AeroTéc is the Student Group of Aerospace Engineering at Técnico. It is dedicated to building prototypes, participating in competitions, and promoting aerospace engineering both within the academic community and to the general public.

In an interview with the DEEC, Clara Martins and Gonçalo Machado, both Aerospace Engineering students, spoke about AeroTéc's latest projects and what motivated them to join the group.

Electrical Engineering is present throughout the entire aerospace sector. (...) All the electronics are essential to control and obtain data during flight; without it, nothing would be possible.

Gonçalo Machado, master’s student in Aerospace Engineering and President of AeroTéc

Aerospace Engineering integrates different research fields, including Electrical and Computer Engineering and Electronics. AeroTéc is currently divided into nine projects.

One of the highlighted initiatives in prototyping is the RED – Rocket Experiment Division, launched in 2017, which focuses on developing and testing rockets. Students gain hands-on experience with rocket electronics systems, including GPS and altitude sensors, control systems, propulsion, and recovery systems. The latter includes ejection systems and line-cutting mechanisms that allow parachute deployment and safe recovery of the prototype.

Over the years, students have presented the following at the EuRoc – European Rocketry Challenge:
Aurora 2.0 (2018 & 2019), Blimunda (2021), Baltasar (2022), Camões (2023), and Adamastor (2024). This ESA-backed competition allows university teams to interact with peers and industry professionals from across Europe.

My main goal in joining the group was to learn more about the field, gain deeper knowledge of the aerospace sector, and acquire skills for the future job market.

Gonçalo Machado, master’s student in Aerospace Engineering and President of AeroTéc

Gonçalo first discovered the RED project while in high school, which influenced his decision to apply to Técnico. He found RED on social media and has since participated in two editions of EuRoc, where Técnico has twice placed as runner-up and won several awards. He highlights the international competition experience as one of the key benefits of being part of AeroTéc.

Another major project is ATLAS – Systems & Aeronautics, which focuses on the construction of unmanned aerial vehicles with autonomous flight capabilities for forest monitoring, fire prevention, and emergency rescue. Students work on avionics, control algorithms, and computer vision systems for surveillance. These prototypes also participate in international competitions such as the Air Cargo Challenge (ACC). Recent prototypes include ACC 2024, Pegasus, Olissipo, UAV-ART, and X-Plane.

In addition to EuRoc 2024, Clara Martins has also competed in the ACC. She emphasizes the importance of communication within the team and the experience of collaborating with students from other countries. A Bachelor's student in Aerospace Engineering, she joined AeroTéc to complement academic learning with hands-on experience: "I wanted to get my hands dirty with something related to the course." When asked about the biggest challenge students face, Clara points to the integration of multiple complex systems into a functional aircraft.

“Beyond acquiring knowledge—which is already a challenge in itself—[the hardest part] is figuring out how all the systems come together in a single prototype.

Clara Martins, Aerospace Engineering undergraduate student and Vice-President of AeroTéc

Still within prototyping, AeroTéc also runs Blue, a project focused on designing jet engines using machining and 3D printing techniques. Additionally, the group organizes an introductory course on aeromodeling, where participants build a functioning model aircraft over six sessions, as well as workshops for students from high school to university levels.

AeroTéc is also responsible for publishing the Aerospace Magazine and organizing Aerospace Week, an annual event that connects the academic community with companies where students may one day work. Clara and Gonçalo emphasize that being part of AeroTéc is not only essential for research and development but also a preparation for professional life—helping shape the future of Portugal’s aerospace sector.

[Joining AeroTéc] isn’t just about applying what we learn in class. We learn so much more.

Clara Martins, Aerospace Engineering undergraduate student and Vice-President of AeroTéc

Photos: AeroTéc