Andrew Mogge
Mechanical engineering student building and flying unmanned aircraft systems — from kinetic intercept drones to marine-monitoring seaplanes, plus the hydraulics, gimbals, and control loops that fly them.
About
I'm an engineer interested in designing and building real-world systems across aerospace, autonomous platforms, and power generation. My work spans concept development, CAD and electrical design, and hands-on testing — I'm driven by turning complex ideas into reliable, practical solutions.
At Sandia National Laboratories I design and fly kinetic intercept drone platforms; at Georgia Tech's AREAL Lab I build long-endurance seaplanes for marine monitoring; and with Design Build Fly I lead electrical development on a competition tri-copter. Across all of it, I'm usually the one testing what I build — as primary flight test pilot.
Minor in Aerospace Engineering
Fabrication
- CNC Routing
- 3D Printing
- Waterjet
- Laser Cutter
- Soldering Iron
- Mill
- Lathe
- Multimeter
Programming
- MATLAB
- Python
- C / C++ (Arduino IDE)
Programs & Tools
- SolidWorks
- Fusion 360
- Inventor
- OpenVSP
- ArduPilot
- Bambu Studio
- LightBurn
Certifications
- AMA Certified RC Pilot
- 8+ yrs, Cobb County RC & Blue Ridge RC
Experience
My Work
- Executed end-to-end mechanical design, rapid prototyping, and structural fabrication for kinetic intercept drone platforms; served as primary flight test pilot evaluating vehicle handling and intercept dynamics.
- Processed and analyzed flight test sensor data in MATLAB to evaluate trajectory tracking, control loop response, and structural performance under operational conditions.
- Designed a Raspberry Pi-controlled multi-axis camera gimbal payload for deployable reconnaissance, enabling secure remote video streaming for field operations.
- Engineered high-strength SolidWorks enclosures for hydraulic cam-driven robotic arms, protecting sensitive electronics under high-force mechanical loads.
The Project
The AREAL Lab works across aircraft design, dynamic analysis, and flight control. I'm currently developing a fully autonomous aircraft for long-term whale monitoring deployments — a seaplane capable of reliable autonomous takeoff and landing in remote marine environments, with a rotating wing design and integrated solar panels as a cost-effective alternative to traditional marine monitoring.
My Work
Design, fabrication, and testing of autonomous aircraft for marine monitoring, including 3D printing and modifying CAD designs to improve structural durability and waterproofing. I also wire and integrate onboard avionics and serve as test pilot during flight trials, validating design changes through hands-on testing and troubleshooting.
Current Work
Using Python to analyze buoyancy of the hull and develop a sponson design. All CAD work is done in Inventor and exported into a Python script to analyze buoyancy control in roll and confirm adequate moment to self-right in water.
Tested the sponson design — it applied righting moment even in 15+ mph wind, but the sponson placement let water splash over them and suck the aircraft down, preventing it from hydroplaning onto the step to take off.
Swapped to wing-tip floats, which let the plane hydroplane, but hull spray reduced prop speed. Adding spray rails to the hull solved that — after two months of design work, the seaplane finally got into the air.
The Competition
Design, Build, Fly Advanced challenges students to design, manufacture, and test an unmanned aircraft that performs reliably within strict competition constraints — simulating the real-world aerospace design–build–fly process.
Design Challenges
Currently developing a fully autonomous tri-rotor aircraft optimized to maximize payload capacity within a 3.5 lb max takeoff weight, applying the full design–build–test cycle in a highly constrained, competitive environment.
My Contributions
- Lead all electrical work: wiring, system integration, and troubleshooting for reliable operation.
- Develop and tune PID controllers to stabilize the tri-rotor for precise, responsive flight.
- Fabricate a lightweight balsa-and-MonoKote airframe, optimizing strength while minimizing weight.
Member of GE's Next Engineers program, engaging with industry professionals through technical workshops focused on real-world engineering challenges — building a stronger understanding of engineering pathways in power generation, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.
Projects
Worked on projects addressing practical challenges and quality of life, including a budget-friendly water desalination system, a water collection solution for a hospital in Chihuahua, Mexico, and a crutch that converts into a leg rest for added comfort.
Pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Aerospace. Coursework relevant to design, dynamics, and systems work below.
ME 2110 — Creative Decisions and Designs
Engineering design process through team-based projects: conceptual design, prototyping, testing, and iterative refinement of mechanical systems.
ME 3322 — Thermodynamics
Laws of thermodynamics and analysis of thermodynamic systems, including power cycles and energy conversion.
AE 2010 — Aerospace Thermodynamics
Subsonic and supersonic flows, theory behind jet engine development, and power cycles
ME 2202 — Dynamics of Rigid Bodies
Analysis of rigid-body systems in two and three dimensions, including linear and angular kinematics and dynamics as functions of time.
ME 3340 — Fluid Mechanics
Fluid statics and dynamics, control-volume analysis, conservation laws, and application to internal and external flow systems.
ME 2016 — Computing Techniques
Advanced MATLAB programming and numerical methods for engineering problems where analytical solutions are impractical.
ECE 3741 — Electronics Laboratory
Analysis of AC and DC circuits, and design, implementation, and testing of electronic filter circuits.
Projects
Designed and developed a rocket payload to survey farmland, using an Arduino-based control system with a motorized stabilization mechanism to hold camera orientation during flight, plus deployable fins for post-deployment stability. Emphasized systems integration, mechanical design for flight environments, and problem-solving under strict size and mass constraints.
My Work
- Designed and built deployable stabilization fins and an onboard imaging system.
- Programmed an Arduino microcontroller to log altimeter, pressure, temperature, and imaging data in flight.
MicroFloat is an autonomous underwater float that descends to a target depth, drifts with ocean currents, and resurfaces to collect environmental data. As Mechanical Engineering Lead I oversaw mechanical design and modified structural components to improve strength, accessibility, and cross-compatibility.
My Work
- Redesigned the submersible frame in SolidWorks, improving modularity and cutting maintenance time by 20%.
- Enhanced the buoyancy engine for easier maintenance and configured tubing for an external ballast system to reach alterable probing depths.
- Made CAD improvements to increase manufacturability and support future MicroFloat swarm production.
Designed and fabricated mechanical systems for a hands-on, competition-based robot design project, applying CAD modeling, prototyping, and testing to bring concepts to life — emphasizing design iteration, material selection, and real-world functionality.
My Contribution
Worked with my team to design the scissor lift, rack and pinion, and drivetrain, focusing on efficiency, reliability, and smooth motion. Selected appropriate materials, calculated mechanical advantage, and integrated components for coordinated performance.
Involvement
AMA member for eight years, active in Cobb County RC and Blue Ridge RC, and have worked with Cub Scouts to promote model aviation. I also serve as test pilot for my university's research lab and Design-Build-Fly team.
Let's build something that flies.
Open to internships and collaborations in mechanical design, UAS, and flight test. Reach out any of these ways.
- Emailandrewmogge@gmail.com
- Phone864-624-2323
- LinkedIn/in/andrew-m
- LocationAtlanta, GA
- RésuméDownload PDF