This module aims to provide you with a thorough introduction to key concepts underlying advanced topics in control of industrial systems analysis and design. Conventional engineering and industrial applications and examples are provided emphasising particular differences in the design procedure. The weekly lectures and tutorials deliver a comprehensive insight into current industrial control technology and practices, including Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Distributed Control System (DCS) systems. Subjects include discrete event system control, programming pneumatics PLCs, and an introduction to manipulator theory and practice.
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The module aims to provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of different types of sensors and their relevance for the control systems and the architectures for the fusion of information coming from the plethora of sensors available. It aims to systematically analyse industry motivations, legislations, roadmaps and customer requirements. Key parameters to critically compare different sensors are discussed, and issues related to sensor limitations and different performances are evaluated with an emphasis on system architecture and control. Topics are introduced from a practical viewpoint thus allowing you to be able to critically evaluate key design parameters and independently apply the learning to a wide range of practical electronic sensors and systems deployed to achieve smartly connected and autonomous systems.
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This module is led by a multidisciplinary investigative project. Weekly topics are introduced to provide ideas to the teams for your research and study. The case study involves the production and presentation of a case study-based research and investigation of a ‘sustainable design and management’ scenario. Each team will demonstrate a proposed management plan for designing an innovative engineering solution to the sustainability design problem, considering the societal, user, business, and customer needs and requirements for health and safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, environmental, commercial, and code of conduct. The weekly lectures will provide you with a conceptual foundation across several disciplines, including engineering management systems, green energy systems, sustainable environmental design and development, behavioural changes, and policies. The module also addresses topics unique to energy technologies, such as Smart Grid, interfacing, and design issues. This module will introduce you to basic sustainable technologies, ranging from traditional topologies to modern renewable energy-based systems, including energy storage systems such as fuel cells. Hybrid electrical vehicle principles are also briefly introduced. The module builds a smooth transition from background material to more complex systems and applications, in the modern context of sustainability and will further develop a critical awareness and understanding of engineering operating systems including production, manufacturing, planning and plant resources required for a business to operate efficiently and reliably satisfy customers' needs and including requirements for health and safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, environmental, commercial, and code of conduct while staying true to their sustainability strategy. The module will further provide you with an in-depth study of the operating systems used in complex technical organisations to identify good practices and the tools and techniques to systematically develop and improve the efficiency of such systems, including the use of discrete event simulation. For the assignment and in the development of your case study, you'll exercise your analytical thinking and show your understanding of different roles within a sustainability and engineering management team and you'll demonstrate your aptitude to exercise initiative and personal responsibility, which may be as a team member or leader.
View the full module definitionThis module supports you as you prepare and submit a Masters-stage project, dissertation or artefact. It's an opportunity to select and explore in-depth a topic of interest and relevance to your course - and to gain a significant level of expertise. Through this module you will: demonstrate your ability to generate significant and meaningful questions in relation to your specialism; undertake independent research using appropriate, recognised methods based on current theoretical research knowledge; critically understand method and its relationship to knowledge; develop a critical understanding of current knowledge in relation to a chosen subject, and critically analyse and evaluate information and data, which may be complex or contradictory, and draw meaningful and justifiable conclusions; develop the capability to expand or redefine existing knowledge; to develop new approaches to changing situations and/or develop new approaches to changing situations and contribute to the development of best practice; demonstrate an awareness of and to develop solutions to ethical dilemmas likely to arise in your research or professional practice; communicate these processes in a clear and elegant fashion; evaluate your work from the perspective of an autonomous, reflective learner.
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