2026/7, Trimester 2, In Person,
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| Occurrence: | 001 |
| Primary mode of delivery: | In Person |
| Location of delivery: | MERCHISTON |
| Partner: | |
| Member of staff responsible for delivering module: | Abdelfateh Kerrouche |
| Module Organiser: | |
| Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH)) |
| Mode of activity | Learning & Teaching Activity | NESH (Study Hours) | NESH Description |
| Face To Face | Lecture | 20 | Lectures explore the architecture, design and implementation of modern embedded systems with a focus on real-time performance, low-level hardware interaction and intelligent control. They will prepare students to develop robust, scalable embedded solutions for applications in robotics, industrial automation, sensor networks and cyber-physical systems. |
| Face To Face | Practical classes and workshops | 20 | Lab sessions provide simulation and hands-on experience with microcontrollers, real-time operating systems and sensor integration. Students learn to program embedded hardware using C, configure peripherals like ADCs and timers, and implement real-time multitasking using RTOS tools. Labs also involve interfacing with various analogue and digital sensors, applying communication protocols such as I²C, SPI, and UART, and integrating devices. |
| Online | Guided independent study | 160 | Independent study for coursework projects allows students to apply theoretical knowledge to a self-directed practical challenge. Under guided supervision, students identify a real-world problem often related to robotics, sensing, or automation and develop an embedded solution, such as a custom sensor interface, a data acquisition system or a real-time control application. |
| Total Study Hours | 200 | |
| Expected Total Study Hours for Module | 200 | |
| Assessment |
| Type of Assessment | Weighting % | LOs covered | Week due | Length in Hours/Words | Description |
| Report | 50 | 1~2~5 | Week 7 | , WORDS= 2000-3000 | The coursework requires students to design and critically evaluate an embedded system for a robot or smart autonomous vehicle, demonstrating the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical engineering design principles. Students are expected to justify the selection of hardware and software components based on technical performance, efficiency, cost, and real-world engineering constraints. The report should include a comprehensive analysis of the selected embedded system components, such as microcontrollers, sensors, actuators, communication modules, and power management systems, comparing alternative technologies where appropriate and justifying the final design decisions. Students should critically evaluate the performance of the sensing system, including sensor accuracy, precision, repeatability, reliability, calibration requirements, environmental influences, noise sources, sensor drift, and potential failure modes. Appropriate techniques such as filtering, sensor fusion, and error compensation should be discussed where relevant. The report should also assess the intelligent control system, considering software architecture, embedded programming approaches, communication protocols, real-time performance, power efficiency, scalability, cybersecurity considerations where appropriate, maintainability, software updates, and the overall lifecycle of the proposed system. Students are expected to support their analysis using appropriate engineering principles, literature, technical standards, simulations, experimental results, calculations, diagrams, tables, and figures where appropriate. The report should demonstrate critical evaluation of design choices rather than simply describing the selected technologies. The submission should be between 2,000 and 3,000 words (excluding references and appendices) and should normally include: Introduction and project objectives System architecture and component selection Critical evaluation of embedded hardware and software Sensor performance analysis and validation Intelligent control system and lifecycle considerations Conclusions and recommendations References Marks will be awarded for the quality of technical analysis, justification of engineering decisions, critical evaluation, application of embedded systems principles, use of supporting evidence, technical communication, and the overall clarity and professionalism of the report. |
| Report | 50 | 2~3~4 | Week 12 | , WORDS= 2000- 3000 | The coursework requires students to critically evaluate the role of intelligent instrumentation in modern industrial, environmental, and autonomous systems, demonstrating an understanding of how embedded Artificial Intelligence (AI), real-time processing, and adaptive control techniques improve system performance, automation, reliability, and decision-making. Students are expected to analyse the application of intelligent instrumentation technologies within relevant engineering contexts, supported by appropriate case studies or real-world examples. The report should critically assess the benefits, limitations, and practical challenges associated with deploying intelligent embedded systems, considering aspects such as system performance, reliability, scalability, safety, and sustainability. The report should also investigate and apply structured embedded system design methodologies, covering hardware and software architecture, embedded software development, modular programming, real-time operating constraints, system integration, communication protocols, and design verification and validation techniques. Students should justify design decisions using appropriate engineering principles and compare alternative approaches where appropriate. In addition, students should discuss important engineering considerations including fault tolerance, cybersecurity (where applicable), power management, maintainability, lifecycle considerations, and future system scalability. The report should demonstrate the ability to integrate theoretical concepts with practical engineering applications and reflect current developments in intelligent instrumentation. Students are expected to support their analysis with appropriate technical literature, engineering standards, diagrams, system architectures, simulations, experimental data (where appropriate), tables, and figures. The emphasis should be on critical evaluation, technical justification, and the application of engineering knowledge rather than descriptive discussion alone. The submission should be 2,000–3,000 words (excluding references and appendices) and should normally include: Introduction and aims Critical assessment of intelligent instrumentation Embedded system design methodology Analysis of real-world applications and case studies Discussion and critical evaluation Conclusions and recommendations References Marks will be awarded for the quality of technical analysis, application of engineering principles, justification of design decisions, critical evaluation, use of supporting evidence, technical communication, and the overall structure and professionalism of the report. |
| Component 1 subtotal: | 100 | | |
| Component 2 subtotal: | 0 | | | | |
| Module subtotal: | 100 | | | | |