University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Engineering > Department of Aerospace Engineering > Aerial Robotics (MSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 4AERO013T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Tom Richardson
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Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
School/department | Department of Aerospace Engineering |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
This programme aims to provide students with the knowledge required to become an innovator in aerial robotic systems and tackle the latest challenges for Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) or drones, from urban utility operations through to remote scientific investigation. Foundational skills such as flight dynamics, control and avionics will be complemented with disruptive technologies such as autonomous navigation and bio-inspiration. We will also introduce students to a wide range of advanced engineering and computer science concepts and offers the opportunity to apply these to an aerial robotics project. Flight testing may be carried out at one of our world-class facilities including an indoor flight arena at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory or the outdoor flying site at Fenswood, Long Ashton.
As part of this course, students will:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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General technical concepts and methods will be taught in “Robotics Systems” and Options (1,2) through ‘traditional’ lectures. Research topics in robotics will be taught in “Robotics Research Technology and Methods” through case study work and seminars by external speakers (3). Focus on Aerial Robotics will be covered in “Aerial Robotics” and the “Group Project”. The first provides inspiration and demonstrations of Aerial Robotics from external experts (4,5). The second provides a hands-on unit focussed on problem solving through group work (4,5). Focus on societal and environmental impacts will be provided through “Robotics Research Technology and Methods”, “Aerial Robotics”, and the “Group Project” as well as Options (6). |
Methods of Assessment | |
Lecture material will be assessed by examinations and coursework. (Note that most of the lecture material in the course is in options drawn from existing provision.) Projects and short courses will be assessed through reflective accounts, presentations and in-class exercises to enable fast efficient assessment and feedback. Seminar material will be assessed by participation monitoring and reflective accounts. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Focus on Aerial Robotics skills will be covered in “Aerial Robotics”, the “Group Project”, and the “Dissertation”. The first provides inspiration and demonstrations of Aerial Robotics from external experts (7). The second provides a hands-on unit focussed on problem solving through group work (8-11), the later focusses on an individual research project assessing (8). |
Methods of Assessment | |
Reflective accounts; presentations; assessment of technical project work; monitoring of participation in group projects and seminars. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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State-of-the-art in robotics will be covered in “Robotics Research Technology and Methods” through case study work and seminars by external speakers (12). Focus on Aerial Robotics will be covered in “Aerial Robotics”, the “Group Project” (12). Communication skills will be developed as part of the “Group Project”, “Dissertation”, and through the programme-level assessments, which is geared at creating a portfolio suitable for external consumption (13). The “Group Project” and course “Aerial Robotics” will be geared towards cross-disciplinary (14). The ability to plan, execute and manage an extended research project will be assessed as part of the “Dissertation” (15). Finally, the ability to assess the societal and environmental impact will be embedded explicitly across the programme, in “Robotics Research Technology and Methods”, ”Aerial Robotics”, the “Group Project”, the “Group Project” , and “Dissertation”, as well as Optional units. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Seminar material will be assessed by participation monitoring and reflective accounts. Group projects and Dissertations will be assessed through presentations and written material (blogs, reports, short papers). |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
60 credits. Students will have the initial foundations needed to design and build aerial robotics systems with stakeholder relevance. They will be able to state common applications, challenges, and contextual issues appropriate to aerial robotics and to study and evaluate related research. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
120 credits (all assessment units in TB1 and TB2). Students will have the initial foundations needed to design and build aerial robotics systems with stakeholder relevance. They will be able to state common applications, challenges, and contextual issues appropriate to aerial robotics and to study and evaluate related research. They will also be able to combine their skills to deliver an integrated aerial robotics solution to a problem. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
180 credits (all assessments in TB1, TB2, and 1 dissertation unit). Students will have succeeded at all ILOs of the Programme. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/engineering/departments/aerospace/
120 credits must be passed to enable progression to the Dissertation phase of the programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Robotics Systems | EMATM0054 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | EMATM0044 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Robotics Research Technology and Methods | EMATM0058 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Group Project in Aerial Robotics | AENGM0074 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Aerial Robotics | AENGM0073 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Dissertation | EMATM0055 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Select from: | ||||
Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development | CENGM0071 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
World in Crisis? | GEOG16001 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Aircraft Dynamics 4 | AENGM1300 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Flight Dynamics & Control 2 | AENG20001 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Aerospace Commerce, Operations and Ethics | AENGM0070 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Aerial Robotics (MSc) | 180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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