ENG2003 | 2024 | University of Exeter

MODULE TITLE	Electronic Engineering Challenge Project	CREDIT VALUE	30
MODULE CODE	ENG2003	MODULE CONVENER	Prof Mustafa Aziz (Coordinator)

DURATION: TERM	1	2	3
DURATION: WEEKS	11	11	0

Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated)	35

DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

This module develops the necessary electronic design and practical skills in an electronic engineering degree course through a project based learning approach. Through this project, you will design, implement and test a complete communications system to solve an engineering problem. This module is delivered as an industrial project where you will be working as part of a group to bring the project to a successful conclusion. Through the project based approach, you will use your existing knowledge, learn new theory and skills or adopt a heuristic approach to tackle some aspects of the work. In this way you will gain practical understanding of the electronic design process which can not be developed through lectures alone.

Design, implementation and evaluation of a practicable wireless voice communications system.

In this module you will experience the engineering design cycle and quality management approaches to meet performance and cost requirements, and to mitigate design risks. This module will also develop technical skills including printed circuit board design, electronic circuit design and simulation, analysis and prototyping. This knowledge will be combined with the technical content that you have learnt in core modules to develop, as a group, an integrated communications link solution for a real-world problem such as a wireless voice communications system in disaster areas or for secure analogue communications. You will also identify and analyse, as part of this module, ethical concerns associated with your designed system and how they impact stakeholders and formulate methods to mitigate risk. The project brief will provide sufficient flexibility for different approaches and solutions.

You will have quarterly group progress reports and presentation to manage and demonstrate your progress and the team’s overall progress. Your final design and circuit will be assessed and practically demonstrated at the end of the module.

The development of practical skills, circuit building and testing will be through scheduled practical sessions, workshops and self-planned time. You will have access to the electronics laboratory and various test and measurement equipment, prototyping equipment and electronic components for your project.

Pre-requisites: ENG1009, ENG1005, or equivalent.

AIMS - intentions of the module

The aim of this group project is to develop electronic design and practical skills, and harness the well-developed analytical abilities and previous knowledge to facilitate the circuit design process. This module is delivered as an industrial project and aims to expose students to working in groups and develop awareness of engineering ethics principles. The project based approach provides the opportunity to gain practical understanding of the electronic design process not developed through lectures alone, with time to reflect on learning and problem solving approaches. The module structure and assessment is designed to enable continuous monitoring of individual and group progress, encourage continuous improvement and develop confidence and motivation in the design ability that comes from making systems which work.

The knowledge and skills developed in this project provide the foundation for the individual and group project work in subsequent years, and in 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.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module/Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 analyse sub-systems and complete systems using analogue and digital circuits theorems and circuit simulation/experiments, using information from diverse and relevant sources; (M2, M3, C2, C3)

2 design sub-systems and apply system integration techniques to implement complete and more complex systems, using project and quality management approaches for continuous improvement and meeting requirements ; (M5, M6, M14, C5, C6, C14)

3 implement the circuit designs and analyse circuit performance using practical laboratory skills and use of laboratory equipment and design software, including the selection and application of appropriate components and measurement techniques; (M12, M13, C12, C13)

4 write computer programs using the C-programming language for embedded system development;

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

5 Apply project management techniques: setting realistic targets, allocating tasks, reviewing progress and managing and mitigating risk; (M9, M15, C9, C15)

6 6 Exercise ethical principles of accuracy and rigour, and responsible leadership. Identify and analyse ethical concerns associated with integrated design or product, and assess risks (M8, C8)

7 work effectively as a member of a team and evaluate performance; (M16, C16);

8 communicate complex engineering concepts effectively. (M17, C17)

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

This module will be delivered over two terms. The first term focuses on outlining the design brief, understanding the engineering design process, and developing project management skills. The first term also develops the necessary technical knowledge and skill, carrying out the necessary research, to arrive at the final design specifications, and include assessment of the preliminary stages of the group work . The technical content involve developing knowledge of opto-electronics, power amplifiers and frequency modulation and demodulation. The first term will also develop the necessary programming skill in the C-programming language, which is necessary for the microcontroller engineering module, and used widely in industry.

The second term focuses on the practical implementation, including prototyping and testing of the final circuit designs, the design and development of printed circuit boards, and submission of the final reports. This is then followed by presentation and demonstration of the final group product.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities	72	Guided Independent Study	228	Placement / Study Abroad	0

DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning/teaching	18	Lectures
Scheduled learning/teaching	51	Practical labs/workshops
Scheduled learning/teaching	3	Computer laboratories
Independent study	228	Lecture preparation, wider reading and research, group project work/meetings, laboratory work

ASSESSMENT

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade

None

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
Quarterly group progress reports and presentations*	25	2 - 6 A4 sides, 10 minute presentation	1-3, 5-8 (MC 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)	Written comments with verbal feedback
Final group presentation and demonstration*	25	20 minutes	2, 3, 6, 7, 8 (MC 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 (5, 6, 14, 12, 13, 8, 16, 17)	Written comments and verbal feedback
Final group PCB designs*	10	PCB design files (10 hours)	1, 3 (MC 2, 3, 12, 13)	Written comments and alignment of submission with marking criteria
Final individual report*	20	5 A4 sides	1-3, 8 (MC 2, 3, 5, 6, 14, 12, 13, 17)	Written comments and alignment of submission with marking criteria
Peer group assessment	10	Survey, 1 A4 side	5, 6, 7 (MC 9, 15, 8, 16)	Peer assessment mark
C-programming assignment	10	10 hours	4(MC 3)	Written comments and alignment of submission with marking criteria

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)

By coursework to ensure coverage of all ILOs. Peer group assessment mark carried over from summative assessment (10%)

Original Form of Assessment	Form of Re-assessment	ILOs Re-assessed	Time Scale for Re-assessment
C-programming assignment	C-programming assignment (10%)	4 (MC 3)	Referral/deferral period
Quarterly group progress reports and presentations	Individual design project (80%)	1, 2, 5-8 (MC 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17)	Referral/deferral period
Group presentation and demonstration	Individual design project (80%)	1, 2, 5-8 (MC 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17)	Referral/deferral period
Final individual report	Individual design project (80%)	1, 2, 5-8 (MC 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17)	Referral/deferral period
Final group PCB design	Individual design project (80%)	1, 2, 5-8 (MC 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17)	Referral/deferral period

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Reassessment will be by assignment: for those who fail or defer the C-programming assignment, a new assignment will be set; for those deferring or failing any of the project elements (highlighted by *), a single individual design project will be taken, worth 80% of the module covering the project components (note that the peer assessment cannot be reassessed and the original mark will always be retained). For deferred candidates, the module mark will be uncapped. For referred candidates, the module 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	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	Crecraft, D. and Gorham, D.	Electronics	2	CRC Press	2003	978-0748770366
Set	McGrath, M.	C Programming in Easy Steps	3rd	Computer Step	2002	1-840-78203-X
Set	Pugh, S.	Total Design		Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.	1990	978-0201416398

CREDIT VALUE	30	ECTS VALUE	15

PRE-REQUISITE MODULES	ENG1009, ENG1005
CO-REQUISITE MODULES

NQF LEVEL (FHEQ)	5	AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING	No
ORIGIN DATE	Thursday 21st March 2024	LAST REVISION DATE	Wednesday 11th September 2024

KEY WORDS SEARCH	Electronic design; group project; communications; analogue electronics; digital electronics; frequency modulation, power amplifiers, printed circuit board; C-programming.

Electronic Engineering Challenge Project - 2024 entry