Open House 2023

Coursework is a significant part of your graduate student experience. In order to give our newly admitted students a sense of some of our course offerings, we recorded a series of lectures in spring 2022. The lectures, as well as their descriptions, can be viewed below. To see the full list of current Course 16 class offerings, visit the MIT Registrar’s website.

16.36 Communication Systems and Networks

Lecture: Prof. Eytan Modiano

Introduces the fundamentals of digital communications and networking. Topics include elements of information theory, sampling and quantization, coding, modulation, signal detection and system performance in the presence of noise. Study of data networking includes multiple access, reliable packet transmission, routing and protocols of the internet. Concepts discussed in the context of aerospace communication systems: aircraft communications, satellite communications, and deep space communications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

16.235: Design with High Temperature Materials

Lecture: Prof. Zachary Cordero

Introduction to materials design for high-temperature applications. Fundamental principles of thermodynamics and kinetics of the oxidation and corrosion of materials in high-temperature, chemically aggressive environments. Relationship of oxidation theory to design of metals (iron-, cobalt-, nickel-, refractory- and intermetallic alloys), ceramics, composites (metal-, ceramic- and carbon-matrix, coated materials). Relationships between deformation mechanisms (creep, viscoelasticity, thermoelasticity) and microstructure for materials used at elevated temperatures. Discussions of high-temperature oxidation, corrosion, and damage problems that occur in energy and aerospace systems.

16.522 Space Propulsion

Lecture: Prof. Paulo Lozano

Reviews rocket propulsion fundamentals. Discusses advanced concepts in space propulsion with emphasis on high-specific impulse electric engines. Topics include advanced mission analysis; the physics and engineering of electrothermal, electrostatic, and electromagnetic schemes for accelerating propellant; and orbital mechanics for the analysis of continuous thrust trajectories. Requires a term project in which students design, build, and test an electric propulsion thruster in the laboratory.

16.332 Formal Methods for Safe Autonomous Systems

Lecture: Prof. Chuchu Fan

Covers formal methods for designing and analyzing autonomous systems. Focuses on both classical and state-of-the-art rigorous methods for specifying, modeling, verifying, and synthesizing various behaviors for systems where embedded computing units monitor and control physical processes. Additionally, covers advanced material on combining formal methods with control theory and machine learning theory for modern safety critical autonomous systems powered by AI techniques such as robots, self-driving cars, and drones. Strong emphasis on the use of various mathematical and software tools to provide safety, soundness, and completeness guarantees for system models with different levels of fidelity.