Module overview
Conventional laboratory experiments are useful mainly to assist understanding or analysis. Because they are of necessity stereotyped, they are of limited usefulness when a circuit or system must be designed to meet a given specification. The majority of engineering tasks fall into this latter category, and therefore require design or synthesis skills, in addition to the understanding of underlying engineering principles.
This module includes individual and team design exercises devised to provide a bridge between 'conventional' experiments and the project work in the third and fourth years, (which in turn provide a bridge to 'real' projects in industry). The exercise has real deadlines and concrete deliverables and students are encouraged to be creative, develop imaginative solutions and to make mistakes.
Exercises share common characteristics:
- Customer orientated rather than proscriptive specifications are given
- Design work carried out, bringing academic knowledge to bear on practical problems
- Laboratory sessions are used for development/ construction/ verification of designs
- Allow students to demonstrate their communication skills in writing individual and group reports/presentations.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- General design approaches and the processes involved in project management.
- The issues associated with designing practical systems.
- Concepts and issues associated with design problems relevant to your Programme of Study.
- The approaches used to produce a Design Specification for an artefact that needs to be designed, built and tested.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Write technical Design reports.
- Demonstrate an awareness of team structure and dynamics, together with an appreciation of individual roles and responsibilities.
- Demonstrate continual recording and development of self-study and learning across a complex set of both general professional matters and specific technical information.
- Analyse technologies and solutions considering technical aspects, commercial realities, social, ethical and legal obligations.
- Understand personal and group time management in a problem solving environment.
- Apply appropriate professional, ethical and legal practices to your work.
- Present and explain both professional and technical work.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Develop a plan for the implementation of a Design Specification.
- Undertake an evaluation of the complete design and prepare a critical analysis.
- Develop a Design Specification in scenarios involving uncertain, ambiguous and incomplete information.
- Use an iterative approach to Design, identifying issues and the required rectification during the process.
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Design integrated systems, combining both hardware and software systems, and appreciate problems that occur when hardware/software domains are combined.
- Understand and interpret technical literature and data sheets.
- Demonstrate familiarity with the advanced use of test and measurement equipment.
- Undertake small scale mechanical, electrical and/or electronic construction.
Syllabus
- Professionalism
- Project management
- Principles of design
- The development of individual practical skills through completion of a simple build and test exercise, incorporating the production of a system.
- Groups of students are required to undertake a design, build and test project against a predefined specification. The project assessment includes individual log books, group reports and quality assessment of the designed system.
- Effective use of laboratory equipment and test and measurement equipment..
- Introduction to 3D printing is provided as part of the module
- Synthesis vs analysis.
- Effective use of design software including CAD and simulation.
- Designs optimised to meet multiple criteria.
Specific Activities are tailored to specific Programmes:
Electronics:
Integrated circuit design; Analogue circuit design; System design
EEE, Mechatronics, Electrical:
Integrated circuit design; Smart Meter Design
Aerospace Electronics
The students will work in teams to design, build and test an autonomous or remote controlled drone.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
The content of this module is delivered through lectures, module website, directed reading, pre-recorded materials and practical sessions.
Students work on their understanding through a combination of independent study, preparation for timetabled activities, discussion seminars, peer meetings and design classes.
Students work on their practical skills and professional skills through laboratory sessions, peer discussions, design meetings and supervision meetings.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Completion of assessment task | 72 |
| Specialist Laboratory | 24 |
| Lecture | 24 |
| Follow-up work | 12 |
| Wider reading or practice | 10 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 12 |
| Total study time | 154 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Software requirements. The student version of Orcad/PSpice and LTSpice
Online documents. Lecture notes and details of assignments and assessment schemes will be provided on line.
Laboratory space and equipment required. IC fabrication facilities
Textbooks
Lidwell W, Holden K and Butler J (2010). Universal Principles of Design. Rockport Publishers Inc.
Spencer R R & Ghausi M S (2003). Introduction to Electronic Circuit Design. Prentice Hall.
Sedra A S & Smith K C (2004). Microelectronic Circuits. OUP.
Williams T (2005). The Circuit Designer's Companion. Newnes,.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
This module is assessed entirely by a combination of coursework exercises, presentations and reports, along with demonstrations.
There is no referral opportunity for this module.
There is no external repeat opportunity for this module.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Design | 50% |
| Design | 20% |
| Design | 30% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal