Module Aim:  

The aim of the module is to develop fundamental knowledge of engineering,  understanding of how the fundamentals govern performance of systems as well as  experimental investigation techniques in mechanical and electronic engineering.  

Module Delivery:  

This module will be delivered via a mixture of lectures, seminars / tutorials, and laboratory sessions. 

Indicative Content:  

• Statics: Forces, moments/couples, effects of friction, free body diagrams, equations of equilibrium, reaction forces/moments in simple statically determinate assemblies of rigid bodies
• Strength of Materials: Direct and shear stress/strain, Hooke’s law and elastic moduli, Poisson’s ratio, stress-strain relationships in 2D
• Dynamics: Kinematics: Position, velocity and time calculations for systems with constant acceleration
• Kinetics: Newton’s Laws of motion applied to linear motion problems and rotation about a fixed axis. Work, energy and power. Momentum and impulse 
• Fluid Mechanics: Flow regimes (laminar and turbulent), internal and external flow, hydrostatic pressure, buoyancy
• Thermodynamics: States of matter. Temperature scales. Intensive and extensive properties. Specific variables. Heat, work, and power. Control volumes. Conservation of mass and energy. Sensible heat and internal energy. Efficiency and coefficient of performance. Gas laws. Polytropic processes. 
• Heat Transfer: Conduction, convection and radiation mechanisms
• Electrical/Electronic Engineering
• Basic DC theory: Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws, resistors in series and parallel combinations, single source circuits, Thévenin's theorem
• Basic AC theory: Resistance/capacitance/inductance circuits, series and parallel, phase shift and impedance triangle, power and power factor

Module Aim:  

To develop a foundation for the understanding and familiarisation of basic analogue and digital electronic components, systems and their applications and to introduce their applications. 

You will study topics such as: 

• Digital electronics 
• Mathematics for digital electronics
• Digital electronic circuit components  
• Circuit design methods
• Digital components and circuits
• Software packages for digital circuit design 
• Analogue electronics
• Analogue electronics key basic components  
• Analogue circuit concepts and signals 
• Measurement and testing techniques 
• Non-linear electronic devices principles and applications

Module Aim:  

This module is intended to teach mathematical methods and the basics of computer programming, using a structured approach to mathematical techniques, programming and appropriate software tools, thus enabling students to produce mathematical and programming solutions for a range of simple engineering problems.

Module Delivery: 

This module will be delivered via a mixture of lectures, seminars / tutorials, and laboratory sessions. 

Indicative Content:  

• Software development processes and tools. number systems and character coding 

• Primitive data types and data structures, variable declaration and initialisation 

• Basic arithmetic and logical expressions 

• Basic programming constructs, such as; selection and iteration 

• Creation of functions, arrays, pass by value and reference arguments. 

• Relevant language specific features and applications, 

• Solving/manipulating equations involving elementary functions (polynomials, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic). 

• Differentiation, integration, and applications. 

• Complex numbers and applications. 

• Matrices and solving systems of linear equations. 

• Analytical solutions of 1st and 2nd order ODEs. 

• Software-based solution verification e.g. MATLAB 

This module will be delivered through design challenges such as IET Global Challenge, Engineers without Borders, etc as an applied project using blended approaches. This gives the students an opportunity to recognise and engage with professional behaviours and roles that consider inclusivity and industry sector values and give them a chance to express their own values. Students will work collaboratively in teams to explore real-world challenges and professional roles. The Engineers Without Borders’ “Engineering for People” design project for example will give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of electronics, develop team working and leadership skills and apply their knowledge of CAD software and lab equipment. Students will reflect on their own strengths, recognise their professional behaviours, limitations, and experiences from Engineers Without Borders’ “Engineering for People” design project to support their future preparation for a recruitment and placement.     

Indicative Content:  

• Safe working practices, relevant codes of practice (including risk and environmental issues) and safety standards.  

• Engineering processes (e.g. using hand and tools, test equipment, soldering, fabrication, and measurements).  

• Design and development tools, with appreciation of their limitations and applicability. 

• Computer based design tools (e.g. Solidworks, Eagle CAD, simulation tools, etc). 

• Sketching and interpretation of engineering drawings and electrical/electronic circuit diagrams. 

• Design, building, testing and modification of appropriate artefacts to meet the requirement of an external body or competition, such as IET Global Challenge, Engineers without Borders, etc. 

• Report writing, team working, oral presentations. 

• Professional and personal development planning. 

Module Aim:  

This module will develop knowledge and understanding in both the art and science of electronic circuit engineering and develop confidence and competence in the application of design skills to unfamiliar problems incorporating technical uncertainty. 

Module Delivery: 

This module will be delivered via a mixture of lectures, seminars / tutorials, and laboratory sessions. 

Indicative Content:  
 

• Fitness for purpose and awareness of professional codes of practice, health and safety constraints, cost, environmental and sustainability considerations in the design and selection of electronic circuits and systems. 

• Digital component technology. Logic system design. Top-down design methodology, state machine approach to the design of sequential circuits. Synthesis of digital circuits using FPGAs. Introduction to high level synthesis, simulation & implementation techniques using integrated design environments, incorporating a variety of design entry approaches. The analogue/digital interface. 

• Schematic capture and simulation/verification of appropriate circuits. Circuit design techniques. Device and circuit modelling. Power supplies: linear and switching. Amplification and other circuit design techniques, linear and non-linear applications. Waveform generators and signal conditioning circuits. Discrete circuits. Bipolar and field effect transistor equivalent circuits. Constant current circuits. Discrete differential amplifiers. Feedback. Filter types and properties and design of filters according to specifications. 

This module develops the electronics technology thread that runs through the course.  

Module Aim:  

The module aims to provide a general introduction to the control of engineering processes, including sequential and feedback control. The integration of modelling and simulation together with the use of instrumentation in an automated system to perform real world tasks will be explored. 

Module Delivery: 

This module will be delivered via a mixture of lectures, seminars / tutorials, and laboratory sessions. 

Indicative content:  

• System dynamics; dynamic modelling for electro-mechanical systems, transfer functions and block diagrams 
• 1st order and 2nd order system step response performance characteristics, closed loop stability 
• PID controllers & PLC applications 
• Instrumentation systems, sensors, actuators, robots 
• Machine vision systems 

Module Aim:  

This module, through an applied project, will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design and develop engineering solutions that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs.  

Students learn to apply an integrated or systems approach to complex problems, evaluate environmental and societal impacts, identify and analyse ethical concerns, and adopt an inclusive approach to engineering practice. 

Indicative content:  
 

• Identifying, understanding and defining the problem 

• Identifying system goals and constraints 

• Evaluate and select appropriate Processor system(s) and peripherals. 

• Understanding of hardware and software I/O and relevant interfacing technologies  

• Developing a solution that meets the system's goals and constraints  

• Evaluating the solution 

• Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex problems and minimise adverse impacts, while reflecting upon their career aspirations. 

This module builds upon concepts and practical approaches introduced at level 4 and will prepare you for sandwich placement and for level 6 project. 

Module Aim:  

This module provides a background in mechanical engineering concepts and covers the principles and design of mechatronic systems.  

The module addresses several core themes including Materials Engineering and Computer Aided Design (Mechanical engineering concepts) and the control and integration of electro-mechanical systems. (Mechatronics) 

The topics are interlinked through a project-based design and prototyping task which requires all core themes to be considered and addressed demonstrating the interdisciplinary requirements of typical engineering projects.  

Module Delivery: 

This module will be delivered via a mixture of lectures, seminars / tutorials, and laboratory sessions. 

Indicative Content:  
 

• Computer Aided Design CAD – Construction and verification of assembly models 

• Evaluation of and management of CAD in the design process and within the working environment 

• Material structures - Introduction to the three main engineering materials, ceramics, polymers and metals 

• Material properties – mechanical/electrical/Thermal  

• Material classification and applications  

• Measurement systems; automated data acquisition, processing and display. 

• Programmable automation/control systems 

• Sensors and Actuators 

• Electronical/electronics for sensing and measurement 

• Electronical/electronics for action and control  

This module builds on both electrical and mechanical threads running through the course and demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of the course and overall engineering discipline. 

Module Aim:  

This module will develop the skills and knowledge needed that will allow students to identify and analyse tasks that can be automated using real-time input devices (sensors and vision) to control and produce desirable behaviours in robotic devices.  This module fuses together software techniques with hardware. 

Module Delivery: 

This module will be delivered via a mixture of lectures and practical laboratory sessions. 

Indicative Content:  

• Machine vision, including colour, object and feature detection and identification 

• Sensor and actuator applications 

• Simulation and modelling techniques 

• Embedded robotic devices 

• Control algorithms 

• Handling real-time data 

• Human-machine interactions and interfaces 

• Safety and ethics of automated advanced robotics 

Module Aim:  

This module will develop theoretical and practical expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet-of-Things (IoT) allowing the student to acquire a range of data using embedded IoT technologies and analyse them using AI. 

Module Delivery: 

This module will be delivered via a mixture of lectures, seminars / tutorials, and laboratory sessions. 

Indicative Content:  

AI contents: 

• Overview of AI and its role in solving engineering and scientific challenges. 

• Machine learning fundamentals. 

• Neural networks, deep learning, fuzzy systems, and evolutionary algorithms. 

IoT contents: 

• In system embedded communication protocols (such as serial buses). 

• Embedded TCP-IP. 

• IoT protocols. 

This module builds on the embedded systems, and digital and communications technologies threads running through the course.  

Your individual final year project is the apex of your academic journey, offering a platform to apply the wealth of knowledge and skills gathered throughout your degree to real-world linked problems. This module requires your creativity, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to navigate new material independently in whichever field you choose to specialise in. 

This module allows you to: 

• Undertake in-depth research in a topic of your choosing

• The opportunity to work alongside cutting-edge researchers 

• Create a body of work that can support you into further study, or work in a field that interests you

Develop solid foundations for undertaking a self-managed academic research project. On this module you will develop the skills and understanding you will need to complete your dissertation project to the highest level. Through lectures, guided reading and one-to-one discussions with your project supervisor you will design a design a path through to successful completion of an extensive research project including developing the project management skills you will need to achieve this. 

You’ll study topics such as 

• The life cycle of a project 

• Reviewing academic literature 

• Quality management 

• Project management techniques and tools 

• Research ethics 

• Intellectual property rights