Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The aim of the programme is to provide a postgraduate programme in the field of Mechatronics.  The programme is intended to enable working effectively in integrated product design as either product champion or at management level.  The programme will empower the industrialist to include interdisciplinary integration particularly in the field of embedding microprocessor and microcontroller technology into products and processes.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• Benchmark statements for Engineering.
• Industry input to steer programme content and delivery has been through an Industrial Liaison Committee which meets annually.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The generic nature of design and the phases and activities within the overall design process.
• The role of human mental processes in design.
• The relationships between design manufacturing and commerce and the principles of new product development.
• Scientific principles of structural analysis.
• The role and limitations of finite element modelling and structural analysis.
• Best practice and new techniques in CAE and related computer analysis.
• Management and people centred issues relating to CAE.
• The application of design techniques specific to particular products and processes.
• Microprocessor architectures and interfacing, analogue circuits, actuators, sensors, digital control applications, PLC controllers, software design and system integration to solve complex engineering problems.
• Technical software development.
• Methods to analyse and synthesise mechanisms and linkages.
• Robotic manipulators and their control.
• Defining and manipulating mathematical quantities.
• Direct and inverse kinematics and trajectory planning of manipulators.
• Mathematical methods/algorithms used in digital image processing including an appreciation of limitations and applications.
• Appropriate scientific principles applied to industrial machine vision problems.
• Current and future practice in industrial machine vision.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Appreciate the broad range of influences and activities within the design process and explain their significance.
• Analyse engineering problems to assist in the product design process.
• Model and analyse engineering structures and complex systems.
• Contribute to the innovative development of a new product.
• Demonstrate design reasoning and problem solving in the context of software design and implementation, and an understanding of electronic hardware.
• Demonstrate working from a requirement specification to analyse, design and implement a computer-based system.
• Develop solutions for robotic applications.
• Analyse and synthesise linkages and mechanisms.
• Select suitable image processing algorithms, industrial capabilities and limitations of computer based digital image processing.
• Demonstrate innovation in solving industrial machine vision problems.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of the programme, students should be able to:

• Use the design process to plan and carry out projects.
• Apply effectively design methods within the new product design process.
• Select suitable computer based techniques for engineering design problems.
• Undertake circuit simulation and design.
• Use range of computer based analysis and modelling techniques.
• Select and conduct experimental procedures to support analysis and design.
• Generate new ideas and develop and evaluate a range of solutions.
• Demonstrate circuit construction, integrated hardware troubleshooting, software realisation and debugging, and logical fault finding.
• Design and implement a modest computer based system.
• Use linkage design and analysis software; use simulation packages for machine linkages and robots.
• Use techniques for the design and analysis of mechanisms.
• Simulate, analyse and modify electromechanical control systems.
• Apply a wide range of digital image processing methods to problems.
• Select and use appropriate computer hardware.
• Adapt analytical procedures to suit new or unfamiliar situations.
• Plan and execute simulations and practical tests using appropriate instrumentation.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Plan and monitor multi-disciplinary projects.
• Appreciate the central role of design within engineering.
• Demonstrate competence in using computer based engineering techniques.
• Analyse and understand complex engineering problems.
• Adopt systematic approach to integrating design requirements, materials and structures.
• Use teamworking skills to enhance design process.
• Use time and resources effectively.
• Demonstrate logical reasoning working in groups.
• Generate and use technical evidence in the solution of engineering problems.
• Use robotics in real world applications.
• Solve problems through systematic analysis and where necessary learn new theories, concepts and methods in unfamiliar situations.
• Select and analyse data to solve problems and present data to provide increased understanding.
• Design experiments and analyse data.

4. Programme structure

4.1 The modules comprising the Programme are:

4.2 All full-time students take the Project module MMP501 and the integration project MMP502. 

      Part-time students take the project module MMP500. 

4.3 The School reserves the right to withdraw or make amendments to the list of subjects at the beginning of each session.

4.4 Students may exchange any of the normal modules with modules from another Programme with the agreement of the Postgraduate Programme Director.

4.5 The taught modules are normally prerequisites for the Project module, which is an individual project under the direction of a supervisor nominated by the Programme Director.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

Candidates who have the right of re-assessment in a module may be offered an opportunity to be re-assessed in the University's special assessment period.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification