Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering - MEng (Hons)

Anglia Ruskin University

Building on previous modules here you will continue applying mathematics to express and solve engineering problems, moving on to include more complex mathematical concepts. You'll be introduced to calculus, complex numbers, and Laplace transforms, helping you to develop an appreciation of the overwhelming influence that these concepts have had on engineering analysis and design, particularly with their application to specialist software. You'll learn to apply differentiation and integration technics to solve engineering problems in dynamics, control, structural analysis, engineering optimisations, and computational engineering. You'll also learn to analyse engineering concepts through solving complex equations and differential equations using analytical and numerical techniques. Coding is also used to develop your problem-solving skills and create solutions to complex mathematical problems, you'll apply this to engineering problems to create a logical sequence of steps or solutions after which you'll develop tests to check the solution is correct.

Here you will be introduced to electrical engineering, exploring a wide variety of topics such as Ohm?s Law, Kirchhoff?s Theorem, Thevenin?s Theorem, and Norton?s Theorem, all needed to be able to apply your theory to engineering solutions. You'll be introduced to both DC and AC circuits, learning the theory alongside laboratory practical sessions, giving you hands-on experience with the various types of circuits and theories being covered in the module.

This project-based module follows the theme of improving the design of an existing mechanical appliance/product using the design concepts for enhanced performance metrics (eg, reduced cost, ease of manufacture, reduced lead time). Designed to give you the opportunity to work in groups in the multi-disciplined area of mechanical engineering you will work to achieve a common goal. You'll use specialised engineering software packages eg, Autodesk Inventor and ANSYS to design parts for a product and apply appropriate constraints in assembly environment of a 3D CAD package, utilising design concepts (eg, design for manufacture/assembly) for enhanced product performance. You'll be introduced to the concepts of structural design, materials, mechanical integrity and their importance while designing a product. This module will help you to understand and apply theoretical concepts related to statistics, process quality assurance and the implications of legal as well as ethical issues. You'll also focus on the application of finite element analysis (FEA) and its use in the numerical analysis of integrity in mechanical products to assess applicability in engineering related uses. You will learn to plan the manufacturing method of your chosen product (using suitable modern manufacturing and prototyping methods e.g., CNC machining, 3D printing), use mechanical testing methods (e.g., tensile test, bend test) and validate your work through numerical analysis.

Ruskin Modules are designed to prepare our students for a complex, challenging and changing future. These interdisciplinary modules provide the opportunity to further broaden your perspectives, develop your intellectual flexibility and creativity. You will work with others from different disciplines to enable you to reflect critically on the limitations of a single discipline to solve wider societal concerns. You will be supported to create meaningful connections across disciplines to apply new knowledge to tackle complex problems and key challenges. Ruskin Modules are designed to grow your confidence, seek and maximise opportunities to realise your potential to give you a distinctive edge and enhance your success in the workplace.

A sound understanding of the nature, characteristics and sources of signals is an essential part when studying any aspect of electronic technology. Here you will gain a broad understand of signals, their sources and how they are processed using analogue and digital techniques. You will also gain an insight into how signals are characterised, analysed and filtered, looking particularly at frequency analysis and its application to audio signals in particular.

This project based module will help you to prepare for real scale industrial projects involving practical activities with wide versatility. In groups of 3-4 people, you will be expected to perform a team work study looking at feasibility, create/source the required CAD files, and perform FE and CFD analysis to design a scaled-down product that works under specified and realistic specifications. The product will need to be optimised by consistent iterations within FEA and CFD and the finalised proposal will be prototyped. Once the product is manufactured you'll need to perform experiments and use the test data compare to the ones from the numerical analysis, giving a report to demonstrate your achievements.

Here you'll explore the different aspects of a mechatronics system, covering sensing, programming, data acquisition, signal conditioning, control and actuation (electrical/mechanical/hydraulic/pneumatic) through a mixture of lectures and lab sessions. This will give you the change to apply your knowledge to real systems, giving you hands-on experience. In sensing, you'll cover the basic types of sensors, their working mechanisms and applications. Programming deals with the different modes currently available eg, manual and automatic programming, allowing you to explore Arduino Uno. You'll be introduced to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) to help you understand their applicability in industrial applications. In data acquisition you'll look at analogue-to digital and digital-to-analogue conversion, digital data representation and circuit analysis of useful conversion stages. You'll also be introduced to the fundamentals of control theory: block diagrams and feedback, proportional control, proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control, detailed analysis of DC motors, and finally speed and position control. Mechanical actuation systems will also be introduced, giving you a complete understanding of how different components of a mechatronic system work together, including concepts related to gear trains, hydraulic pumps, valves, pneumatic systems, kinematic chains, etc.

Develop a deeper understanding, and learn the application of, numerical methods in engineering, as well as its extent in industry, its limitations and its scope of solving problems. The main aim in this module is to provide you with an overview of computational problem-solving manners in todays industry and the expectations in real-world designs. To begin with, you will learn the C++ programming language that can be used in various engineering disciplines which you will explore by learning the discipline related applications in areas such as robotics, structural engineering, fluid mechanics, manufacturing, and automotive engineering. With an initial theoretical induction on Finite Element and Finite Difference methods, you will be predominantly 'hands on' and will apply FEA and CFD on realistically designed academic projects. At the theoretical level, you'll learn to implement hand calculations for basic FEA and CFD questions, showing you the detailed process of the problem solutions using numerical methods. The skills learnt hear will enable you to do the necessary research, obtain test data, build FEA and CFD models and validate your results from case studies.

Mechanical engineering systems, structural or machinery, often experience problems associated with vibration which may lead to failure of design and product. Part of this module will provide you with a fundamental understanding of problem of vibration and analytical tools necessary to model the problem in an engineering system. This will include classifications of vibration and analytical analysis of free and forced vibration in single degree of freedom systems. You will discuss the methods of vibration control as well as vibration measurements with emphasise on applied engineering. The second part of the module will provide you with fundamentals and classifications of control systems, including feed forward vs feedback and open vs closed loop controls as well as use of Laplace transform methods to analyse linear control systems.

In this module you will focus on the area of smart automation technology and robots in conjunction with intelligent systems and adaptive machine communication. You will gain a comprehensive overview of the technical aspects and state-of-the art methods in design and operation, acquiring knowledge and concepts for automation, programming and interaction of these intelligent systems in Flexible Manufacturing cell. You will also explore their adaptability to change of settings, looking at the capabilities, limitations and future trends in robot systems in order to specify and plan robot installations with major phase in design and operation of automated industrial applications for manufacturing functions.

For any business to operate efficiently and satisfy the customer's needs it must have reliable operating systems in place and this is particularly important for engineering businesses with technological changes and global markets. You will develop a critical awareness and understanding of engineering operating systems, including production, manufacturing, planning and plant resources required for a business to operate efficiently and reliably satisfy customers' needs. You will be provided with an in-depth study of the operating systems used in complex technical organisations with a view to identifying good practice and the tools and techniques to systematically develop and improve the efficiency of such systems, including the use of discrete event simulation.

This module will give you an in-depth understanding of the theories and methods in research design, and allow you to undertake an independent research project. The first part of module will lead you to develop a research proposal as well as a successful research ethics application. The second part of the module includes the supervisory support for you to carry out an independent research related to your individual discipline, leading to a practical, conceptual, or technological advancement in a complex, multi-factor problem.

Here you'll have the opportunity to work in groups to undertake the design, development, integration, programming and application of a robotics system. This team activity will involve following a set of guidelines for the design of a robotics system followed by its development in a cost-effective manner. The integration will involve combining the electrical/mechanical components and programming them with the help of an appropriate programming language (icon based or text based) to perform a specified set of tasks. This involves critically analysing the choice of sensors and actuators to be fitted to the robotic system. You will engage with practical activities for the design of the mechanisms, electronics, and fabrication, which involves a critical understanding of constraints such as the operating environment, power requirements and sensing capabilities of the robotics system. This will all help you to understand how to brainstorm ideas for the different aspects of a robotic system and develop an appreciation for the compromises that needs to be made for the design and development of such systems.