Design and construction of a stereoscopic aerial imaging platform: A project-based platform for teaching freshman engineering students

Structured project-based approach to teach engineering design is not new. However, the use of practical projects to institutionalize the teaching of freshman engineering design has been made a key component of interdisciplinary program approach whereby faculty from both programs in the Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences compliment student learning through shared projects. While the Aviation Science faculty serves as clients, they generate plausible problems that can benefit the Aviation Science students in the program and these problems are then used as the basis for a structured engineering design approach for introducing engineering design fundamentals to the freshman engineering class.The design and construction of a stereoscopic aerial imaging project was given to students in the freshman engineering class to articulate a proof-of- concept for a low-cost, light-weight, easily controllable stereoscopic aerial imaging platform. The stereoscopic 3 dimensional data could be applied to terrain and plant life mapping for use in agriculture, forestry, wetlands and coastal studies. Three project groups were formed with a choice of remote controlled aircraft provided by the client for the implementation of their design. This paper discusses the process, approach to introducing course content and objectives as a means of promoting communication skills, team work, critical thinking as well as research skills and the experience acquired by the students in the freshman engineering class.