IWTLP - Learn Programming by Doing

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Project 1

Project 1: Atmospheric Physics Engine

Create a library to calculate air properties at any altitude (ISA Model).

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Project 2

Project 2: Aerodynamics Solver

Build a 2D panel-method solver to predict lift and pressure on airfoils.

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Project 3

Project 3: Propulsion Systems

Turbojet thrust calculations and fuel flow dynamics.

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Project 4

Project 4: 6-DOF Equations of Motion

Rigid body dynamics in 3D space.

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Project 5

Project 5: Flight Instruments

Coding the logic for Altimeter, Airspeed Indicator, Gyros.

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Project 6

Project 6: Control Surfaces

PID controllers for Ailerons, Elevators, Rudder.

6.1 Actuator Dynamics

6.1.1 Servo Motors 6.1.2 Hydraulic Systems 6.1.3 Rate Limiting 6.1.4 Hinge Moments 6.1.5 Actuator Class

6.2 PID Control Theory

6.2.1 Feedback Loops 6.2.2 Proportional Term 6.2.3 Integral Term 6.2.4 Derivative Term 6.2.5 Tuning PID

6.3 Stability Augmentation (SAS)

6.3.1 Yaw Damper 6.3.2 Pitch Stability 6.3.3 Roll Stability 6.3.4 Gain Scheduling 6.3.5 Fly-By-Wire Basics

6.4 Trim Systems

6.4.1 Trim Tabs 6.4.2 Stabilizer Trim 6.4.3 Auto-Trim Logic 6.4.4 Mach Trim 6.4.5 Runaway Protection

6.5 Flight Control System

6.5.1 Control Mixing 6.5.2 Envelope Protection 6.5.3 G-Limiting 6.5.4 Direct vs Normal Law 6.5.5 Capstone: Full FCS

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Project 7

Project 7: Navigation Systems

Implementing Inertial Navigation (INS) and GPS triangulation.

7.1 Dead Reckoning

7.1.1 Vector Math 7.1.2 Time-Distance-Heading 7.1.3 Wind Correction 7.1.4 Great Circle Route 7.1.5 DR Computer

7.2 Radio Navigation

7.2.1 VOR Logic 7.2.2 DME Logic 7.2.3 NDB & ADF 7.2.4 ILS Localizer 7.2.5 ILS Glideslope

7.3 Inertial Navigation (INS)

7.3.1 Accelerometers 7.3.2 Integration Errors 7.3.3 Schuler Tuning 7.3.4 Alignment 7.3.5 Strapdown INS

7.4 GNSS / GPS

7.4.1 Trilateration 7.4.2 Satellite Orbits 7.4.3 DOP (Dilution of Precision)7.4.4 WAAS/SBAS 7.4.5 GPS Receiver Sim

7.5 Flight Management System

7.5.1 Waypoint Database 7.5.2 Flight Plan 7.5.3 LNAV Logic 7.5.4 VNAV Logic 7.5.5 Capstone: FMS

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Project 8

Project 8: Autopilot Logic

Waypoint tracking and auto-landing algorithms.

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Project 9

Project 9: Glass Cockpit UI

Rendering flight data (PFD/ND) in real-time.

9.1 Graphics Engine

9.1.1 HTML5 Canvas 9.1.2 Vector Graphics 9.1.3 Double Buffering 9.1.4 Font Rendering 9.1.5 WebGL Basics

9.2 Primary Flight Display (PFD)

9.2.1 Artificial Horizon 9.2.2 Speed Tape 9.2.3 Altitude Tape 9.2.4 HSI Compass Rose 9.2.5 Flight Mode Annunciator

9.3 Navigation Display (ND)

9.3.1 Map Mode 9.3.2 Route Rendering 9.3.3 Waypoint Icons 9.3.4 Weather Radar 9.3.5 TCAS Overlay

9.4 EICAS / ECAM

9.4.1 Engine Gauges 9.4.2 Message List 9.4.3 Synoptic Pages 9.4.4 Electronic Checklist 9.4.5 System Monitor

9.5 Interaction & Input

9.5.1 Soft Keys 9.5.2 Cursor Control 9.5.3 FMS Keyboard 9.5.4 Touch Interface 9.5.5 Capstone: Full Cockpit

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Project 10

Project 10: Full System Integration

Connecting all modules into a flyable simulation.

10.1 Simulation Architecture

10.1.1 Main Loop Design 10.1.2 Pub/Sub Pattern 10.1.3 Shared Memory 10.1.4 Threading Model 10.1.5 Config Management

10.2 Data Recording

10.2.1 Flight Data Recorder 10.2.2 Replay System 10.2.3 Live Telemetry 10.2.4 Post-Flight Analysis 10.2.5 Black Box Logic

10.3 Environment Simulation

10.3.1 Terrain Database 10.3.2 Weather Engine 10.3.3 Navaid Database 10.3.4 Traffic Generator 10.3.5 ATC Interaction

10.4 Failure Management

10.4.1 Failure Injection 10.4.2 CAS Logic 10.4.3 Emergency Procedures 10.4.4 Redundancy Mgmt 10.4.5 System Resets

10.5 The Final Flight

10.5.1 Pre-flight Setup 10.5.2 Takeoff Profile 10.5.3 Cruise & Nav 10.5.4 Approach & Land 10.5.5 Shutdown

Aerospace Engineering

Curriculum

Project 1: Atmospheric Physics Engine

1.1 The Troposphere (0-11km)

1.2 The Stratosphere (11-20km)

1.3 Upper Atmosphere (20km-86km)

1.4 Non-Standard Atmospheres

1.5 Optimization & API

Project 2: Aerodynamics Solver

2.1 Potential Flow Theory

2.2 Airfoil Geometry

2.3 Source Panel Method

2.4 Vortex Panel Method

2.5 Boundary Layer Corrections

Project 3: Propulsion Systems

3.1 Thermodynamic Cycles (Brayton)

3.2 Component Maps

3.3 Inlets & Nozzles

3.4 Afterburners

3.5 Turbofan Engines

Project 4: 6-DOF Equations of Motion

4.1 Coordinate Systems

4.2 Kinematics

4.3 Forces & Moments

4.4 Rigid Body Dynamics

4.5 Numerical Integration