Space Engineering Prize - Previous Recipients
2010 Winner - Mr Joel Cappelli
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The 2010 Undergraduate Thesis Prize in Space Engineering was awarded to University of Sydney student Joel Cappelli for his project "Cliffrider: The Abseiling Face Inspection Robot". The project consists of a review of current technology, the production of an original design, a prototype model and an evaluation of the design for further improvements; the final design of the device having practical application in the mining industry, as well as potential Mars exploration. |
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As the Engineers Australia Undergraduate Prize for Space Engineering was combined with the VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize in 2009, the combining of these awards has allowed for Joel to be considered by NASA for a place in the NASA Academy program with the opportunity to work with a principal investigator on a current NASA project. Unfortunately Joel was not selected for the program, however his work and design has received national and international attention.
2009 Winner - Mr Daniel Wilson
The Engineers Australia National Committee in Space Engineering (NCSpE) would like to announce that Mr Daniel Wilson has been awarded the 2009 Space Engineering Thesis Prize. Daniel completed his thesis, titled "A low cost autopilot for small unmanned aerial vehicles", at the University of Sydney under the supervision of Dr Ali Haydar Goktogan from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR)
Through his thesis project, Daniel was able to design, analyse, code, build and successfully flight test a complete low cost autopilot sub-system. Such autopilots have application in both terrestrial systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and hypersonic test vehicles, as well as autonomous space systems, such as launch vehicles and spacecraft platforms.
With much initiative, Daniel was able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and capabilities required to not just perform a theoretical paper study, but take the paper study and convert into 'real' flight hardware. The culmination of his project involved a small UAV flying autonomous point to point missions. Daniel clearly displayed a firm grasp on such diverse fields as control theory, simulation, aerodynamics, electronics, construction, integration and test.
Daniel will be presented with his prize, a $2000 cheque and framed certificate, at the Engineers Australia Electrical College Annual Awards Dinner in Perth in May.
2008 Prize Presentations
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At the Engineers Australia Electrical College Annual Awards Dinner and Annual Queensland Electrical Fraternity Dinner - held at the Hilton Brisbane on Friday 5th June 2009 - Julia Leeson received the 2008 Undergraduate Thesis Prize in Space Engineering for her thesis entitled "The Investigation of a Design for a Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) for Mars", completed at the University of New South Wales. |
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Also present were three of the four members of 'Ramjet October Sky Team' (Peter Allen, Rony Cheriyan, Thomas Chow and Anthony Yuen), who took the Runner Up prize for the 2008 Undergraduate Thesis Prize in Space Engineering for their thesis entitled "The Design, Build, Launch and Recovery of the Ramjet October Sky", completed at the University of Queensland. |
2007 Prize Presentations
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At the MA Sargent Awards Presentation Dinner, held at the Marriott Melbourne on Friday 6th June 2008, Andrew Sutton received the 2007 Undergraduate Thesis Prize in Space Engineering and the 2007 Undergraduate Thesis Prize in NCACI for his thesis entitled "Laser Frequency Stabilisation by Dual Arm Locking for the LISA Gravitational Wave Detector". Shaun Wilson (NCSpE Chair) commented on this recipient 'Andrew has produced a high quality thesis, which is evident by it winning both the Space and Automation Control Undergraduate Thesis Prizes for 2007. It is young guys like Andrew, who display an aptitude for the field, that as a business owner, you want to meet as they would be an asset to your team.' Other winners, unable to attend the ceremony included Daniel Bunker recipient of the 2006 Undergraduate Thesis Prize in Space Engineering for his thesis entitled "Secondary Power Generation for Picosatellites using the Ambient Space Plasma Environment: an electrodynamic tether approach decided and implemented" and Sydney Do who received a Commendation for his 2007 Undergraduate Thesis Prize in Space Engineering thesis entitled "Relative Orbital Positioning and Maintenance for a Minimal Delay Line Multiple Spacecraft Interferometer". For those unable to attend the awards dinner, an alternate division-based high profile presentations is linked into, so they receive their certificates/prizes in a suitable manner befitting the honour and prestige of the award being received. For more information please contact us. |
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