Texas A&M University (2018-present)
AERO 489/689 – Foundations of Aerospace Autonomy
An introduction to the foundations of intelligent agents and autonomous decision making, reviewing the basics of data structures and algorithms, optimization, and probability theory, and their application to the development of intelligent agents that solve problems (search, constraint satisfaction) and can represent knowledge and reason with knowledge both in a deterministic way (propositional logic) and a probabilistic way (Bayesian networks).
AERO 401/402 – Aerospace Vehicle Design
This two-semester sequence serves as the capstone design experience for seniors. The course goes through the process of designing a space mission, from fuzzy stakeholder needs to detailed requirements, a mission concept and concept operations, functional baseline, and some sort of hardware and/or software prototype of all or part of the mission. In the first semester, we go through each of the spacecraft subsystems as well as the other elements of a space mission (ground and launch segment). We also go through key systems engineering topics, such as requirements development, functional analysis, trade studies, risk assessment, and cost modeling. In the second semester, we delve deeper into some space system design concepts such as detailed spacecraft simulations, and cover additional systems engineering topics, including verification and validation, concurrent design, uncertainty quantification, optimization and data analysis.
Cornell University (2014-2018)
SYSEN 5400 / 5410 / 6400 / MAE 5950 – Theory and Practice of Systems Architecture
Every system has an architecture (its essence, or DNA), i.e., a high-level abstraction of its design that provides a unifying concept for detailed design and commits most of the system’s performance and lifecycle cost. This course presents the frameworks, methods, and tools required to analyze and synthesize system architectures. The course has a theory part that emphasizes synergies between humans and computers in the architecture process, and a practical part based on a long project and guest lectures by real system architects. The theory part covers topics such as architecture views, layers and projections, stakeholder networks, dealing with fuzziness, automatic concept generation, architecture space exploration, patterns and styles, heuristics, and knowledge engineering. The practice part focuses on special topics such as commonality, platforming, reuse, upstream and downstream influences, and software architecture.
MAE 4160/4161/5160 – Spacecraft Technologies and Systems Architecture
A survey in contemporary space technology from satellite subsystem design through launch and mission operations, focusing on the classical subsystems of robotic and human-rated spacecraft, rockets, planetary rovers, and habitats, and with an emphasis on issue of spacecraft-system architecture and design. Topics covered include subsystem technologies and the systems-engineering principles that tie them together into a spacecraft architecture. Subsystem technologies discussed include communications, thermal subsystems, structure, guidance/navigation/control, spacecraft power, space propulsion, payloads (remote sensing, insitu sensing, human life support), entry/descent/landing, surface mobility, and flight-computer hardware and software. The final project consists of architecting a complete spacecraft system with appropriate subsystems, with designs supported by parametric analysis and simulation. Discussions of current problems and trends in spacecraft operation and development.