Engineering Control Systems and Instrumentation MSc

This module will provide you with an understanding of the hardware and computer control systems used in modern manufacturing. You will consider how to define appropriate sensors and instruments to be able to automate a process safely and how to break an automation challenge into logical steps. This will develop your ability to automate any such processes through design and programming of PLC control systems. The workshop sessions will give you practical understanding of control systems used in machine tools, industrial robots, automated part handling, and inspection.

This module is concerned with the main fundamental frequency and time-frequency transforms, which form the basis of modern signal processing. In this module you will gain an understanding of the classical, advanced and novel signal processing techniques for characterising and processing digital signals and learn how these techniques can be used in various industrial signal processing applications; fundamental concepts, related to digital signals; the Fourier transform and the power spectral density; the advanced time-frequency transforms: the short-time Fourier transform, the short time chirp Fourier transform and the wavelet transform; classical and advanced digital filters; and the advanced and novel higher order spectra. This module is applicable to a wide range of industrial sectors: aerospace, oil and gas, transport, power generation, construction industry, communication, including cell phone industry, food industry, healthcare and many others.

This module aims to develop your understanding of the strategic aspects of programme and project management and its role in adding competitive advantage to an organisation. The module enables you to gain a firm grounding in the principles, processes, tools and techniques that underpin programme and project management. It also aids you to develop a systematic understanding of the purposes and uses of financial information, together with the ability to use quantitative skills to improve performance management and decision making within an organisation. Emphasis is placed upon the need for competence in project planning and control. Team-working, communication and risk management skills are developed by means of group activity. Extensive use is made of project management and simulation software.

The project provides the opportunity required within an MSc to undertake and manage a major programme of advanced independent work. The aim of this module is to give you the ability to apply your knowledge and skills to conceive and deliver a creative solution to a technical challenge at the forefront of your discipline. Where possible the project is carried out in collaboration with an industrial company and takes place at the company. Your academic supervisor will be based within one of the research centres or institutes within the Department of Engineering and Technology. The project is the opportunity for you to show your ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively and to show originality in tackling and solving problems. You will be allocated a project supervisor(s) who will help guide you through this process. The project will allow you to display the qualities needed for employment in circumstances requiring sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative in complex and unpredictable professional environments.

This module will develop your professional skills such as team working, organisation and leadership. You will also get the opportunity to explore a range of research methods and understand how they can be used in your own area of interest. There will be the opportunity to learn about professional registration in Engineering and how you can begin on that journey. You will learn through self directed study of online material supported by interactive seminars and workshops, this will give you ownership of your own learning and help you develop skills for life long learning and continued professional development. The assessment for this module will enable you to put these skills into practice in coursework which challenges your professional development and research skills whilst focussing on broadening your understanding of contemporary challenges in the sector.

This module provides a critical review of the hardware and software aspects of microcontroller interfacing. You will develop an understanding of embedded systems concepts through the use of various peripherals. You will explore various aspects of microcontroller based systems such as support programs, design environment, memory utilization, compilation, and modularization. This module will extend your design skills in both software and hardware in implementing microcontrollers in embedded systems.

The module equips you with the qualities and transferable skills necessary to design, model and simulate electromechanical systems, for example, servo motion control applications in machine tools, robotics and automated production equipment, "more" electric actuation in transportation and industry. You will explore the linkage of sub-components into a complete system and the interaction of sub-components under steady and dynamic operation.

The module is concerned with the principles of modern communication systems and their application in wireless communication networks, in particular the Internet of Things. You will begin with a basic overview of communications techniques as used in wireless applications. Then you will review existing wireless sensor, and related, technologies such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, NB-IoT and LoRaWAN comparing their performance metrics and application areas. The role of wireless communication technologies in the Internet of Things and similar application areas will be discussed.