University of Alberta
Aero Design
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About Us
Established in 1985, University of Alberta Aero Design is one of the University of Alberta's longest standing engineering student project groups. What began as a small group of students passionate about aerospace, has grown into a multidisciplinary team that brings together aspiring engineers, designers, and problem-solvers from across the university.
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For over 40 years, Aero has been providing students with the opportunity to take ownership of complex challenges, develop practical skills, and work together in an environment that encourages creativity, leadership, and continuous improvement.
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Beyond building aircrafts, Aero Design builds engineers. Through collaboration, mentorship, and hands-on experience, our members develop the technical and professional skills needed to succeed while contributing to a legacy of innovation that continues to grow each year.
Our Mission
Our mission has always been to inspire students in pursuing their passion for aerospace through hands-on engineering experience by designing, manufacturing, and flying innovative fixed-wing UAVs.
What We Do
Design
Every year, our team designs a completely new fixed-wing UAV to meet the mission requirements and regulations outlined in the annual SAE Aero Design Competition rulebook, released each September.
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The design process begins from the ground up, with every aspect of the aircraft carefully engineered to function as one integrated system. From airfoil selection, wing geometry, and aerodynamic analysis to structural design, propulsion, avionics, flight controls, payload integration, and weight optimization, each subsystem is developed alongside the others. Every design decision influences the aircraft's performance, stability, manufacturability, and mission capability, requiring constant analysis, collaboration, and iteration to achieve the best possible balance between competing design objectives.
Manufacture
Once the design is finalized, our team brings the aircraft to life, manufacturing and assembling every aircraft entirely in-house at the University of Alberta's Elko Engineering Garage. Our members gain hands-on experience using a variety of manufacturing processes and industry-standard tools, including CNC routing, laser cutting, 3D printing, and more. From cutting raw materials and fabricating individual components to assembling and integrating complete systems, every stage of the build is completed by our team. Working directly with the materials and processes used to create our aircraft allows our members to develop practical manufacturing skills while turning engineering designs into a fully functional UAV.
Test
Testing is integrated throughout our design and manufacturing process, allowing us to validate and refine our work as the aircraft takes shape. Software and hardware prototypes are tested in parallel with development, helping our team identify issues early and improve individual systems before they are integrated into the final aircraft. Once the UAV is assembled, flight testing allows us to evaluate its performance and handling in real-world conditions. The results from each stage of testing feed back into our development process, helping us refine the aircraft and prepare it for the demands of competition.
Compete
Each year, we bring our aircraft to the SAE Aero Design Competition, where we put months of engineering, manufacturing, and testing to the ultimate test. The competition begins with a technical inspection, where our aircraft and design are evaluated against the competition's requirements and regulations. We then take to the flight line to demonstrate our aircraft's capabilities and complete the mission.
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Competition also brings challenges that cannot always be anticipated. Throughout the event, our team works hands-on to diagnose issues, make repairs, and adapt our aircraft as needed to keep it flying. Beyond the competition itself, SAE Aero Design provides an opportunity to connect with students, universities, and industry professionals from around the world. These connections allow our members to share knowledge, learn from other teams, and build relationships that extend beyond the competition.
Interested in joining the team?
Follow us on Instagram for AGM details, meeting announcements, and weekly location updates. Our meetings are open to everyone, and we're always looking for new members to join the team!