ARCS at ASU
Aerial, Robotics, and Control Systems — we build real hardware + real flight software.
What we do
ARCS is an engineering student org at Arizona State University focused on aerial systems, robotics, and control through hands-on projects, testing, and competition-style engineering.
Current focus (2026 → 2027)
🚀 Collegiate Propulsive Lander Challenge (CPLC) avionics + autonomy
We’re developing avionics and flight software aimed at autonomous rocket landing.
Goals
- Compete in CPLC 2027
- Develop a custom flight controller (target: Aug 2026)
- Grow to ~30 active members (target: Feb 2027)
How to get involved
✅ Open to ASU students (enrolled in 3+ credit hours)
💸 No dues (as of 2026)
🛠️ Best way to join: show up, pick a lane, start contributing.
Good places to start
- Flight software / GNC (controls, estimation, sim)
- Embedded / avionics (firmware, sensors, comms, logging)
- Hardware (PCBs, wiring, integration)
- Test & ops (procedures, checklists, post-test writeups)
- Docs (onboarding, architecture, standards)
Repo norms (fast + sane)
- Keep changes small and reviewable (PRs > mystery commits)
- Document decisions and tests (if it’s not written down, it’s lost)
- Safety and test discipline aren’t optional
Links
- Website: https://arc-systems.org
New here? Start by opening an issue labeled good first issue or ask in chat — we’ll point you to something real.