Define the mission
Clarify stakeholders, requirements, criteria, constraints, success metrics, and prior learning needed for the capstone.
POE Unit 5
Aerospace Rover Systems Capstone: Design, Test & Defend
Bring the full course together by defining a mission problem, designing an integrated system, testing performance, and defending the final solution with evidence.
Unit Purpose
What This Unit Prepares You to Do
Unit 5 is the final systems-integration challenge. You will connect mechanisms, structures, controls, materials, fabrication, data, and documentation into one defensible engineering solution.
Build the system
Generate concepts, select a solution, plan subsystems, fabricate safely, and integrate mechanical, structural, control, or rover elements.
Defend with evidence
Use test data, failure analysis, iteration, final documentation, demonstration planning, and design review communication.
Daily Lesson Map
Unit 5 Lesson Sequence
Each lesson builds toward the final capstone design review and portfolio reflection.
| Lesson | Title | Your Objective | Deliverable | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | Capstone Launch: Aerospace Systems Challenge | I can explain the capstone purpose, scope, evidence expectations, and review process. | Capstone launch brief | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.2 | Mission Problem Selection and Stakeholders | I can define a problem, identify primary and secondary stakeholders, and separate needs from proposed solutions. | Mission problem and stakeholder map | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.3 | Requirements, Criteria, and Constraints | I can distinguish requirements, criteria, and constraints and write measurable verification statements. | Capstone requirements and verification table | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.4 | Prior Learning Audit: Mechanisms, Structures, Controls, and Data | I can connect capstone subsystems to prior POE concepts and identify skills that require review or support. | Prior-learning and certification audit | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.5 | Research and Benchmarking | I can evaluate technical sources, benchmark comparable systems, and extract useful functions and tradeoffs. | Research and benchmarking summary | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.6 | Concept Generation and System Architecture | I can create multiple concepts and represent inputs, processes, outputs, feedback, subsystems, and interfaces. | Concept set and system architecture diagrams | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.7 | Decision Matrix and Concept Selection | I can assign defensible weights and ratings, calculate weighted totals, and justify a concept selection. | Weighted concept decision matrix | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.8 | Subsystem Planning and Team Roles | I can create a project plan with accountable owners, interface tasks, dependencies, and integration milestones. | Subsystem responsibility and milestone plan | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.9 | CAD, Build Plan, and Fabrication Review | I can review CAD, material-process choices, tolerances, files, and safety requirements before fabrication. | Fabrication readiness review package | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.10 | Prototype Build Day 1: Structure and Mechanism | I can follow a controlled build sequence, use datums and checkpoints, and document deviations from the plan. | Structural and mechanical build record | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.11 | Prototype Build Day 2: Controls, Rover, or Electromechanical Integration | I can trace an electromechanical signal chain and integrate subsystems using staged powered tests. | Controls and integration build record | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.12 | Testing Protocol and Risk Review | I can define variables, trials, measurement methods, stop conditions, and risk controls for capstone testing. | Approved capstone test protocol and risk review | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.13 | Prototype Testing and Data Collection | I can execute an approved protocol, record complete repeated-trial data, and distinguish observations from measurements. | Complete capstone test record | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.14 | Data Analysis and Failure Modes | I can summarize test data, calculate risk-priority values, and connect failures to likely causes and controls. | Performance analysis and prioritized failure-mode report | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.15 | Iteration and Design Freeze | I can compare before-and-after data, verify requirements, and justify either another iteration or a design freeze. | Iteration comparison and design-freeze decision | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.16 | Final Documentation Package | I can assemble traceable requirements, design, build, test, analysis, and revision evidence. | Final capstone engineering documentation package | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.17 | Final Presentation and Demonstration Prep | I can organize a concise design-review narrative, assign team roles, rehearse timing, and create a demo contingency. | Final presentation and demonstration plan | Open Lesson PowerPoint |
| 5.18 | Capstone Design Review and Portfolio Reflection | I can defend claims with multiple evidence types, answer questions, acknowledge limitations, and reflect on growth. | Capstone design review and portfolio reflection | Open Lesson PowerPoint |