ENG2003 - Electronic Engineering Challenge Project (2023)

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MODULE TITLEElectronic Engineering Challenge Project CREDIT VALUE30
MODULE CODEENG2003 MODULE CONVENERDr Anna Baldycheva (Coordinator), Prof Mustafa Aziz
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 12 11
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 30
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.  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 learn the electronic engineering design cycle, including the conceptualisation of potential solutions, synthesis of the concepts into well defined structure/blocks, analysis, integration, testing of the structure components and refinements to meet performance and cost requirements, and to mitigate design risk. This module will also develop technical skills including printed circuit board design, electronic circuit design and simulation, analysis, component selection, prototyping, use of laboratory equipment and programming. 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. 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 as part of a group presentation at the end of the module. 
 
The development of practical skills, circuit building and testing will be through scheduled practical sessions, design surgeries 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 also 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 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 enable continuous monitoring of individual and group progress, 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)
This module contributes to learning outcomes: SM1p/SM1m, SM5m, EA1p-EA4p, EA1m-EA4m, EA6m, D2p-D6p, D2m-D6m, D8m, ET1p, ET3p/ET3m, ET4p/ET4m, ET6p/ET6m, EP2p-EP4p, EP2m-EP4m, EP6p/EP6m, EP7p/EP7m, EP9p, EP11m, G1p-G4p, G1m-G4m.
 
A full list of the referenced outcomes is provided online: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/subjects/engineering/accreditation/
 
On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
 
Module/Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge: SM1p/SM1m, SM5m, EA1p-EA4p, EA1m-EA4m, EA6m, D2p-D6p, D2m-D6m, D8m, ET4p/ET4m, EP2p-EP4p, EP2m-EP4m, EP6p/EP6m, EP7p/EP7m, EP8m
 
1 grasp the engineering design process and methods to facilitate the development of products or solutions to real and complex problems;
 
2 develop knowledge and understanding of the general structure of communication systems and concepts (such as modulation);
 
3 understand the function and use of a wide range of important analogue and digital components and circuits and apply this knowledge for the analysis and development of a wide range of electronic circuits;
 
4 carry out a system level design and integration, and develop awareness of system/product quality to evaluate and improve system performance ;
 
5 develop the ability to research and extract required data and information from diverse and relevant sources to solve unfamiliar problems
 
6 convert system specifications into practical electronic designs taking into account the sometimes conflicting requirements of system complexity, cost, sustainability and compliance to specification;
 
7 use computational tools for the design and analysis of electronic circuits, including SPICE circuit simulators and printed circuit board design software;
 
8 demonstrate enhanced prototyping skills and use of laboratory equipment;
 
9 write computer programs using the C-programming language for embedded system development;
 
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and  Knowledge: ET1p/ET1m, ET3p/ET3m, ET6p, EP9p, EP11m, G1p-G4p, G1m-G4m
 
10 illustrate basic project management skills: setting realistic targets, allocating tasks, reviewing progress and managing risk;
 
11 Develop awareness of engineering ethics principles such as accuracy and rigour, and responsible leadership.
 
12 show enhanced group working skills;
 
13 demonstrate improved written, graphical and oral communication skills.

 

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 and 21st century skills development. 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 70.00 Guided Independent Study 230.00 Placement / Study Abroad
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning/teaching 18 Lectures
Scheduled learning/teaching 12 PBL Support Sessions
Scheduled learning/teaching 40 Computer/practical laboratories
Independent study 230 Lecture preparation, tutorial sheets, wider reading, group project work, 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
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 1-8, 10-13 Written comments with verbal feedback
Final group presentation and demonstration* 25 20 minutes 1-8, 10-13 Written comments with verbal feedback
Final group PCB designs* 10 PCB design files (10 hours) 4-8, 12 Written comments and alignment of submission with marking criteria
Final individual report* 20 5 A4 sides 2-8, 10, 13 Written comments and alignment of submission with marking criteria
Peer group assessment 10 Survey, 1 A4 side 1, 10-12 Peer assessment mark
C-programming assignment 10
10 hours
 9 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%) 9 August Ref/Def Period
Quarterly group progress reports and presentations;  Individual design project (80%) 1-8, 10-13 August Ref/Def Period
Group presentation and demonstration Individual design project (80%) 1-8, 10-13 August Ref/Def Period
Final individual report Individual design project (80%) 2-8, 10, 13 August Ref/Def Period
Final group PCB design Individual design project (80%) 4-8, 12 August Ref/Def 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

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/view.php.?id=13173

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN Search
Set Floyd, Thomas L., Buchla, David M. Electronics Fundamentals: Circuits, Devices and Applications Pearson 2010 978-0135096833 [Library]
Set Horowitz, P. and Hill, W. The Art of Electronics 2nd or 3rd CUP 2015 978-0-521-80926-9 [Library]
Set Crecraft, D. and Gorham, D. Electronics 2 CRC Press 2003 978-0748770366 [Library]
Set McGrath, M. C Programming in Easy Steps 3rd Computer Step 2002 1-840-78203-X [Library]
Set Pugh, S. Total Design Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. 1990 978-0201416398 [Library]
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 Wednesday 29 September 2021 LAST REVISION DATE Wednesday 18 January 2023
KEY WORDS SEARCH Electronic design; group project; communications; analogue electronics; digital electronics; frequency modulation, power amplifiers, printed circuit board; C-programming.