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The purpose of this paper is to introduce the reader to a freshman engineering design project where students were required to design a novel low cost runway incursion detection system that might have future application for small general aviation airport operations by applying sound engineering problem solving criterion. Given the direction of Aviation towards autonomous navigation, this project provides a meaningful medium to educate freshman engineering students on both concept and teamwork principles. The goals of the project were (a) to introduce collaboration across disciplines given the students' intended majors, (b) to enhance scientific inquiry, (c) to foster communication among the group as well as enhance communication between the students and the client who provides the project objectives, and (d) the group management structure and its implication as it applies to achieving the overall objectives of the project. As an integrated department with both Engineering and Aviation Science faculty, it was natural for the Aviation Science faculty to serve as clients, who then generate plausible problems that can benefit both the Aviation Science and Engineering 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 unique nature of the assignment lies in the need for the concept to be low cost and practical. Team leadership styles were evaluated and compared against design outcomes. This paper examines both the engineering aspect of the students' learning as well as their leadership growth and interaction between group members as well as the interaction with the client. With students from various engineering backgrounds involved in the course, this paper also provides the audience the ability to examine the applicability of this approach to other subject areas.

PURPOSEThe purpose of this paper is to introduce the reader to a freshman engineering design project where students designed a kite-based aerial imaging system by applying sound engineering problem solving criterion. 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. Over the years, several projects have been executed using this collaborative approach and this project further examines both the engineering aspect of the students' learning as well as their leadership growth and interaction between group members. With students from various engineering backgrounds involved in the course, this paper provides the audience the ability to examine the applicability of this approach to other subject areas. ABSTRACTFreshman engineering design students were given the problem of seeking a kite-based lifting platform that incorporated a camera system for aerial imaging purposes. The unique nature of the assignment lies in its support of precision agriculture efforts on campus by reducing cost and difficulty of operation for an aerial imaging platform. DESCRIPTIONThe following constraints were initially provided to initiate the project group formation and interaction with the clients. These are stated as follows:The delivered product should meet the following criteria:• The kite should be designed to lift the camera system (Aiptek PenCan SD 1.3) given the average wind speed for the Princess Anne, MD area.(Camera specifications are attached)• The camera system should include equipment that ensures that the camera is imaging in a NADIR view position at all times. • Additional specifications may be offered as the project progresses.With these as the bases of the project, a project group was formed to find engineering design solutions for the stated problem. 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. It also discusses the management style which work best for the students in a single group setting.

This paper explores contemporary issues regarding the challenges of quantifying improved decision making and situational awareness as it is applied to emerging tools in aviation weather information dissemination. The authors explore the phenomena of increased/improved pilot decision making due to additional visual representation of visual weather data. General concepts such as past and present flight planning tools and procedures are discussed. Additionally, the authors explore the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Alaskan Weather Camera program as a potential case study for future exploration of these concepts. A pilot survey tool was created and administered to a small test population as a part of an undergraduate Aviation Psychology course assignment. Preliminary findings and suggestions for future research are presented.