Why you should study this course
At Coventry University, we believe that studying engineering should be so much more than just learning theory and passing examinations. Our activity-led learning approach should enable you to develop your skills and knowledge by working on real-life problems and projects, some commissioned by our industry collaborators.
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Designed to follow the Engineering Council UK-SPEC standard, the course encompasses theoretical and practical subjects within the broad area of embedded systems engineering as used by industries as diverse as mobile communications, IoT, household robots and video game consoles.
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We aim to regularly update course content to reflect emerging trends and knowledge fields to enrich your technical and transferrable skills. For example, embedded hardware engineering provides knowledge and experience of the engineering techniques and processes required for the realisation of embedded hardware systems. Robotics is another key area, so we will examine the sub-systems that a robot needs, such as sensors to perceive its environment, cognition to make informed decisions, image processing to ‘see’ and detect objects in the real world and the mechanics to enable movement through 3D space.
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You’ll study in our modern £50 million Engineering and Computing building, with access to extensive facilities4 and the latest technologies in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering, such as a new machines and microprocessors laboratory.
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You’ll be taught by experts in their field, some of whom are currently active researchers in areas that include but are not limited to wireless sensors and pervasive computing, and embedded micro-electronics. This not only helps to inform your teaching, keeping you abreast of new developments and issues, but also provides opportunities to partner staff on research projects (subject to availability, staff are subject to change).
What you'll study
One half of the course concentrates on areas such as embedded hardware engineering, wireless intelligent systems, signal processing and robotics.
The other half examines areas such as embedded operating systems, embedded system programming, digital system design, communications systems, and consultancy.
Ultimately, you will be required to perform a detailed research or design study with the help of an experienced supervisor into a technical aspect from the course. You can choose a topic to suit your interests, research to assist your career aspirations or a practical project. As an example, one former student worked on a project commissioned by RTF Europe to develop a recoiler unit for mobile phone display security in shops.
Modules
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Wireless Intelligent Systems – 15 credits
This module aims to provide you with practical design and implementation skills in devising wireless intelligent embedded systems. The module focuses on the nature of computation, communications and hardware/software support needed to design large scale distributed and wirelessly connected embedded systems.
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Digital Signal and Image Processing – 15 credits
This module will first revise/introduce the fundamentals of the analysis of digital signals and systems. This will then lead to the development of higher-level signal processing techniques and filter design before applying them to some problems to demonstrate their applications. Additionally, the concepts of digital image processing and image enhancement techniques will be introduced.
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Robotics – Kinematics, Dynamics and Applications – 15 credits
This module aims to introduce the science and engineering of mechanical manipulation, an introduction to mobile robotics, some common sensors used in the field, drive mechanisms and their differing configurations and some of their applications. It covers the major relevant fields of mechanics, control theory, locomotion and computer science.
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Embedded Hardware Engineering – 15 credits
This module aims to provide knowledge and experience of the engineering techniques and processes required for the realisation of embedded hardware systems. It involves a detailed study of advanced contemporary devices and their applications together with an opportunity to develop practical skills in the laboratory.
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Embedded System Programming – 15 credits
This module aims to provide you with practical experience in the programming of real-time embedded systems including analysis, design and implementation of appropriate computer programs.
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Digital Communication Systems – 10 credits
This module aims to provide a deep understanding of the principles of digital communications applicable to both wired and wireless systems to include data transmission, source coding, channel coding, channels and security.
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Embedded Operating Systems – 10 credits
This module introduces you to embedded operating systems. The main topics covered will include basic embedded OS concepts such as processes, memory management, drivers and file systems. Embedded storage and an actual embedded OS will be studied.
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Field Programmable Gate Arrays Based Digital System Design – 15 credits
The module aims to provide a capability to apply the VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL) for the simulation and synthesis of digital systems on FPGAs. It covers the essential syntax of VHDL and its coding styles for different digital functions and their simulation and implementation. A practical approach is adopted involving the use of contemporary VHDL design tools.
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Entrepreneurial Practice – 10 credits
This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to effectively lead and develop people in a strategic and entrepreneurial way. Ultimately, you will be given the opportunity to develop strategic priorities for entrepreneurial leadership.
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Individual Project – 60 credits
The project is intended to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your competence in applying the concepts and skills acquired during the taught part of the course. The project may be a solution to a practical problem or focus on a research topic. The project serves the dual purpose of providing a means of integrating previous learning and facilitating the acquisition of valuable professional experience.
How you'll learn
Your course will be taught using traditional teaching methods such as lectures, with associated seminars, tutorials and practical laboratory classes. We also incorporate a range of innovative teaching methods, including flipped classroom, activity led learning and peer-based learning which you will undertake both individually and in groups.
Throughout your studies, you will have access to our modern facilities4; computers are installed with all the relevant computing software, ranging from the basics such as Matlab and Xlinix ISE to more subject-specific, like VREP (Virtual Robotic Environment Platform), Flux Electromagnetic and Thermal Finite Element Analysis software.
You may be provided with opportunities to sit in on guest lectures and take part in optional field trips2 which have previously included industry visits to BT, GE, Electric Mountain, National Grid and UNIPART to view current industrial practices. Some of our past students have also taken part in local IET competitions, such as ‘Present Around the World’ where they must present a topic that interests them for 10 minutes and be able to answer questions on it.
This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary.
