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Control and Engineering Project A - ELE00091H

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

Module summary

This module is a transition module incorporating material from one previous ten-credit module (Control) plus a shortened version of Engineering Project A.

Control component:

This module provides an introduction to feedback control of linear systems, and how it can be used to provide stability or to obtain a particular response characteristic from a system. The techniques covered have a wide range of applications, including to mechanical systems such as robots, and to electronic systems such as audio amplifiers.

Project A component:

This module further develops the team-working skills introduced in the first and second year projects, this time applied to a self-driving vehicle(s) to efficiently and intelligently map the chemical and/or physical characteristics e.g, pH, temperature, tubidity, of a closed body of water. The first part of the project will require students to select and design, informed by customer requirements, the hardware and software for the vehicle(s), including sensors and actuators.

Related modules

All aspects of Control component teaching are shared with the two other Control+ transition year modules.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

Control component

Subject content aims:

  • To provide a fundamental introduction to the analysis and design of simple analogue controllers for linear, time-invariant, continuous dynamic systems

  • To extend basic control concepts and apply them to more complex problems, with a view to industrial and real-world applications

Graduate skills aims:

  • To develop skills in the selection and application of appropriate numeric and algebraic techniques

Project A component

Subject content aims:

The third-year MEng design group project provides the final step in the sequence of projects before the capstone individual project. It aims to develop all the engineering design and transferable skills described in programme documents and detailed in the MLOs below.

Graduate skills aims:

  • To develop skills in applying knowledge learned in class to a challenging hands-on project

  • To consolidate and further develop skills in teamwork, engineering design and project management

  • To develop skills in technical writing and dissemination to both technical and non-technical audiences

  • To develop skills in effective communications with team members in charge of the mechanical, electrical, software aspects of the robot and sensor design

Module learning outcomes

Control component

Subject content learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Know how to apply the Laplace transform in the development of transfer functions for a range of simple dynamic systems

  • Describe the problems of control system implementation in a real-world context

  • Be able to analyse transfer functions and present the properties of the systems they represent in terms of control objectives

  • Be able to design simple control systems to achieve a set of desired control objectives

  • Be able to use software tools, based upon the MATLAB environment to support control system analysis and design

  • Be able to design active control components such as compensators and PID controllers to achieve desirable control objectives

Graduate skills learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Be able to explain and evaluate advanced technical concepts concisely and accurately

  • Be able to select, adapt and apply a range of mathematical techniques to solve advanced problems

  • Have developed skills in problem solving, critical analysis and applied mathematics

Project A Component

Subject content learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Develop a design specification according to the customers’ requirements, that fully considers technical, financial, regulatory and other constraints.

  • Develop and apply an understanding of control and navigation of self-driving vehicles

  • Develop an appreciation of and discuss a variety of optical, electronic and mechanical sensors for monitoring aqueous contaminants and their associated figures of merit e.g., limit of detection, specificity, repeatability

  • Demonstrate skills in the design and integration of complex electronic, electrical and mechanical systems, both through simulation and experimentation.

  • Produce an integration and test plan for the product.

Graduate skills learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate skills in applying knowledge learned in class to a challenging hands-on project

  • Consolidate, and further develop, skills in teamwork, engineering design and project management

  • Demonstrate skills in effective communications with team members in charge of the hardware and software aspects of the robot design.

  • Demonstrate transferable skills such as presentation skills (to both technical and non-technical audiences) and time management

Module content

See the steady-state module descriptor for Engineering Project A which provides detail which the Project A coordinator will select from in 2023-24 to create a coherent ten-credit version.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Report		 N/A 30
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Control and Engineering Project A - Open Exam 1B		 2 hours 50
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Group Presentation		 N/A 20

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Report

This will include i) a description of the overall system specification (as established by the group), ii) a detailed discussion of the specific components that the individual will take responsibility for iii) a reflective component that focuses on the team work aspects. Parts ii) and iii) would be individual components while part i) would be common to all reports within the group.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Report Reassessment		 N/A 50
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Control and Engineering Project A - Open Exam 1B		 N/A 50

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

  • Homework problem sheets will be provided and marked in workshops.

  • Lab sessions will provide the opportunity to ask questions and receive verbal help and feedback about your progress in developing practical skills.

  • Practice exercises for the continuous assessments will be provided, allowing you to check your progress throughout the module.

  • Questions can be asked at any time, and will be answered as soon as possible.

Summative Feedback

For the marked continuous assessments, marks and the correct answers will be provided.

Indicative reading

For the control component, notes and readings will be provided in class.

For the project component, readings will depend on the chosen project


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.