MEng Mechatronic Engineering

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Embedded Systems Project

Course unit fact file
Unit code EEEN21000
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Students will work in teams to create a battery-powered robot buggy. The robot will autonomously navigate around a track using one or more sensor types. The project culminates with a competition to find the fastest buggy.

A working robot buggy requires many technical skills to combine: a battery power source, gearbox selection, control circuits for motor drives, drive shaft encoders as well as an array of sensors and the software to control the robot.

The project also enables the development of team working and project management skills, which are central to modern engineering.

Project teams will be formed a mix of degree programmes and abilities

The Embedded Systems Project will begin in the first semester with lectures, laboratories and workshops which deal with topics such as:

•           Motors and sensors

•           Introduction to Software Design

•           PWM and the STM32 microcontroller

•           Control systems

•           Engineering Drawing

Additional Lectures will be organised on a year-by-year basis to reflect changes to the project.

 

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Microcontroller Engineering I EEEN10202 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Microcontroller Engineering II EEEN20011 Co-Requisite Compulsory
Electronics Project EEEN10141 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 2020/21 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 course unit aims to provide a practical introduction to microcontrollers and embedded systems.

 

Learning outcomes

ILO 1 Develop personal, professional and team-working skills with special regards to the values of engineering principles in ethical practice, such as honesty, integrity, fairness, accuracy, rigour and leadership. (Developed and assessed).

ILO2 Understand the steps involved in the design, specification, implementation and testing of an embedded system across the product lifecycle, including considerations of sustainability, for example, in the efficient and effective use of resources, environmental impact, and design from manufacture to disposal. (Developed and assessed).

ILO3 Develop tests, analyse data and apply outcomes to the understanding and continuing improvement of a system. This includes quantifying and explaining error during experiments, or identification and diagnosis of faults (debugging) in hardware and software. (Developed and assessed).

ILO4 Develop engineering product development skills following best practice project and quality management practices, such as use of planning tools, documentation, version control, and production of files for manufacture following relevant standards and design rules. (Developed and assessed).

ILO5 Create elegant, maintainable and efficient program code. (Developed and assessed).

ILO6 Develop report writing and oral presentation skills. (Developed and assessed).

 

Teaching and learning methods

Didactic lectures

Problem based learning

Laboratory based learning

 

Assessment methods

Assessment task

Length

Weighting within unit (if relevant)

 

Design report #1:
Motor characterisation report.

10 pages, A4

10%

Design report #2 :

Software Sensor selection and Control Algorithm

 

22 pages, A4

21%

Semester 1 Blackboard Quiz

1 hour

7%

Proposal Report

15 pages, A4

10%

Technical Demonstration 1

15 minutes

4%

Technical Demonstration 2

15 minutes

4%

Technical Demonstration 3

15 minutes

4%

Technical Demonstration 4 / Heats

2 hours

10%

Semester 2 Blackboard Quiz

1 hour

7%

Final Report

18 pages, A4

23%

 

Feedback methods

Written feedback within two weeks of submission (Design Reports, Proposal Report, Final Report).

Technical demonstrations (verbal feedback, immediate)

Results released within two weeks of assessment (Blackboard Quizzes)

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 12
Practical classes & workshops 47
Tutorials 11
Independent study hours
Independent study 130

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Liam Marsh Unit coordinator

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