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The CDIO Capstone Course: An Innovation in Undergraduate Systems Engineering Education

In February 1999, the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT initiated a new threesemester capstone laboratory and space systems design experience taught in the context of authentic engineering practice, i.e., Conceive, Design, Implement, and Operate (CDIO). The objective of CDIO is to teach the basic concepts and disciplines of engineering in the context of hands-on exercises where students have the opportunity to manipulate concrete objects and ground abstract thought in experience. At the capstone level, a CDIO approach immerses students in all aspects of the lifecycle development of an engineering product, exposing them to important aspects of systems engineering not always experienced in conventional laboratory and design courses. A three-semester course sequence allowed students to develop a concept for a satellite formation flight laboratory for the International Space Station, build a high-fidelity prototype, and operate it for short periods of micro-gravity on NASA’s KC-135. In addition, students experienced stages in the evolution of an aerospace product. This paper details this three-semester sequence, describes the project in the context of the learning experience, provides an assessment of the educational innovation, and suggests future modifications of the concept. The current capstone experience will also be described briefly. Overall, the first capstone experience was quite successful: a highly motivating project, a cohesive team of students, and a product that is being used nationally to advance space technology.