MEng Mechatronic Engineering with Industrial Experience

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Measurements & Analytical Software

Course unit fact file
Unit code EEEN10151
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 1
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The Brief Description of the Unit:

This unit introduces students to instrumentation and measurement, as a discipline within EEE. The importance of traceable measurement to commerce in general and control system engineering is highlighted.

Measurement theory is examined, including key concepts such as accuracy and precision. Statistical methods for dealing with random uncertainty are introduced and the propagation of measurement uncertainties into derived quantities is considered.

Example test and measurement devices are examined, including the most common benchtop instruments (digital multimeter, oscilloscope) and a data acquisition (DAQ) device. The correct use of each device is described and their performance and specifications are considered in terms of concepts introduced in measurement theory.

The LabVIEW™ programming language is introduced and used to develop a simple measurement system, based on a DAQ device.

 

Pre/co-requisites

Course entry requirements; Algebraic manipulation; log10; exp(x); Basic statistics; Basic electrical parameters: voltage, current and resistance.

Aims

This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in the current academic year and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact.  Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates.

The unit aims to:

Introduce students to instrumentation and measurement as a significant field of specialism within electronic engineering.

Familiarize students with the basic theory and practice of measurement, with an emphasis on electrical measurements.

Enable students to make effective use of common electrical test instruments, including a basic data acquisition device.

Provide an introduction to LabVIEW™ as a tool for developing measurement systems.

 

Learning outcomes

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Developed

Assessed

ILO 1

Describe how electronic signals, representing physical quantities, can be obtained using sensors and instrumentation.

X

X

ILO 2

Use appropriate techniques to describe systematic and random uncertainties in measured data.

X

X

ILO 3

Relate instrument performance to fundamental concepts, such as noise and bandwidth

X

X

ILO 4

Use a data acquisition device to acquire signals from a sensor

X

X

ILO 5

Implement basic signal processing algorithms for the characterisation of measured signals

X

X

 

Teaching and learning methods

Large group lectures delivered primarily using PowerPoint presentations but also incorporating simple demonstrations of instruments and LabVIEW programming. E-learning videos are used to demonstrate some concepts. Presentation slides and notes are available electronically via Blackboard.

Three, three-hour laboratory sessions are delivered in a computer cluster with the aid of Teaching Assistants. The first two sessions aim to familiarise students with the LabVIEW programming environment and basic concepts of visual programming. The third session, which is directly related to the coursework, aims to bring the two halves of the unit together with LabVIEW-based measurement exercises.

Links to supplementary electronic resources are also provided via Blackboard including instructional videos on the use of measurement instruments, and other resources for improving LabVIEW and myDAQ skills.

 

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 15%
Written exam 70%
Report 15%

Online LabVIEW test:

This examination forms 5% of the unit assessment.

Tutorial Questions:

As defined by tutorial schedule

The tutorial questions forms 10% of the unit assessment

Feedback methods

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Recommended reading

Measurement and instrumentation: theory and application - Alan S. Morris, Reza Langari, 2015

Principles of measurement systems - John P. Bentley, 2005

Elements of electronic instrumentation and measurement - Joseph J. Carr, 1996

Hands-on introduction to LabVIEW for scientists and engineers - John Essick, 2019

Introduction to data acquisition with LabVIEW - Robert H. King, 2009

LabVIEW for everyone: graphical programming made easy and fun - Jeffrey Travis, 2006

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 18
Practical classes & workshops 9
Tutorials 5
Independent study hours
Independent study 68

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Paul Wright Unit coordinator
Samuel Walsh Unit coordinator

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