Electronic and Computer Systems (top-up)

Programmable logic devices are an essential element of modern digital design. Unlike a microcontroller that is software programmable (but otherwise comprises a fixed set of hardware resources), programmable logic devices such as Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) entail re-programming of the hardware itself. As such they allow fast prototyping and flexibility in the hardware design of modern digital systems (ranging from telecoms to control systems) due to their ability to be reprogrammed in the field.

In this module, you'll learn to program in a hardware-description language (VHDL) to model and simulate digital electronic circuits. Through a series of practical sessions, you will learn the necessary electronic design automation tools and how they are used to compile and simulate VHDL code but also “synthesise” VHDL code for placement onto actual physical hardware. You'll also learn the fundamental operational principles of programmable logic devices, FPGAs and their main processing elements, and also how modern FPGAs are used to build system-on-chips (SoCs). You will be introduced to the concepts of boundary scan testing and learn about the JTAG protocol (IEEE standard 1149.1). You'll apply knowledge gained in mini projects that will involve designing complete digital systems implemented onto FPGA, deepening your understanding and building your experience.

This is an opportunity for independent study on a topic of your own choice. Working on the project is a major part of your final year of study, taking place in Spring and Summer Terms, aiming to provide an appropriate environment for you to research in-depth subject relevant to your programme and the continued development of key skills. It will also challenge you to solve problems which involve the critical consideration of engineering relevant legal, social, ethical and professional issues and enable you to develop and practice a professional approach to the delivery and appraisal of written and oral presentations. You will be allocated a supervisor who will support you through weekly meetings and other communications.

To assist you to build necessary knowledge and skills as required in developing an engineering project, you will be provided with a series of lectures and workshops covering topics including design and production techniques, reliability, availability, maintainability and safety (RAMS), quality, safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), as well as ethical, environmental and EDI issues.

Image analysis techniques give computers the power to enhance, interpret and understand visual inputs. These techniques are integral to many applications such as autonomous vehicles, medical diagnosis, document processing, biometric security and surveillance. 

You’ll learn the principles of image analysis techniques alongside their practical applications. Starting from basic image formation and acquisition, you’ll learn core image processing techniques such as how to filter noise, how to extract object outlines, how to identify regions of interest in an image (segmentation), and about image feature descriptors. 

You’ll also explore various supervised and unsupervised classification techniques (including neural networks) for object recognition. You’ll discover several real-world applications of image analysis and learn through lab-based exercises and a mini-project.

Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are currently the most exciting fields in engineering. We are preparing for a robotics and AI revolution that will change our lives at every level and bring us one step closer to the integration of humans and machines. 

You’ll comprehensively explore the key concepts in robotics and artificial intelligence and gain essential subject knowledge. You’ll learn theoretical tools to describe kinematics and dynamics for industrial robot systems with several degrees of freedom and use cutting-edge AI and machine learning (ML) algorithms in robots. You’ll also discover software/hardware integration in robot architectures for advanced tasks (e.g. obstacle avoidance learning), industrial applications and the adoption of AI in robotics. 

You’ll progress to cover industrial tests as well as statics and dynamics of robots, dynamic modelling, and industrial control strategies. By the end of the module, you’ll be equipped with a solid foundation in robotics and AI, and be empowered with essential theoretical knowledge and practical skills for designing, modelling, and controlling robotic systems.

Microcomputer technology is widely used in the design and development of modern computer systems. Many of us use such applications every day, in devices such as smartphones, washing machines, microwaves and cars.

In this module, you’ll learn general principles of computer architecture and understand how the microprocessor executes instructions, interacts with hardware components and communicates with memory and I/O devices. The most common microprocessors and microcontrollers will be to compare their architectures and processing resources.

You’ll also learn a programming language that can be used on a number of microcontrollers and discover how to program and compile on a given microcontroller through a series of practical sessions. As part of a mini-project, you’ll then design and develop a microcontroller-based system using its I/O features and different communication protocols (such as RS232, SPI and I2C).

Embedded systems in conjunction with the Internet of Things (IoT) are used to create systems that can sense in real-time different aspects of their environment, collect and transmit information for a vast number of applications including smart cities, smart agriculture and smart factories (Industry 4.0). This information can then be used to transform the day-to-day operation of our cities and businesses making them more efficient and less wasteful of resources.

This module introduces the theory and practice of employing computers as the control and organisational centre of embedded systems and examines time-critical systems. You'll also cover design aspects of embedded systems and IoT through practical work, including real-time operating systems and microcomputer programming.

You will learn how to use the internal peripherals of a microcontroller by working directly at the hardware register level and as such gain a good understanding of the interactions between software and hardware. Many practical applications of embedded systems require real-time operation under strict deadlines (e.g., in factory automation). As such, the module also covers the concepts of real-time operating systems and features that are essential for time-critical operation. IoT can be used as the backbone communication infrastructure in embedded applications and the skills and knowledge you develop will be crucial in your future career.

In today's interconnected world, cyber security is not just important – it is essential. From businesses to schools, homes, personal devices, and even vehicles, everything is connected! This module dives deep into the fascinating realm where cyber security – including general topics and specialist areas such as cryptography – take centre stage.

Get ready to explore how these fields shape the modern technology landscape, from fundamental security principles to the intricate dance between risk management, cybercrime, usable security and professional aspects. You'll unravel the mysteries of ciphers, delve into the world of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, and even take a critical look at cyber-attacks. You'll also examine their social and technical dimensions and explore effective risk treatment measures. This includes robust security controls and the use of upcoming mechanisms such as cyber insurance.

The knowledge you will gain on this module provides a strong foundation to guide and inform security efforts within an organisation. Prepare to embark on a journey where every click, every byte, and every line of code matters – and where you knowledge can make a real difference.

Our contemporary world is inundated with an ever-expanding pool of digital data such as signals and images, and there seems to be no limit to our insatiable appetite for collecting even more information. Navigating through this vast sea of data, rife with noise and extraneous information, poses a formidable challenge in distilling meaningful insights.

You will master the foundational principles underlying signal, image and other types of data across diverse domains, including but not limited to acoustics, medicine, and finance. Skills required to adeptly organise, cleanse, visualise, and analyse intricate datasets will be taught, thereby allowing you to extract valuable and actionable information. Both classical and cutting-edge data analysis techniques will be explored, incorporating traditional methods alongside advanced approaches such as neural network-based deep learning.

Through immersive hands-on applications, you will actively tackle real-world data analysis challenges in weekly classes, fostering a practical and nuanced comprehension of the subject matter taught in lectures. The emphasis will be on ‘how’? i.e. to implement the methods by leveraging a data analytics tool, minimising the need for rote memorisation of theory. This practical approach ensures that you are well-equipped to navigate the ever-evolving terrain of data science, preparing you for the demands of the professional realm.

Natural language processing (NLP) is an incredibly important and valuable component of artificial intelligence, making it a fascinating and rewarding area of study for computer science students. In today's digital age, numerous technologies rely on NLP to interpret and generate human language, such as virtual assistants, search engines for the World Wide Web, and large language models and chatbots. By delving into the realm of NLP, you can gain a deeper understanding of how these cutting-edge technologies work and the significant impact they have on our daily lives. Studying NLP not only allows you to explore the intricacies of artificial intelligence but also provides you with valuable skills that are highly sought after in the tech industry.