Sample Research Proposal

Proposal for Research Funds for R.T. Jones Aircraft Co.

Proposal Title: Design of Mars Airplane

Submitted by: Bob Heinlein, Art Clarke, Ursula LeGuin

Date: Dec. 5, 2010

ABSTRACT (50-100 words)

(A summary of the problem, your objectives, approach and expected outcome.)

PROBLEM STATEMENT aND IMPORTANCE oF PROPOSED RESEARCH oN SOLVING tHE PROBLEM (more than 200 words)

(Explain why you expect the company to invest in your idea.)
Eg.: The nation is preparing for sample return and manned missions to Mars. These missions will require an ability to land as close as possible to a desired landing site. Current atmospheric entry techniques can only guarantee achieving a desired landing site to within several tens of kilometers. A sample return or manned mission will require a landing accuracy of one or two kilometers. Thus it will be important to have a vehicle that can maneuver in the Martian atmosphere.

OBJECTIVE

(A concise statement of what you plan to accomplish with this work.)
Eg.: The objective of this proposal is to design an aircraft with sufficient maneuvering capability to obtain a desired landing site to within 1 km.

APPROACH (minimum of 400 words per course)

(A description of the techniques you propose to use to solve the engineering problem you stated in the first section. Devote a separate section for each course this project will be applied toward.)
Eg.: This proposal will focus on three aspects of the design of a Mars airplane: the aerodynamics of the vehicle, the performance, stability and control of the vehicle, the structural elements required by this vehicle.

Aerodynamics of the airfoil and fuselage.
The aerodynamics of a Mars airplane is driven by the atmosphere on Mars and the maneuvering require for accurate landing. Airfoil design, compressibility considerations.

Vehicle performance, stability and control.
The Mars airplane must have excellent performance and stability characteristics. The range requirements are determined by the accuracy of the orbital entry and landing requirement of within 1 km. Vehicle range, performance envelope, landing characteristics.

Special structural requirements.
Mars atmospheric pressure is very low and there is a requirement to carry as heavy a payload as possible. Payload requirements, flexible structures, size of aerodynamic surfaces.

WORK PLAN

We propose to accomplish our objectives through the following tasks and milestones:

Month 1.
Research Mars atmosphere and mission requirements.
Preliminary airfoil design.

Month 2.
Payload requirements.
Structural requirements and ideas.

Month 3. 
Performance characteristics of vehicle.

EXPECTED OUTCOME OF PROPOSED WORK

(Explain how the company, by investing in your idea, will make millions.)
Eg.: This expected outcome of the proposed work is an preliminary design for the a Mars airplane that will put the R.T. Jones Aircraft Co in an excellent position to propose and win the upcoming NASA call for Mars airplane vehicles.