AggiE-Challenge gives engineering students the chance to join multidisciplinary teams, work on faculty-led research and solve real-world problems, all while earning course credit and building technical and professional skills.
Early Industry Engagement
Sponsors connect with sophomores through senior students and faculty, gaining insight into cutting-edge research and building relationships with future engineers and researchers.
Interested in sponsoring? Contact us at inp@tamu.ed.
Student FAQs
- How do I choose a project?
- Browse current projects and find one open to your major. Each project is assigned a dedicated ENGR 291/491 section.
- How do I enroll?
- Register for the appropriate ENGR 291/ 491 section in Howdy during open registration.
- Does it count toward my degree?
- We encourage students to discuss it with their academic advisor.
Benefits
For Students
Hands-on research, teamwork, faculty mentorship and course credit.
For Faculty
Recruit talented undergrads, strengthen research proposals and identify future graduate students.
For Sponsors
Engage early with motivated students and gain insights through real-world, team-based research.
Course Descriptions
Rocket Science Is "Not Rocket Science"
Open to ALL Majors
The private space industry is leading the "explosive" growth of aerospace engineering everywhere in the nation and certainly in the state of Texas. The basics of rocket science and engineering will be explored during this Aggie Challenge project with emphasis on the "Maker" mentality of amateur rocketry clubs. Solid, liquid, and hybrid propellant rockets will be discussed with an eye to actual construction and implementation of simplified systems. Projects involve thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, aerodynamics, dynamics, and controls of rockets and apply to a wide variety of systems: from the miniature solid propellant rockets used in elementary amateur devices all the way to hybrids and liquid propellant systems relevant to Base 11 and IREC competitions targeting 30-330-kft altitude launches.
Spacecraft VR
Open to ALL Majors
SpaceCRAFT VR is a multidisciplinary platform for design and analysis of space systems and entire mission architecture concepts with human-in the-loop operations in virtual reality. SpaceCRAFT provides high fidelity environmental models and the means to integrate systems and algorithms for spaceflight vehicles, habitats, robots, rovers, satellites and any other mission component into a multi-user real-time simulation. It is used for engineering design, astronaut training, human interface testing, and the development of operational concepts for spaceflight missions. It is also used for STEM programs to teach students about space exploration through team-based design challenges. Students working on SpaceCRAFT choose from a wide range of research topics ranging from orbital mechanics to guidance systems, robotics, CAD modeling and animation, network coding and backend development, mechanical systems, planetary science, space physics, and many other topics.
Advanced Vapor Compression Desalination
Open to ALL Majors
Advanced vapor compression desalination has the efficiency of reverse osmosis and the robustness of multi-stage flash. In
the future, advanced vapor compression desalination has the potential to become the dominant method for desalinating
seawater. Minerals can be captured from the waste brine, which greatly improves economics and also reduces environmental impact.
Disaster Informatics Solutions: Integrating Human and Machine Intelligence for Resilient Infrastructure and Smart Emergency Relief
Open to CSCE, CVEN, ECEN, and ISEN majors
The students in this project will create intelligent systems to harness community-scale big data (such as population movements, social media activities) and leverage data science and machine learning technologies to help communities better prepare and respond to natural disasters.
Electrochemical Biosensors for the Detection of BNP and NT-PRO BNP Biomarkers
Open to BMEN, ECEN, CHEN majors
Heart failure affects over 50 million people globally each year, and its early diagnosis is essential to manage and control symptoms. We develop a portable, batteryless, wirelessly operated, smartphone-enabled lab-in-a-palm device for self-monitoring of BNP and NT-proBNP levels at the POC, with a prototyping cost of less than $5 per disposable sensor (per test) and only $5 per reusable electronic device (excluding smartphone). The device utilizes BNP-specific and NT-proBNP-specific sensors for label-free electrochemical detection of BNP from 20 µL serum. The data analysis for this simple POC device is performed on the phone and does not require a cloud connection.
Remote Monitoring and Self-management of Mental Health and Chronic Disease
Open to BMEN, CSCE, ECEN, ISEN, IDIS majors
This challenge focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of remote monitoring and self-management solutions for mental health and chronic diseases. Students will gain hands-on experience with digital health technologies, including wearable sensors, mobile health apps, and AI-driven decision support tools. The course emphasizes user-centered design, data collection, and real-world application through case studies and collaborative projects. Participants will also address critical issues such as patient engagement, behavior change strategies, data privacy, and ethical considerations.
Additive Manufacturing Material Design
Open to AERO and MSEN majors
With ever-expanding design constraints, architecture and engineered materials are increasingly being investigated as potential tools to address these challenges. Additive manufacturing represents an enabling
capability to this end by allowing engineers to tailor meso- and macrostructures to align with complex and challenging needs. Utilization of these approaches requires the development and deployment of advanced computational tools to design these materials. In the current project, students will utilize experimental data of additively manufactured metals to develop appropriate material and structural models to solve a series of design challenges. These challenges will increase in scope and complexity to address challenges motivated by recent engineering cases.
AI Meets Construction Robotics
Open to AERO and MSEN majors
This challenge focuses on developing a vision-based human-machine interface for effective worker-robot collaborations in construction. Students will work on utilizing computer vision algorithms to capture and interpret workers’ intentions, which will then be translated into robotic actions to perform corresponding construction tasks. The expected contributions include functional prototypes, algorithmic models, and experimental results that demonstrate seamless human-robot interactions in dynamic construction environments.
Innovation in Carbon Fiber: Advanced Materials for Next-Generation Structural Solutions
Open to AERO, CHEN, MEEN, and MSEN majors
Carbon fibers are considered industry’s best for developing lightweight and strong vehicles. The industry and academia were filled with awe and joy when Boeing 787 Dreamliner was introduced in 2009 with nearly 50% carbon fiber composites used to reduce weight, improve efficiency and safety. This challenge advances experimental methods to make stronger carbon fibers through high-temperature pyrolysis of polymer fibers. By analyzing how processing affects strength and defects, students will develop ways to improve fiber quality. Students will gain hands-on experience making and testing fibers, and develop key soft skills such as teamwork, planning, and communication under the guidance of Dr. Naraghi and his graduate team.