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Engineering Project 2 - ELE00052I

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  • Department: Electronic Engineering
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Emma Osborne
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

This module further develops the team-working skills introduced in the first-year project, this time applied to a robot that can follow a maze and select the shortest route from start to finish. The project will require mechanical, electrical and software design and construction. Selection of appropriate materials, including sensors and hardware, as well as the controlling electronics. Finally you will assemble the parts, and test the robot’s ability to solve and navigate mazes ready to compete with other robots.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

To build on the first year group project and further develop student skills in group project working. In particular, students will work in groups on a product involving the development of a maze solving robot. Students will gain hands-on experience with designing machine vision algorithms, microcontrollers, and problem-solving algorithms capable of determining the optimal solution to a problem.

Module learning outcomes

Subject specific learning outcomes:

  • Analyse requirements for robot tasks.
  • Describe how to analyse and select sensors and actuators for a simple robot based on the robot’s required functions.
  • Apply electronics skills in robotic prototyping
  • Apply design skills and develop into construction
  • Apply programming skills to achieve a desired outcome

Graduate learning outcomes:

  • Operate within a functional team.
  • Be able to determine the research needs for a project and seek out appropriate resources
  • Produce a project plan and manage the project in accordance with it
  • Document the work undertaken in the project to a professional standard
  • Work professionally in laboratories with knowledge of health & safety
  • Decide what ethical approval is required for the project
  • Produce a work breakdown structure and project plan
  • Formally record meetings and track actions
  • Quantify & manage risks in their project
  • Reflect on the effectiveness of their own time management

Module content

The project is based on the international competition for micro mouse maze racing robots. The project will initially analyse the Pololu 3Pi line following robot and use the ideas to develop individual robots capable of following mazes made up of walls. Understanding and developing the theory is only the starting point, building and refining the robot to operate autonomously will present an additional set of practical challenges.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Demonstration / Viva		 N/A 10
Essay/coursework
Individual Project Report		 N/A 70
Groupwork
Group Project Specification Report		 N/A 10
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Group Presentation of Specification		 N/A 10

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Individual Report Reassessment		 N/A 100

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments. A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.

The School of PET aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. The School will endeavour to return all exam feedback within the timescale set out in the University's Policy on Assessment Feedback Turnaround Time. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Statement of Feedback

Formative Feedback

Regular labs allow you to engage with the electronic interfacing and programming material and receive verbal help and feedback on your coding and design. Feedback will be provided throughout practical sessions by practical supervisors. This is also an opportunity to ask questions.

Emails to the Module Staff with Questions / Comments will be answered as soon as possible.

Weekly Meetings with the group’s Supervisor allows regular progress to be tracked, problems ironed out, questions to be asked, and plans to be made and checked. Feedback is also provided by second supervisors responding to weekly reports.


Summative Feedback

You will receive a customised feedback sheet, showing the mark breakdown in each of the key areas being assessed:
For the Initial Report (Group): Product idea & Design; Specification; Group Organisation; Report quality.
For the Interim Presentation (Group): Quality of presentation; Demonstration of group work and cooperation; Artists’ impressions of final product; Answers to Questions.
For the Final Report (Individual): Detailed description of Product idea, Design and Specification; Descriptions of Individual Contributions; Critical Analysis of Group Organisation; Overall Report quality.
For the Demonstration Video (Group): Effective demonstration of working (or partially working) product; Video scripting, production & editing quality;

For each assignment, personalised feedback is given along with suggestions for improvement. The comments explain how well you have met the learning objectives, and also give you feedback about the things you could improve in future assignments.

Indicative reading

Refer to Wiki page for more information


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.