During the fall semester of 2025, AERE’s Keweenaw Propulsion Lab (KPL) began developing an autonomous flight control system intended to support future flight testing and vehicle control research.
The project focuses on creating a system capable of controlling a test vehicle during both hovering and short vertical flights, commonly referred to as hops.
The initial development approach uses propellers to provide controlled thrust, allowing the team to develop and evaluate the flight control system before transitioning to a liquid rocket engine.
This phased approach is intended to provide a platform for exploring vehicle stability, control behavior, and autonomous flight operations.
The project is part of KPL’s broader work in developing practical propulsion and flight technologies through student-led engineering.
