide range of different problems in engineering such as satellite orbit determination, orbit transfers, satellite attitude determination, satellite positioning systems and remote sensing. Students will learn to recognise and appreciate the coupling between the different elements within an estimation and control task, from a systems-theoretic perspective. Students will learn to use this system knowledge and basic design principles to design and test a solution to a given estimation task, with a focus on aerospace applications (such as satellite remote sensing).

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	[65% average in (AERO3460 and AERO3360 and AERO3560 and AERO3760) or (MECH3660 and MECH3261 and MECH3361 and AERO3760) or (MECH3660 and AMME3500 and MTRX3700 and AERO3760)] and [Must have passed AERO3760]. Students must have achieved a 65% average mark in 3rd year for enrolment in this unit
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Xiaofeng Wu, xiaofeng.wu@sydney.edu.au
Guest lecturer(s)	Xueliang Bai, x.bai@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Xiaofeng Wu, xiaofeng.wu@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Andrew Tang, andrew.tang@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Preliminary design review A preliminary design report on the satellite missions.	30%	Week 04	4 weeks
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Critical design review A critical design review report on the satellite design.	40%	Week 09	5 weeks
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assembly, integration and test report An assembly, integration and test report / a complete satellite demo.	30%	Week 13	4 weeks
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

1. The students will perform the preliminary design given the requirements in groups; Each group will submit a preliminary design review report based on the preliminary designs (20% of the course mark);
2. Each group will give a presentation based on the preliminary design (10% of the course mark);
3. The students will submit a critical design review report based on the mock-up satellite hardware and software designs and functional testing results (30% of the course mark);
4. Each group will give a presentation based on the critical design (10% of the course mark);
5. The students will build a mock-up satellite by assembly, integration and test of the preliminary design with real hardware and software (20% of the course mark);
6. Each group will submit an Assembly, Integration and Test report (10%);
7. For the reports, each student will be assessed according to his/her quality of work as shown in the group reports. Peer assessement will be used to determine each student’s work in the satellite assembly, integration and test.

The best satellite design may be selected for a high altitude balloon/student rocket launch if available.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

After the deadline, the student/group will receive 5% late penalty for each day.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction and system engineering	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Preliminary design practice/lecture/guest lecture	Project (4 hr)
Week 03	Preliminary design practice/lecture/guest lecture/progress review	Project (4 hr)
Week 04	Preliminary design practice/lecture/guest lecture/progress review	Project (4 hr)
Week 05	Preliminary design review	Presentation (4 hr)
Week 06	Satellite subsystem design/lecture/guest lecture/progress review	Project (4 hr)
Week 07	Satellite subsystem design/lecture/guest lecture/progress review	Project (4 hr)
Week 08	Satellite subsystem design/lecture/guest lecture/progress review	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 09	Satellite subsystem design/lecture/guest lecture/progress review	Project (4 hr)
Week 10	Satellite subsystem design/lecture/guest lecture/progress review	Project (4 hr)
Week 11	Satellite assembly and functional testing/progress review	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 12	Satellite assembly and functional testing/progress review	Project (4 hr)
Week 13	Critical design review/demonstration	Project (4 hr)
Weekly	The students need to work in groups on the project at least 8 hours per week.	Independent study (104 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. have obtained knowledge of system engineering aspects of designing spacecraft
LO2. have obtained knowledge of spacecraft bus subsystems & design
LO3. perform space mission analysis & design
LO4. have obtained knowledge of the space environment & its effects
LO5. have obtained knowledge of applications of small, low-cost satellites
LO6. communicate the design philosophy as well as the results
LO7. document the design process in sufficient detail that another engineer can continue on with the work just by going through the log book
LO8. design as a team of engineers.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Each student will be asked to provide a 3-minute update of his/her work on the project each week to make sure all the students are actively involved in the project. Peer assessment will be implemented for all the tasks.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

AERO4701: Space Engineering 3

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect