Aerospace Engineering project ideas

100 projects, from a first build to a final-year capstone. Each lists the skills it teaches and the tools it needs; times and costs are estimates.

Beginner projects

• Airfoil Polar Explorer — Plot lift and drag polars of NACA airfoils and compare how camber and thickness change them. Skills: airfoil theory, lift/drag, polars. Tools: XFOIL/web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Aircraft Weight-and-Balance App — Compute centre of gravity for a light aircraft loading and check it against the envelope. Skills: weight and balance, CG envelopes. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Propeller Performance Calculator — Estimate thrust and power from propeller diameter, pitch and rpm. Skills: propeller theory, thrust, advance ratio. Tools: web calculator. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Paper Glider Design Contest — Design gliders, measure glide ratio and relate it to wing loading and aspect ratio. Skills: glide ratio, wing loading, testing. Tools: paper/balsa, tape measure. Hardware build, Up to 15 h, Under $30.
• Standard Atmosphere Calculator — Compute temperature, pressure and density at altitude with the ISA model. Skills: ISA model, atmospheric properties. Tools: web calculator. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Bottle Rocket Trajectory Logger — Fly water rockets with a small logger and compare altitude with predictions. Skills: rocket flight, data logging, drag. Tools: bottle rocket, altimeter module. Hardware build, Up to 15 h, Under $30.
• Lift Equation Playground — Change speed, area, density and CL to see lift change and find stall speed. Skills: lift equation, stall speed. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Flight Instruments Explainer — Simulate airspeed indicator, altimeter and attitude indicator responses. Skills: flight instruments, pitot-static basics. Tools: web app. Simulator, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Kite Aerodynamics Study — Measure kite line tension and angle at different winds and estimate lift. Skills: lift and drag, force balance. Tools: kite, spring scale, anemometer. Data lab, Up to 15 h, Under $30.
• Orbital Period Calculator — Compute orbital periods and velocities from altitude and planet mass. Skills: Kepler's laws, orbital velocity. Tools: web calculator. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Rubber-Band Powered Aircraft — Build a rubber-powered model and optimise flight duration through propeller and winding changes. Skills: energy storage, propellers, trimming. Tools: model kit. Hardware build, Up to 15 h, Under $30.
• Centre of Pressure Experiment — Find the centre of pressure of plates in an airflow with a balance. Skills: centre of pressure, moments, aerodynamics. Tools: fan, balance rig. Hardware build, Up to 15 h, Under $30.
• Mach Number and Speed of Sound Tool — Convert speeds to Mach number across altitudes and explain compressibility effects. Skills: speed of sound, Mach number. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Satellite Ground Track Viewer — Plot ground tracks of satellites from TLE data on a world map. Skills: orbital elements, ground tracks. Tools: Python, TLE data. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Wing Planform Area Calculator — Calculate area, aspect ratio and mean chord for rectangular, tapered and swept wings. Skills: wing geometry, aspect ratio, MAC. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Hot Air Balloon Lift Calculator — Estimate lift of a hot-air balloon from envelope volume and temperatures. Skills: buoyancy, gas density. Tools: web calculator. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Parachute Descent Rate Test — Drop parachutes of different sizes and compare descent rates with drag theory. Skills: drag coefficient, terminal velocity. Tools: parachutes, stopwatch. Data lab, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Model Rocket Stability Checker — Compute CG and CP of a model rocket and check the stability margin. Skills: stability, CP/CG, Barrowman. Tools: OpenRocket. CAD / design, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Pitot Tube Airspeed Sensor — Measure airflow speed with a pitot tube and differential pressure sensor. Skills: pitot-static, Bernoulli, calibration. Tools: differential sensor, MCU, fan. Hardware build, Up to 15 h, Under $30.
• Aircraft Range Estimator — Estimate range and endurance with the Breguet equations. Skills: Breguet equation, specific fuel consumption. Tools: web calculator. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Gyroscope Precession Demo — Show gyroscopic precession and relate it to aircraft and spacecraft attitude. Skills: gyroscopes, angular momentum. Tools: gyroscope, video analysis. Hardware build, Up to 15 h, Under $30.
• Air Traffic Separation Visualizer — Show how altitude and lateral separation keep aircraft safe in a sector. Skills: airspace, separation rules. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Flight Log Data Plotter — Plot altitude, speed and heading from a drone or flight-sim log. Skills: telemetry, plotting, data cleaning. Tools: Python. Data lab, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Rocket Equation Explorer — Explore delta-v with the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation and multiple stages. Skills: rocket equation, staging, Isp. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Wind Tunnel Smoke Visualisation — Build a small smoke tunnel and show flow separation on shapes. Skills: flow visualisation, separation. Tools: smoke tunnel, camera. Hardware build, Up to 15 h, Under $30.

Intermediate projects

• Flight Envelope Calculator — Plot the V-n diagram for an aircraft with manoeuvre and gust load limits. Skills: V-n diagrams, load factors, certification basics. Tools: Python/web app. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Rocket Trajectory Simulator — Simulate a sounding rocket's 2D flight with drag, thrust curve and staging. Skills: trajectory simulation, numerical integration. Tools: Python. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• UAV Autopilot Test Bench — Tune attitude and altitude loops of a quadcopter on a tethered test stand. Skills: flight control, PID, sensor fusion. Tools: quadcopter, flight controller, test stand. Hardware build, 15–45 h, $30–150.
• Composite Wing Sizing Tool — Size spar caps and skins of a composite wing for bending loads. Skills: wing structures, composites, bending. Tools: Python/spreadsheet. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Orbital Transfer Visualizer — Animate Hohmann and bi-elliptic transfers and compare delta-v. Skills: orbital transfers, delta-v, visualisation. Tools: Python/web app. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Gust-Load Response Model — Simulate aircraft response to discrete gusts and compute load factors. Skills: gust loads, aircraft dynamics. Tools: Python. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Landing Gear Energy Absorber — Size an oleo strut to absorb landing energy within load limits. Skills: shock absorbers, energy absorption. Tools: Python. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Wind-Tunnel Data Reduction Tool — Correct wind-tunnel balance data for blockage and compute coefficients. Skills: data reduction, wall corrections. Tools: Python. Data lab, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Drone Geofence Planner — Plan drone missions that respect no-fly zones and altitude limits. Skills: geofencing, mission planning, GIS. Tools: Python, maps. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Satellite Attitude Estimator — Estimate attitude from gyros and magnetometer with a complementary filter. Skills: attitude estimation, sensor fusion. Tools: IMU, MCU. Simulator, 15–45 h, $30–150.
• Aircraft Noise Footprint Mapper — Map noise contours around a runway from simple source models. Skills: aircraft noise, contour mapping. Tools: Python, GIS. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Mission Energy Budget Planner — Plan battery energy for a drone mission with climb, cruise and hover segments. Skills: energy budgeting, power models. Tools: web app. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Nozzle Design Calculator — Design a converging-diverging nozzle for a target exit Mach number. Skills: compressible flow, nozzles, area ratio. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Spacecraft Thermal Balance — Estimate equilibrium temperature of a small satellite in sunlight and eclipse. Skills: radiative heat transfer, thermal design. Tools: Python. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Aircraft Performance Climb Calculator — Compute rate of climb and best climb speeds from power curves. Skills: aircraft performance, excess power. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• CubeSat Power Budget Tool — Size solar panels and batteries for a CubeSat orbit and payload duty cycle. Skills: power budgets, eclipse, CubeSats. Tools: spreadsheet/Python. Dashboard, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Fixed-Wing Stability Derivatives — Estimate static stability derivatives of a model aircraft from geometry. Skills: stability derivatives, static margin. Tools: Python. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Jet Engine Thrust Model — Model ideal turbojet thrust and specific fuel consumption versus Mach. Skills: propulsion, Brayton cycle. Tools: Python. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Drone Frame Vibration Study — Measure frame vibration and its effect on IMU noise and fix it with damping. Skills: vibration, IMU noise, damping. Tools: drone, accelerometer logs. Data lab, 15–45 h, $30–150.
• Airport Runway Length Estimator — Estimate takeoff field length from weight, temperature and elevation. Skills: takeoff performance, density altitude. Tools: web app. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Space Debris Collision Probability — Estimate conjunction risk between two objects from orbital data. Skills: conjunction analysis, probability. Tools: Python. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Aerofoil CFD Validation — Simulate an aerofoil in CFD and compare with wind-tunnel data. Skills: CFD, validation, turbulence. Tools: OpenFOAM/SU2. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Helicopter Rotor Hover Model — Estimate hover power with momentum and blade element theory. Skills: rotor theory, BEMT. Tools: Python. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Flight Data Anomaly Finder — Find hard landings and exceedances in flight data records. Skills: flight data monitoring, anomaly rules. Tools: Python. Data lab, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• GPS-Denied Navigation Demo — Navigate a drone indoors with optical flow and IMU dead reckoning. Skills: dead reckoning, optical flow. Tools: drone, flow sensor. Hardware build, 15–45 h, $30–150.

Advanced projects

• Engine Cycle Analysis Dashboard — Run parametric turbofan cycle analysis and compare bypass ratios. Skills: turbofan cycles, parametric analysis. Tools: Python. Dashboard, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Flight Control Law Sandbox — Design pitch and roll control laws on a linearised aircraft model and check handling qualities. Skills: flight control laws, linear models. Tools: Python/Simulink. Simulator, 45–100 h, $30–150.
• Thermal Protection Model — Model ablative heat shield temperature during re-entry heating. Skills: re-entry heating, ablation, transient conduction. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Airframe Fatigue Tracker — Track fatigue damage of airframe parts from flight load spectra. Skills: fatigue, load spectra, damage tracking. Tools: Python. Data lab, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Icing Risk Estimator — Estimate icing risk from temperature, liquid water content and droplet size. Skills: aircraft icing, meteorology. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Multi-UAV Deconfliction Simulator — Plan conflict-free paths for several drones in shared airspace. Skills: deconfliction, path planning, multi-agent. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Launch Window Optimizer — Find launch windows for interplanetary transfers with porkchop plots. Skills: porkchop plots, Lambert's problem. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Fault-Tolerant Avionics Demonstrator — Show redundancy management with voting across three flight computers. Skills: redundancy, voting, fault tolerance. Tools: MCUs/simulation. Hardware build, 45–100 h, $150+.
• Lightweight Antenna Deployment Mechanism — Design a spring-deployed CubeSat antenna and test deployment reliability. Skills: deployables, mechanisms, testing. Tools: CAD, prototype. CAD / design, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Morphing Winglet Study — Assess winglet shapes for induced drag reduction with vortex lattice analysis. Skills: induced drag, VLM, winglets. Tools: AVL/Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Hybrid Rocket Motor Model — Model regression rate and thrust of a hybrid rocket motor. Skills: hybrid propulsion, regression rate. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Aeroelastic Flutter Estimator — Estimate flutter speed of a typical section and study mass balance effects. Skills: aeroelasticity, flutter, eigenvalues. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Spacecraft Rendezvous Simulator — Simulate relative motion with Clohessy-Wiltshire equations for docking. Skills: relative orbital motion, CW equations. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Boundary Layer Transition Study — Predict transition on a wing and compare natural laminar flow airfoils. Skills: boundary layers, transition. Tools: XFOIL/Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Satellite Constellation Coverage Tool — Compute revisit times and coverage for Earth observation constellations. Skills: coverage analysis, constellations. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Structural Test of a Wing Spar — Load-test a model spar and compare strains with FEA. Skills: structural testing, strain gauges, FEA. Tools: test rig, FEA. Data lab, 45–100 h, $30–150.
• Electric Propulsion Thrust Model — Model ion thruster thrust, Isp and power trade-offs. Skills: electric propulsion, Isp, power. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Air Data System Calibration — Calibrate pitot-static errors with flight-test methods. Skills: air data, position error, flight testing. Tools: flight logs, Python. Data lab, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Composite Panel Buckling Analysis — Predict buckling loads of stiffened composite panels with FEA. Skills: buckling, composites, FEA. Tools: FEA tool. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Re-Entry Trajectory Simulator — Simulate ballistic and lifting re-entry with heating and g-loads. Skills: re-entry dynamics, heating. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Small UAV Flight Test Programme — Plan and run flight tests to identify a drone's performance and stability. Skills: flight testing, test planning. Tools: drone, logs. Workflow, 45–100 h, $30–150.
• Propeller Noise Reduction Study — Measure and reduce propeller noise with tip shape changes. Skills: aeroacoustics, measurement. Tools: microphone, test stand. Data lab, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Sun Sensor and Star Tracker Concept — Prototype a sun sensor for attitude determination and test accuracy. Skills: attitude sensors, optics. Tools: photodiodes, MCU. Hardware build, 45–100 h, $150+.
• Airport Gate Scheduling Model — Assign flights to gates to minimise walking distance and delays. Skills: scheduling, optimisation. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Tailless Aircraft Stability Design — Design a flying wing with reflex and verify stability with VLM. Skills: tailless stability, reflex. Tools: AVL. CAD / design, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).

Expert projects

• Hypersonic Heating Approximation Lab — Estimate stagnation-point heating with Fay-Riddell-style correlations across a trajectory. Skills: hypersonics, aerothermodynamics. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Digital Twin of a Small UAV — Mirror a drone's flight state and battery health to predict remaining flight time. Skills: digital twins, battery models, telemetry. Tools: Python, flight logs. Digital twin, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Autonomous Landing With Vision — Land a drone on a moving marker with vision-based guidance. Skills: visual servoing, guidance, autonomy. Tools: drone, camera. Hardware build, 100 h+, $150+.
• Trajectory Optimisation for Ascent — Optimise a launch vehicle ascent profile with direct collocation. Skills: trajectory optimisation, collocation. Tools: Python, CasADi. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Structural Health Monitoring of Composites — Detect delamination with guided waves and machine learning. Skills: SHM, guided waves, ML. Tools: piezo transducers, Python. Data lab, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Space Robotics Arm Control — Control a free-floating robotic arm on a spacecraft model. Skills: space robotics, dynamics, control. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• eVTOL Mission Feasibility Study — Size an eVTOL aircraft for an urban mission with battery and noise constraints. Skills: conceptual design, electric aviation. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Formation Flying Control — Keep satellites in formation with fuel-optimal control. Skills: formation flying, optimal control. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Supersonic Inlet Design — Design an inlet with oblique shocks and evaluate pressure recovery. Skills: shock waves, inlets, compressible flow. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Bio-Inspired Flapping Wing Study — Model and test thrust from a flapping wing mechanism. Skills: unsteady aerodynamics, mechanisms. Tools: prototype, load cell. Hardware build, 100 h+, $150+.
• In-Orbit Servicing Mission Plan — Plan a mission to refuel a satellite with rendezvous and delta-v budget. Skills: mission design, rendezvous, budgets. Tools: Python. Workflow, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Machine Learning Turbulence Closure — Improve RANS predictions with a data-driven correction model. Skills: turbulence modelling, ML, CFD. Tools: Python, CFD data. Data lab, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Additive Manufactured Rocket Injector — Design a printed injector and study its spray pattern. Skills: injector design, additive manufacturing. Tools: CAD, CFD. CAD / design, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Sonic Boom Signature Prediction — Predict sonic boom overpressure from aircraft shape and flight conditions. Skills: sonic booms, propagation. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Autonomous Air Traffic Conflict Resolution — Resolve aircraft conflicts automatically with optimisation and test safety margins. Skills: conflict resolution, optimisation. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Planetary Entry Mission Design — Design entry for a Mars probe with parachute and heat-shield sizing. Skills: entry systems, mission design. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Satellite Fault Detection From Telemetry — Detect anomalies in satellite telemetry with unsupervised learning. Skills: anomaly detection, telemetry. Tools: Python, public data. Data lab, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Aircraft Electric Propulsion Architecture — Compare distributed electric propulsion layouts for efficiency and redundancy. Skills: electric propulsion, trade studies. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Low-Thrust Trajectory Design — Design a spiral transfer with continuous low thrust. Skills: low-thrust trajectories, optimal control. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Hydrogen Aircraft Tank Design — Size cryogenic hydrogen tanks for an airliner and study mass impact. Skills: cryogenic tanks, aircraft design. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Swarm Satellite Communication Network — Simulate inter-satellite links and routing in a swarm. Skills: network routing, space communication. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Certification Evidence Workflow for Avionics — Trace requirements to tests and evidence in a DO-178C-style workflow. Skills: traceability, certification, software assurance. Tools: database app. Workflow, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Wake Vortex Hazard Model — Model wake vortex decay and safe separation behind heavy aircraft. Skills: wake vortices, safety, modelling. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Additive Lattice Structural Bracket for Space — Design a lattice bracket for launch loads and minimal mass. Skills: lattice design, launch loads, FEA. Tools: CAD/FEA. CAD / design, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Resilient Drone Swarm Mission — Plan a search mission with a drone swarm that adapts to lost members. Skills: swarm autonomy, task reallocation. Tools: Python, simulator. Simulator, 100 h+, $150+.

Project ideas for every branch · Aerospace Engineering roadmap