AIAA at UCLA offers hands-on experience and technical management opportunities through its four student projects. Near the end of the school year, each team participates in its respective national competition against leading universities. Gain valuable knowledge and team-building skills to put on your resumes and marvel your interviewers with your stories. This is your chance to apply the material you learn in class!
Design/Build/Fly (DBF)
The annual Design/Build/Fly competition brings in schools from across the globe to provide real-world aircraft design experience for engineering students. Teams are tasked with designing, constructing, and testing an unmanned, electric-powered, radio-controlled aircraft to meet specified design requirements.
This past year, DBF designed and built Duck Duck Goose, a remote controlled low-wing aircraft constructed primarily from carbon fiber, wood, and plastics. At the AIAA competition in Wichita, Kansas, our team earned 11th place in the Design Report and finished 3rd overall out of 98 teams, the highest overall placement and first podium finish in UCLA DBF history.
Recent Milestones
- 3rd Place Overall (out of 98 teams)
- 11th Place Design Report
- First podium finish in UCLA DBF history
Rocket Project at UCLA
The Rocket Project at UCLA competes at the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition, launching and recovering payloads at extreme altitudes. Our group combines skills across mechanical, aerospace, electrical, physics, and computer science fields to build liquid bi-propellant rockets aiming for 100,000 ft.
In March 2026, our launches of Pandora I & II reached an altitude of 30,496 feet, setting our club's highest apogee record to date after designing, manufacturing, testing, and launching two advanced rockets in just 9 months.
Recent Milestones
- 30,496 ft apogee record achieved (Pandora I & II)
- 2 advanced rockets designed & built in 9 months
Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS)
UAS is involved in full system development of drones, from initial design and carbon fiber airframe manufacturing to flight control software and autonomous flight. The team builds drones for both mission driven competitions and grant-funded research projects.
Our team developed AVIATA, a continuous payload system using a drone swarm accepted by NASA ARMD's University Student Research Challenge. We continue to push the boundaries of cutting edge aerial robotics technology.
Recent Milestones
- Accepted into NASA ARMD's University Student Research Challenge
- Developed "AVIATA" continuous payload swarm system
Bruin Spacecraft Group (BSG)
BruinSpace gives undergraduate students hands-on experience in space engineering. Composed of a diverse team of roughly 50 members, the group develops technology spanning testing, command systems, power, structures, and thermal systems.
The group is currently developing its flagship project, Project RAPID a student led 3U CubeSat mission designed to test emerging technologies in space, with an expected launch window of 2028-2029.
Recent Milestones
- Designing & building 3U CubeSat mission (Project RAPID)
- Target launch window: 2028–2029
