Master's Degree in Unmanned Aerial Systems
Universidade Santiago de Compostela
Key Information
Campus location
Lugo, Spain
Languages
Spanish, Galician
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 1,160
Application deadline
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Introduction
The Master's Degree in Unmanned Aerial Systems is a highly specialized degree, unique in the Galician System of Universities and one of the only two official Master's Degrees in drones offered in the national territory. Students may opt for subjects oriented to the operation of unmanned aerial systems, taught by the University of Santiago de Compostela (Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería de Lugo) or oriented to the development of unmanned aerial systems, taught by the University of Vigo ( School of Aeronautical and Space Engineering of Ourense), also provides the basic knowledge to obtain the drone pilot title and allows access to doctoral programs and completion of doctoral thesis.
The Master is sponsored by GAIN (Galician Innovation Agency) and the RPAS-UO group of the University of Oviedo collaborates in it.
Presentation
The Master responds to the takeoff of the sector in Galicia, which combines the drive of operating companies that operate in global markets and companies that develop their own systems. To the effort carried out by the business sector, we must add the effort made by the Galician regional administration with the creation of the INTA-Xunta de Galicia Aeroportada Research Center (CIAR) in Lugo, the development of a Higher Technician Training Cycle in Aircraft Maintenance (IES AS Mercedes de Lugo), the implementation of the Civil UAS Initiative and within this initiative the Business Factory Aero (BFAero) accelerator, the promotion of the Galician Aerospace Innovation Center (CINAE) in the Park Porto do Molle business of the Vigo Free Trade Zone and the creation of the School of Aeronautical and Space Engineering on the Ourense Campus of the University of Vigo. Another factor that indicates the gradual development and organization of the sector is the formation of local business associations such as the Galician Association of Unmanned Intelligent Systems (AGASINT).
The master's degree is taught on the Lugo and Orense campuses, both of which have new facilities fully equipped with all the technical means necessary to guarantee the quality of teaching.
Development
The student, in addition to the compulsory subjects, must choose the optional subjects based on their educational interests and cover a total of 18 ECTS credits, it being convenient to select the three application subjects (Lugo) or the three Engineering Systems (Orense) to ensure the best synchronization of schedules.
Theoretical teaching is mainly concentrated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (also taught by videoconference) looking for hours that are compatible with work or another activity. The schedules are published on the websites of the centers prior to the opening of registration.
In this way, the teaching of common subjects is scheduled at the EPS (Terra Campus, Lugo) and at the EEAE (Ourense Campus) to later focus each of the electives on the center that best suits the specificity of the subjects studied.
Teaching is basically articulated in two locations, the Higher Polytechnic School of Engineering (EPS), located on the Terra Campus in Lugo, and the School of Aeronautical and Space Engineering (EEAE), located on the Ourense Campus.
This versatility, which allows for synergy between two nearby universities but with different orientations, is supported by the availability of highly specialized human resources and subjects and the interaction with a large number of companies in the UAS sector, both in terms of manufacturing and to exploitation.
Goals
It is intended that students acquire general knowledge in unmanned aerial systems engineering and operations of unmanned aerial systems with the ability to analyze the needs of a company in the field of unmanned aerial systems.
For this, they must know the main systems, the on-board instruments and the control station of an unmanned aircraft, as well as their influence on safety. Know the geomatic, photogrammetric and cartographic principles, navigation, aerial triangulation, interpretation and digital treatment of images, as well as the existing good practices in the operation of unmanned aerial systems and know how to apply the regulations in force.
In addition, the aim is to provide students with the ability to intervene and interact with other technical teams in planning with unmanned aerial systems; as well as developing a technical project in the field of engineering and operations with unmanned aerial systems.
Mobility and practices
Mobility
Student mobility is regulated through the "Inter-university Exchange Regulations". Through the Foreign Relations Office, both national (SICUE) and European (ERASMUS) and non-EU exchange programs (exchanges with Latin American countries or English-speaking countries) are managed.
Practices
The master's degree includes 9 ECTS credits of compulsory external practices. The Higher Polytechnic School of the USC and the School of Aeronautical and Space Engineering of the University of Vigo have an extensive program of internship agreements in companies that will allow them to supervise the stays of the students of this Master's degree.
During the development of the Master, practices will be carried out with UAS. Both rotary-wing aircraft (multirotors) and fixed-wing (aircraft in their different configurations)
For practices there are 2 runways with everything you need to comfortably enjoy the flight. The one from the Lavanco model airplane club and the one from the Real Aeroclub de Lugo.
The practices will include professional equipment of up to 20 kg of MTOM (Maximum Takeoff Mass) and recreational flight will be combined with the simulation of inspections or flight planning for geomatics or photogrammetry.
Final Master's Project
The master's degree contemplates the completion of a Master's Thesis of 9 ECTS credits, which consists of carrying out a project related to the engineering of unmanned aerial systems or with applications that imply their operation.
The Final Master's Project is an original exercise that must be carried out individually and which consists of a comprehensive project of a professional nature that synthesizes the skills acquired in the Master's. In order to pass it, it will be defended before a panel made up of professors of the title.
Each student will have at least one tutor teacher who will guide the student during the process and will ensure the quality of the work. The offer of Final Master's Projects may include works offered by collaborating companies and research centers and works offered by Master's professors. The student will be able to carry out the defense of his Final Master's Project when he obtains all the other credits of the study plan passed.
Gallery
Ideal Students
Admission profile
The Master is aimed at university graduates in scientific or technological disciplines who wish to direct their professional career towards companies or public administrations with an interest in UAS (Unmanned Aerial System). The USC offers a total of 12 places with a preferential entry profile in the field of engineering. Among them the following are preferred:
Graduate in Aerospace, Agricultural and Agri-Food Engineering, Civil, Geomatics and Topography, Electrical, Industrial and Automatic Electronics, Forestry, Telecommunications Technologies, Industrial, Mechanics, Mining and Energy Resources, Physics.
Admissions
Curriculum
Curriculum
This master's degree contemplates the completion of a total of 60 ECTS credits, of which 24 ECTS are mandatory and 18 ECTS are optional. Part of the subjects will be taught from Lugo (USC) and will be oriented towards applications and another part will be taught from Orense (UVigo) and will be oriented towards systems engineering. The theoretical content can be followed in person or by videoconference. There will also be 9 ECTS of mandatory External Practices and a Master's Final Project of 9 ECTS.
The structure of the Master is designed so that it can be compatible with professional activity.
24 common compulsory ECTS credits, planned for the first semester and which will teach the subjects:
- Fundamentals of unmanned aerial systems (Lugo/Oviedo)
- Operations, legislation and certification (Lugo)
- Aerodynamics, flight mechanics and propulsion (Orense)
- Observation systems. (Orense)
18 credits of elective subjects to choose three from the following subjects, planned for the second semester:
- Data analysis methods. (Lugo)
- Applications in the agroforestry and environmental field. (Lugo)
- Applications in engineering and architecture. (Lugo)
- Control systems. (Orense)
- Navigation and communication systems. (Orense)
Common Module
- Fundamentals of unmanned aerial systems
- Operations, legislation and certification
- Aerodynamics, flight mechanics and propulsion
- Observation systems
Optional assignatures
- Data analysis methods
- Applications in the agroforestry and environmental field
- Applications in engineering and architecture
- Control systems
- Navigation and communication systems
- Critical software development
External Practices and Master's Final Project
- External internships
- Master's final project
Career Opportunities
Professional outings
It includes both companies dedicated to systems engineering and those oriented to operations such as: monitoring of works, inspection of structures, provision of geospatial data for risk measurement by insurers, aerial photography and professional video, inspection of telecommunications antennas, planning of network deployments, internet services in remote areas, crop monitoring, pesticide dispersion, surveillance, mining planning, management of mining operations, forestry management, painting, rehabilitation with 3D printing, logistics.