Systems Design and Computing

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to decompose a model of an engineering system and its processes into smaller tasks that can be addressed sequentially through designing real-time computational control, including using algorithms.
• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to produce successful system designs through individual and team working.
• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to examine a system design critically, analyse results and identify potential improvements.
• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to communicate a system design idea/concept graphically.

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• C1 sem2 - assessment: students need to show they have designed a solution to a complex engineering problem utilising their knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles C2 sem2 - assessment: all projects require students to solve complex problems at some stage of the project using first principles of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles C3 sem1/2 - assessment: students build CAD models and use computational methods to design and analyse complex problem solutions C5 sem 2 - assessment: throughout projects students will investigate societal and user needs as appropriate. This will involve consideration of applicable health safety, cultural, societal and environmental matters. C6 sem 1/2 - assessment: all projects apply a systmes design appraoch in the context of solving a complex problem. C12 sem 1/2 - assessment: all projects require the building and testing of physical prototypes C13 sem 2 - assessment: in all projects students select and apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes to build test rigs and working prototypes. Students are encouraged to recognising their limitations.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to interface sensors and actuators to a real-time processor.
• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to prepare geometry data for systems modelling and prototyping processes, ensuring that part geometry and tolerances are consistent with functional and process constraints.
• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to design and implement small computer programs independently.
• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to produce and interpret simulations of system performance.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to identify types of problems to pick the right solution strategy whether computational or physical.
• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to generate innovative designs for systems and components to address the needs of a project brief.
• Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to analyse computer programs to understand and develop their structure.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how to solve system design problems by selecting, modelling, interfacing and integrating algorithms, actuators, sensors and mechanical parts.
• Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the definition of a “system” of parts and how parts interact to meet functional requirements.
• Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how to design and build a system from component parts, both physical and simulated.
• Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of real-time computing and programming principles, the concepts behind software engineering and design decisions in designing software.

SEMESTER 1

• Systems design
• Manufacturing and Design for Manufacturing
• Design of a control system
• Structural Analysis
• Engineering Design and Drawing - good practice
• A microprocessor Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
• Analogue/digital conversion
• Communicating with sensors (e.g. infra-red, ultrasonic)
• Control of motors and servos

Focussed on Acoustical Engineering:

• High level computing for design
• Real-time signal processing with a microcontroller

SEMESTER 2 - Design Project

Design, build and test of an engineering system, working in teams, realised through one of a number of design projects.

Teaching and learning methods

This module will be delivered through a combination of the following:

1. Lectures for the delivery of new material and concepts.

2. Practical sessions where students will tackle a set of design and computing tasks.

3. Workshop sessions for students to work in groups and develop design proposals. Demonstrators/ academic staff will be available to answer questions and provide feedback during practical and workshop sessions.

The teaching pattern is summarised below:

SEMESTER 1

DESIGN: Lectures on formal design theories (weeks 1-12).

COMPUTING: Computer-based practical classes and exercises to introduce a microcontroller and programming system.

Acoustical Engineering students pursue some acoustical engineering specific computer-based sessions. All other students continue with additional sensor and actuator exercises.

All students take part in groups in an assessed mechatronic system design exercise.

Lectures introduce the module and the design project briefs. Formative lab/tutorial sessions support students pursuing design, manufacturing and structural analysis exercises.

SEMESTER 2

Design Project

Workshop sessions (weeks 1-12(18-33)) enable students to pursue the design project within the Design Studios/Workshops and testing (potentially subject to weather conditions) at a suitable location.

Consultation opportunities with staff members are provided each week mainly within this time. Some sessions will clash with other timetabled activities. These clashes have been allowed for and groups are to arrange alternative times to meet and manage their time accordingly. Groups can use the Design Studios/ Workshops in addition to timetabled sessions, during open access times.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Software - Available on managed University computers. • SolidWorks (Student version also available to download for use on personal computers). • MATLAB • Arduino

Textbooks

Newell, P, Holland, K (2006).. Loudspeakers for Music Recording and Reproduction. Focal Press.

Banzi, M (2011). Getting Started with Arduino. 2nd ed.. Maker Media..

Tzivaras, V (2016).. Building a quadcopter with Arduino. Packt Publishing.

Margolis, M (2012).. Make an Arduino-Controlled Robot: 1st ed. Maker Media.

B S I Standards (2007). Engineering Drawing Practice. A Guide for Further and Higher Education to BS 8888: 2006, Technical Product Specification (TPS). British Standards Institution.

Kossiakoff, A. Sweet, W. Seymour, S S. Biemer, (2011).. Systems Engineering Principles and Practice (Wiley Series in Systems Engineering and Management). 2nd ed. New-Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell..

Abbott, I. Doenhoff, A (1960). Theory of Wing Sections. Dover Publications Inc..

Antonsson, E; Cagan, J (2001). Formal Engineering Design Synthesis. Cambridge University Press.

Otto, K. Wood, K (2000).. Product design : techniques in reverse engineering and new product development.. New-jersey: Prentice Hall.

Mccomb, G (2011). Robot Builder's Bonanza. 4th ed.. McGraw-Hill Professional.

James Leake and Jacob Borgeson (2013). Engineering Design Graphics : Sketching, Modeling, and Visualization. Wiley.

(2007). Engineering design: a systematic approach. London: Springer.

Norris, D (2014).. Build your own quadcopter: power up your designs with the Parallax Elev-8. McGraw-Hill Education.

Colin Simmons, (2020). Manual of Engineering Drawing: British and International Standards. Elsevier.

Gudmundsson, S (2013).. General Aviation Aircraft Design. Butterworth-Heinemann.

Raymer, D (2012).. Aircraft Design a Conceptual Approach. 5th ed. American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics.

Margolis, M., Jepson, B. and Weldin, N. R. (2020) (2020). Arduino cookbook : recipes to begin, expand, and enhance your projects.. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly Media..

Edited by A. van Boeijen, J. Daalhuizen, and J. Zijlstra (2020) (2020). Delft design guide : perspectives, models, approaches, methods.. Amsterdam: BIS.

Gomaa, H (2000). Designing Concurrent, Distributed and Real-time Applications with UML. Addison Wesley.

Assessment strategy

Group marks are awarded to students for exercises. However, individual student marks can vary within a group should the assessors deem that there have been unequal contributions from the students within the group. Students complete Peer Feedback to comment on their own and other group member’s contributions. A moderation meeting involving the project tutors will be held at the end of semester 2 to moderate assessments.

This module is coordinated with the co-requisite module FEEG2006 Engineering Management and Law. A proportion of the marks for FEEG2006 will be awarded for management practice associated with the Group Design Project of this module.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal