Dynamics, control, and estimation
Dynamics, Control and Estimation is a core topic area in both Aerospace and Ocean Engineering. The ability to model and predict the motion of a vehicle, and to modulate that motion through proper control design, is critical to the design of those vehicle systems. The Dynamics, Control and Estimation Track will allow students with a particular interest in those topics to focus their technical electives in that area. This Track is available to all Aerospace and Ocean Engineering majors.
Required:
| Course | Title | CH |
|---|---|---|
| AOE 4004 | State-Space Control | 3 |
Choose a minimum of 6 credit hours from the following courses.
| Course | Title | CH |
|---|---|---|
| AOE 3134 | Air Vehicle Dynamics (if not taking as required major course) | 3 |
| AOE 3144 | Space Vehicle Dynamics (if not taking as required major course) | 3 |
| AOE 3234 | Ocean Vehicle Dynamics (if not taking as required major course) | 3 |
| AOE 4224 | Atmospheric and Ocean Vehicle Model Identification | 3 |
| AOE 4344 | Dynamics of High-Speed Marine Craft | 3 |
| AOE 4454 | Spacecraft Position/Nav/Timing & Orbit Determination | 3 |
| AOE 4514 | Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos | 3 |
| AOE 4804 | Special Topics in Dynamics, Control, & Estimation | 3 |
| AOE 5204* | Vehicle Dynamics and Control | 3 |
| AOE 5234* | Orbital Mechanics | 3 |
| AOE 5334* | Advanced Ship Dynamics | 3 |
| AOE 5704* | Sensors and Algorithms for Autonomous Navigation | 3 |
| AOE 5734* | Convex Optimization | 3 |
| AOE 5744* | Linear Systems Theory | 3 |
| AOE 5754* | Applied Linear Systems | 3 |
| AOE 5764* | Applied Linear Control | 3 |
| AOE 5774* | Nonlinear Systems Theory | 3 |
| ECE 3714 | Introduction to Control Systems | 3 |
| ECE 4624 | Digital Signal Processing and Filter Design | 3 |
| ESM 4114 | Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos | 3 |
| ME 4534 | Land Vehicle Dynamics | 3 |
*Graduate School policy: seniors with ≥3.0 GPA may take graduate course with instructor’s permission.
Courses are based on the UG Catalog Date of Entry 2026-2027 program curriculum. Prerequisites may apply – see your advisor.
I. Purpose:
Aerospace and ocean engineering has a foundational option and eight concentrations:
- Aero/hydrodynamics
- Dynamics, control and estimation
- Energy & environment
- Naval engineering
- Propulsion
- Space engineering
- Structures and materials
- Vehicle and system design
The new concentration in dynamics, control and estimation would allow students who are interested primarily in this topic area to develop that specialization.
To complete the concentration in dynamics, control, and estimation, a student must complete AOE 4004: State-Space Control and a minimum of 6 credit hours from the following list, with no more than 3 non-AOE credit hours: AOE 3134, AOE 3144, AOE 3234, AOE 4344, AOE 4454, AOE 4804, ECE 4194, ECE 4405, ECE 4406, ECE 4624, ESM 4114, ME 4534, STAT 4714.
II. Justification:
The concentration in dynamics, control, and estimation will allow students with a particular interest in vehicle motion modeling, state estimation, and control design to focus their technical electives in that area and receive recognition on their transcripts.
III. Hours Requirement:
A total of 128 hours is required to graduate with a BS in aerospace and ocean engineering. The concentration in dynamics, control, and estimation requires nine credit hours of coursework out of a total of eighteen hours of Technical Electives.
IV. Eligibility:
The concentration in dynamics, control, and estimation will be available to all aerospace and ocean engineering majors. Students majoring in aerospace and ocean engineering may pursue more than one departmental concentration.
V. Relevance:
Dynamics, control, and estimation are core topics in both aerospace and ocean engineering. The ability to develop and analyze mathematical models for vehicle motion, and to use these models for state estimation and motion control, are critical in vehicle system design.
VI. Policies regarding intra-departmental majors and minors:
The AOE department offers majors in both aerospace and ocean engineering. Courses for the two majors overlap. Students may choose to pursue both majors simultaneously.
VII. Required resources
No additional resources are requested.
VIII. Methods of Communication:
These changes are communicated to students by posting the option checksheet to our department website, e-mail notification via the AOE listserv, and presentation to incoming students at advising sessions.
The AOE academic advisors will discuss the option with students during their advising sessions and concentration checksheets will be available in the AOE Academic Advising Center.