Study information

Electronic Design and Build: Part 1 - Research - 2025 entry

MODULE TITLEElectronic Design and Build: Part 1 - Research CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEENG3021A MODULE CONVENERProf Monica Craciun (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 16
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content
To be successful in any industry requires a keen awareness of the commercial landscape in which you operate. Electronic engineering is no different; in this module  you and your team will undertake the research and design work required for the completion of a hands-on design and build project that challenges you to develop, prototype and explore the market for a solution to an electronic engineering challenge. This project emphasis the combination of commercial awareness and the application of sound engineering knowledge. You will have creative freedom and be encouraged to develop innovative engineering solutions to real-world problems and market opportunities.
 
This project will put you and your team in the enviable position of having the time and resources to deploy your creativity and engineering knowledge towards a commercial opportunity. Through this group project you will use and develop further your skills in electronic engineering design through a project-based learning approach. Within this module, you will design an electronic system for human-robot interactions with main applications in space explorations. Human-robot interaction plays an important role in future planetary exploration mission, where astronauts with extravehicular activities will need to control robot assistants, such as exploration drones or rovers using gesture-type user interfaces embedded in their space suits. The module will focus on researching and designing an interactive astronaut smart glove system for the astronaut to use hand gestures to control robot assistants. The electronic system that you will design will also have applications in other fields beyond space exploration, such as haptic feedback for virtual and augmented reality applications or healthcare. For example, in healthcare, it could be used in rehabilitation, helping patients recover mental and physical abilities lost due to injuries. The project brief will provide sufficient flexibility for different approaches and solutions.

 

AIMS - intentions of the module
 
Technically, the aim of this group project is to broaden your electronic design and research skills, and harness your well-developed analytical abilities and previous knowledge to facilitate the design process for an electronic system for human-robot interactions. This module also aims to continue to expose students to working in groups. The project-based approach provides the opportunity to gain further understanding of electronic design not developed through lectures alone, with time to reflect on learning and problem-solving approaches. The module structure and assessment is designed to develop confidence and motivation in the research and design abilities that comes from making systems which work.
 
This project will not only focus on technical challenge, of equal importance is identifying a viable commercial opportunity and strategy to capitalise on it. This project aims to broaden your appreciation for the commercial realities that all engineering activities must face. It’s no good creating a world beating solution that nobody wants to pay for! In this project you will need to deploy more than technical engineering knowledge.
 
The knowledge and skills developed in this group project provide further preparation for placement and work in industry. 
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)
Programmes that are accredited by the Engineering Council are required to meet Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (AHEP4) Learning Outcomes.  The Engineering Council AHEP4 Learning Outcomes are taught and assessed on this module and identified in brackets below.
 
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
 
1 Use technical literature and engineering knowledge to facilitate the development of solutions for an interactive astronaut smart glove system; (M4, M16) 
2 Develop a design proposal that meets set requirements for electronic systems for human-robot interactions; (M5, M16
 
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
 
3 Use data to make evidence-based decisions and logical arguments; (M4, M16)
 
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:
 
4 Present information in a professional manner; (M17)
5 Condense a large amount of technical information into a compelling and concise report form; (M17)
6 Carry out market research to identify commercial opportunities and assess potential market demand. (M16, M17)

 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
This project does not have a set taught syllabus. However, activities you can expect to be engaged with include: 
  1. Identification and investigation of a technical challenge related to the design of an electronic system for space applications.
  2. Development of the technical knowledge for carrying out the necessary research.
  3. Identification and investigation of market opportunity related to the technical challenge: identify a ‘pain point’ that you and your team have the ability to address.
  4. Identify any existing solutions and their limitations: who/what if anything is currently solving this problem and where/how are they vulnerable to disruption?
  5. Identify a differentiating innovation to an existing solution or propose a new solution with an outline scheme design or proposal for innovation.
  6. Investigate the potential market size and demand for your improved solution through traditional market research including direct outreach. Ask potential customers if your solution is a vitamin (“nice to have, but I don’t really need it”) or a pain killer (“where do I sign up…take my money”).
  7. Produce a costed development plan to implement in part two of this project (term 2)
  8. Build a case for securing funding to develop the product or solution or business opportunity and bring it to market or secure further investment. Present an outline business case and pitch it to an investor panel.

 

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 18 Guided Independent Study 132 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning/teaching  2 Initial project kick-off lecture
Scheduled learning/teaching  11 Weekly one hour troubleshooting tutorial session
Scheduled learning/teaching  5 Biweekly case study lecture and discussion
Independent study 132 Project development work

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
 
Weekly tutorial sessions will provide feedback via group meetings (5 min each group) held with module lecturers.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 100 Written Exams 0 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
C1: Research, product design specification and Conceptual Design- Group Technical Report - Group 50 10 A4 sides (max) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6 (M 4, 5, 16, 17) Written comments and verbal feedback
C2: Development Technical Report - Individual 50 6 A4 sides (max) 1,2,3,5 (M 4, 5, 16, 17) Written comments
         

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Group Technical Report, Development Technical Report Design development executive summary (2 page) and technical report (8 pages) (100%)  all Ref/Def Period 
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Reassessment will be to complete a project based on a brief that will be provided to students by the module lead. This will be worth 100% of the module and will be assessed by one coursework submissions, comprising a report of research, product design specification and design concepts. For deferred candidates, the mark will be uncapped. For referred candidates, the mark will be capped at 40%. 

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Crecraft, D. and Gorham, D. Electronics 2 CRC Press 2003 978-0748770366
Set Floyd, Thomas L., Buchla, David M. Electronics Fundamentals: Circuits, Devices and Applications Pearson 2010 978-0135096833
Set Horowitz, P. and Hill, W. The Art of Electronics 2nd or 3rd CUP 2015 978-0-521-80926-9
Set Pugh, S. Total Design Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. 1990 978-0201416398
Set Roth, C.H (JR), Kinney, Larry, L. Fundamentals of Logic Design 6th International edition Cengage Learning 2010 978-0495667766
Set Storey, N. Electronics: A Systems Approach Pearson 2017 9781292114064
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES ENG1005, ENG1006, ENG2003, ENG2004, ENG2118, ENG1009
CO-REQUISITE MODULES
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 6 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Friday 22nd March 2024 LAST REVISION DATE Wednesday 5th March 2025
KEY WORDS SEARCH Electronic design; group project; commercial opportunity

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.