Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate research is an important part of the Michigan experience. Students have a range of opportunities to get involved in research within aerospace or elsewhere in the university.
Summer Undergraduate Research (SURE) PROGRAM
How to Apply
The online application for the College of Engineering SURE program should launch in December and students are generally notified in February or March. More information on the application link and deadline will be announced shortly.
Applicants are required to write a statement explaining the reason why they want to work on a project, their relevant skills, and what they expect from the experience. The statement should be one page or less (12pt font and 1″ margins) and uploaded in “Other” section at the bottom of the online application. The applicant indicates their three top projects in order of interest.
The list of the most recent Aerospace Engineering projects available is below. (In December the project list is updated for the following summer.) If you have additional questions regarding a project or are interested in working with a faculty mentor not listed here, please contact the faculty member directly.
Aerospace Engineering
Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering (SURE) projects 2023
Aero Project 1: Polynomial Approximations of Low-Thrust Trajectories as Guidance for Autonomous Spacecraft Trajectory Control
Faculty mentor: Prof. Oliver Jia-Richards
Prerequisites: Knowledge of spacecraft dynamics (e.g. AEROSP 343) and state-space control (e.g. AEROSP 470) is desirable
Project description: Spacecraft flight-path control requires knowledge of a reference trajectory which the spacecraft will attempt to maintain in the presence of disturbances. Typically, spacecraft reference trajectories consist of a time-series of data points extending across a portion or the entirety of a mission based on the output of numerical simulation conducted on Earth, and flight-path control is a highly-manual process. Such a paradigm is incompatible with the desired push towards greater levels of spacecraft autonomy with the notable downside that potentially tens of millions of data points would be need to be stored onboard the spacecraft. Polynomial approximation of spacecraft trajectories has been frequently employed as a method for approximating the trajectory of the spacecraft as well as planetary bodies for semi-autonomous attitude control (e.g. pointing a communications antenna towards Earth). Extending the application of polynomial approximation to flight-path control will require far-greater accuracy in the approximation than is required for attitude control. The goal of this project is to analyze the feasibility of polynomial approximations of propelled spacecraft trajectories with a low-thrust propulsion system as guidance for autonomous trajectory control. The project will consist of generating representative low-thrust trajectories along with associated polynomial approximations and analyzing the performance of feedback control methods for regulating the spacecraft’s position to the approximated trajectory.
Research mode: in person
Aero Project 2: Impact of near-resonant refraction on laser sensing and imaging of reacting flows
Faculty mentor: Prof. Christopher Limbach
Prerequisites: Knowledge of compressible gasdynamics (e.g. AEROSP 225), electromagnetism (e.g. PHYS 240), and laboratory methods (e.g. AEROSP 305) is desirable.
Project description: Tunable laser spectroscopy provides rapid measurements of reacting flows that has enabled fundamental investigations of reaction kinetics and flow structure in addition to providing time-resolved data for propulsion control. In optically thick environments, where the density of molecules and/or the absorption cross section is high, the refractive index of the gas can be enhanced when the laser is tuned just off resonance. Historically this effect, known as resonance refraction, has been applied to enhance Schlieren and imaging of rarefied flows and to probe optically thick reacting environments. However, resonance refraction can also couple flow unsteadiness into the laser intensity measurement, resulting in unwanted noise. This project aims to quantify the impact of resonance refraction on narrow beam absorption spectroscopy and understand how it can be mitigated or leveraged in absorption imaging. These objectives will be addressed through modeling of beam propagation through numerically generated 3D flow-fields using the angular spectrum method and comparison with complementary experiments.
Research mode: in person
Aero Project 3: Dynamics of Laser-Guided Electrical Discharges in Supersonic Flow
Faculty mentor: Prof. Christopher Limbach
Prerequisites: Knowledge of compressible gasdynamics (e.g. AEROSP 225), electromagnetism (e.g. PHYS 240), and laboratory methods (e.g. AEROSP 305) is desirable
Project description: The aerodynamic control of hypersonic platforms requires rapid, high bandwidth actuation that can respond to perturbations encountered in the flight environment such as gusts and aerosols and that can enable rapid maneuvering. For this reason, surface-mounted devices based on plasma generation possess an advantage compared with mechanical actuators, as the production of control forces and moments is limited only by the flow timescale. While flush-mounted plasma actuators (e.g. dielectric barrier discharges) are now well-developed, their volume of influence is limited to the inner boundary layer and is subject to the local characteristics of the flow. Recently, our group has investigated laser-guided discharges as an alternative paradigm for hypersonic flow control, one which enables energy addition at arbitrary locations inside and above the boundary layer using laser-produced ionization channels. However, the plasmadynamics of laser-guided discharges in convective environments is ill-understood, especially at low pressure. The goal of this project is to perform quantitative measurements of low pressure guided discharges in supersonic flow to determine the influence of the flow and boundary layer on gas heating along the discharge, particularly at the gap between the ionization channel and surface. The project will consist of lumped element circuit modeling of the discharge and complementary time-resolved laboratory measurements of excitation temperature from optical emission spectroscopy
Research mode: in person
Aero Project 4: Aviation’s Grand Challenge: Disrupting technologies for an environmentally sustainable future
Faculty mentor: Prof. Gökçin Çınar
Prerequisites: N/A
Project Description: Sustainable aviation is a multi-disciplinary field that seeks solutions to improve the environmental and societal impacts of air transportation. It aims to reduce aviation’s contribution to climate change through radical innovation and advanced concepts, such as electrified and hydrogen-powered aircraft. These propulsion systems fundamentally change the relationship between the engine and the airframe, creating a very rich, complicated design space with many exciting opportunities and unique challenges. The project will cover highly efficient aircraft designs, novel propulsion systems, green aircraft technologies, and/or energy-optimized flight operations to reduce aircraft energy consumption and emissions. Applications will include aircraft and propulsion system modeling and simulation, power management optimization, and system-level analysis of advanced concept aircraft. The undergraduate students will work together with PhD students and Prof. Cinar of the IDEAS Lab.
Research mode: In-person, hybrid or remote options available
Aero Project 5: Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Lab Facility Development
Faculty mentor: Prof. George Halow
Prerequisites: Demonstrated experience with hardware builds and debugging, software. Strong English language writing skills.
Project Description: Procurement, installation, and debugging of equipment to supplement the Aerospace Engineering MBSE Leadership Lab. Types of equipment will include high-end computing and processing machines for high-fidelity systems modeling, as well as verification hardware facilities and devices (e.g. optical scanners, PCB printer). At least one position, and maybe two positions — one focused on hardware, and the second focused on software and applications (Siemens Teamcenter tools, Cameo requirements tool, digital engineering dashboard). It is expected that the SURE student(s) will write clear and concise instructional manuals, for safe and efficient operation of all equipment staged (plus potentially others).
Research Mode: In-person, in laboratory; some limited virtual work can be accommodated. Safety training will likely be required.
Aero Project 6: Online Master of Engineering in Global Aerospace Leadership — Research and Pedagogy Development
Faculty mentor: Prof. George Halow
Prerequisites: Strong academic performance in subjects targeted for near-term course offerings (see description), incl. AEROSP 200 or equivalent. Ability to research complex advanced topics and see the “big picture,” and distill relevant teaching points. Strong English language writing skills, and ability to express thoughts and concepts graphically.
Project Description: Research into multiple modes of engineering topics for faculty developing courses for the Global Aerospace Leadership master’s program – multiple topics ranging from structures, controls, fluids & aerodynamics, and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)/digital engineering. Up to three (3) positions may be awarded. These positions will also involve development of high-quality teaching materials for online graduate offerings integrated into studio-recorded courses.
Research Mode: Hybrid in-person and virtual/asynchronous can be supported
Aero Project 7: Morphable Aerial Drones: Building Hardware, Control Algorithms, and Simulators
Faculty mentor: Prof. Vasileios Tzoumas
Prerequisites: Passion for autonomy and robotics; passionate to become an independent researcher in control, perception, optimization, and/or learning; passion with coding (Python and/or C++ and/or ROS), and/or passion with building hardware; interest in collaborating with other undergraduates as well as graduate students.
Project Description: Drones of the future promise to revolutionize package delivery, search and rescue, and surveillance. These drones promise to be (i) efficient during take-off, maneuvering, and landing, (ii) resilient against the elements of nature, and (iii) agile in cluttered and dynamic environments. The purpose of this UROP research project is to contribute steps towards novel drones that can fulfill the above promises. Particularly, in contrast to current drone technologies that rely on drones with a rigid body, the purpose of this project is to develop drones with a morphable body that is able to change on the fly. Such morphable capabilities will enable the drones to achieve enhanced (i) efficiency in different flight stages, (ii) resiliency against varying wind and weather conditions, including rotor and sensor failures, and (iii) agility in cluttered and dynamic indoor and urban environments. Along with developing the hardware, the purpose of this project is to develop photorealistic simulators that model the hardware and flight/environmental conditions.
Research Mode: in person and hybrid
Aero Project 8: Multi-agent drone system development
Faculty mentor: Prof. Alex Gorodetsky
Prerequisites:
- Advanced experience with python
- Experience building and setting up similar systems
- (Preferred) Experience with ROS
Description: This project is about building multi-agent drone systems that can execute tasks in a coordinated manner. The eventual aim is to develop a robust system of a swarm of drones that can coordinate and accomplish tasks using only cameras as the external sensor. As part of this project students can be involved with (1) building and configuring small flying and driving drones; (2) developing software to enable the drones to communicate; (3) deploying the drones and showing how they communicate. Students will be involved in all aspects of this project and can gain both hardware and software experience.
Research Mode: TBD
Aero Project 9: Next Generation Space Propulsion Testing
Faculty mentor: Prof. Benjamin Jorns
Prerequisites:
- Hands-on project work in both mechanical and electrical engineering.
- Programming experience in MatLab and LabView.
Description:
The purpose of this project is to assist the faculty mentor and his graduate students in a series of experimental campaigns planned over the summer. The goal is to perform performance and plasma measurements for several new electric thruster concepts under development at Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory. Tasks may include probe construction, data analysis, or thruster development.
Research Mode: TBD
Aero Project 10: Development of a table top electric thruster
Faculty mentor: Prof. Benjamin Jorns
Prerequisites:
- Hands-on project work in both mechanical and electrical engineering.
- Programming experience in MatLab and LabView.
Description:
The purpose of this project is to design and build a small-scale electric propulsion device that will be used to demonstrate the principles of operation of the next-generation space propulsion technologies developed at Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory. The student will assist with design, fabrication, and implementation. Additional work will involve probe construction and GUI development for data visualization.
Research Mode: TBD
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY
The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) creates research partnerships between first and second year students and University of Michigan faculty. All schools and colleges of the University of Michigan are active participants in UROP.
