University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2018/19 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Engineering > Department of Aerospace Engineering > Robotics and Autonomous Systems (PhD) > Specification
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Programme code | 4AERO010R |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Research Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Arthur Richards
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Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
School/department | Department of Aerospace Engineering |
Teaching institution | Universities of Bristol and the West of England |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
This programme aims to develop the student’s interest in and knowledge and understanding of robotics and autonomous systems, in order to prepare them for PhD research in that area through the FARSCOPE (Future Autonomous and Robotic Systems Centre of PhD Education) Centre for Doctoral Training. The theme of the programme is the development of robots that are highly adaptable. This particularly addresses three challenges: the need to work together with, or at least around, humans and adapt to their unpredictable behaviour; the need to work outside controlled factory settings and adapt to work in uncertain, dynamic environments; and the need to adapt quickly and easily to new roles and tasks in small business and domestic settings. The programme seeks to provide students with a wide range of detailed technical content, helping to cater for a variety of backgrounds. This content is coupled back to the central theme by foundational units and cohort-based training activities.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Technical concepts and methods will be taught through ‘traditional’ lecture courses (1,2,3,4,6). Skills will be taught through intensive short courses and project work (4,5). Applications and research topics (7,8) will be taught through small group (cohort) seminars including external speakers where appropriate. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable learning outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated On the MRes Robotics and Autonomous Systems programme, teaching is a mixture of scheduled, independent and project-based learning. Scheduled learning includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, project supervision, demonstration, case studies, practical classes and workshops; supervised time in Lab/workshop. Scheduled sessions may vary depending on the module. Independent learning includes hours engaged with essential reading, case study preparation, assignment preparation and completion, etc. Dissertation based learning: Dissertation projects will be carried out under the supervision of a member of FARSCOPE College of Supervisors. Students may spend their time at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory or embedded in research groups at UWE or the University of Bristol, as appropriate to the needs of the individual topic. |
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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Research preparation (1) and evaluation (3,4) will be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars and reading groups (“journal clubs”). Problem solving (2) will be covered in group project work. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable learning outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated On the MRes Robotics and Autonomous Systems programme, teaching is a mixture of scheduled, independent and project-based learning. Scheduled learning includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, project supervision, demonstration, case studies, practical classes and workshops; supervised time in Lab/workshop. Scheduled sessions may vary depending on the module. Independent learning includes hours engaged with essential reading, case study preparation, assignment preparation and completion, etc. Dissertation based learning: Dissertation projects will be carried out under the supervision of a member of FARSCOPE College of Supervisors. Students may spend their time at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory or embedded in research groups at UWE or the University of Bristol, as appropriate to the needs of the individual topic. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Reflective accounts; presentations; assessment of technical project work; monitoring of participation in seminars and reading group, including in a journal club wiki. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Literature skills (1) will be introduced in research methods lectures and reinforced in the reading group. Communication (2) will be taught in an externally-delivered short course. Individual and team working (3, 4) will be taught experientially through the group and individual projects. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable learning outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated On the MRes Robotics and Autonomous Systems programme, teaching is a mixture of scheduled, independent and project-based learning. Scheduled learning includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, project supervision, demonstration, case studies, practical classes and workshops; supervised time in Lab/workshop. Scheduled sessions may vary depending on the module. Independent learning includes hours engaged with essential reading, case study preparation, assignment preparation and completion, etc. Dissertation based learning: Dissertation projects will be carried out under the supervision of a member of FARSCOPE College of Supervisors. Students may spend their time at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory or embedded in research groups at UWE or the University of Bristol, as appropriate to the needs of the individual topic. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Journal club participation; presentations; assessment of technical work. |
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 to be completed in the taught modules, to include at least one of “Robotics, Mechanics and Programming” and “Robotic Systems”. Students will have the initial foundations needed to perform individual research in robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), including fundamental mechanical and computational skills. They will also have skills in selected specialist topics related to RAS. They will be able to state common applications, challenges, and contextual issues appropriate to RAS and to study and evaluate related research. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
not specified |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
180 credits from the taught modules plus the dissertation. Note that the MRes degree will only be awarded to students electing to exit the CDT programme early, before completion of their PhD. Students will now be able to perform their own research at an internationally publishable standard. They will also be able to document and communicate their findings to peers and expert practitioners in the field. Their individual capabilities will be enhanced by teamwork and system integration skills. |
Level D/8 - Doctoral |
not specified |
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.
Programme is delivered jointly by the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. Units Robotics Research Preparation, Technology and Context of Robotics and Autonomous Systems, FARSCOPE Group Project, and FARSCOPE First Dissertation will all be delivered at the Bristol Robotics Lab.
Description of Distinctive Features and Support
This academic programme is tailored to provide initial training for students in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Futurue Autonomous and Robotic Systems (FARSCOPE). It is delivered jointly by UWE and the University of Bristol through their existing partnership embodied in the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL). The goal of the programme is to prepare students for independent, PhD-level research in multidisciplinary robotics. This is achieved by a mixture of formal instruction in fundamental subjects, introduction to the range of research topics and state-of-the-art, and individual experience of research through an extended dissertation. It is not required that a student’s dissertation should for the beginning of their PhD project, although some may choose to follow that course. Rather, the entire one-year programme is intended to prepare students to make an informed decision and a good start on their subsequent PhD, which may or may not be in the same specialization as their preceding dissertation.
Although the MRes programme is only followed by students registered on the CDT PhD programme, it provides flexible exit qualifications, consisting of a Postgraduate Certificate and a Masters Degree. The programme is suited to engineers and scientists with a variety of backgrounds and who are interested in being part of the development of robots with greater levels of autonomy than currently seen. This is captured in the core theme of FARSCOPE; adaptability of robotic systems. The programme is not geared to any particular application or technical aspect of robotics: instead, students are encouraged to embrace a multi-disciplinary view of robotics. This is enhanced by the cohort-based nature of the programme, with regular contact and activities to bring the students together. This is aimed at maintaining a broad view of robotics technology and applications even while specializing in individual topics.
The programme has induction events that introduce the programme and its organisational context and provide training workshops. A key role of the induction programme is to build cohort spirit. Training workshops at induction will cover the use of all appropriate facilities at both UWE and UoB, for example the virtual learning resources and communications and administrative and training support structures. Induction training events and other workshops are also designed to provide a common foundation in key topics, including computing and control. The workshop format adopted enables greater flexibility than a weekly lecture programme, to account for diverse backgrounds within the cohort.
Student learning for each module is structured as appropriate to the module and will include, for example, study preparation, workshop or practical sessions, lectures, seminar discussions, reading group, group and individual project work, case studies, independent learning and assessment.
This MRes degree will be awarded to students who successfully complete the first year of the PhD programme Robotics and Autonomous Systems and then choose or are required to leave the PhD programme. It is currently available only as an exit award from this programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Robotic Fundamentals (UWE, UFMF4X-15-M) | EMATM0033 | 15 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Robotics Research Preparation | AENGM0029 | 15 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Technology and Context of Robotics and Autonomous Systems | EMATM0018 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
FARSCOPE Group Project | EMATM0019 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
FARSCOPE First Dissertation | EMATM0020 | 80 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Robotics Systems PG | COMSM0012 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
In addition, students are required to take another 10 credit point M-level unit from the Faculty of Engineering or the Faculty of Science, excluding any innovation or enterprise unit, and subject to approval of the Programme Director. | ||||
NB: An applicant who has already taken Robotic Systems as part of a prior MSc will be required to take an option from the list below instead | ||||
Students also choose 20 credit points from the following list: | ||||
Advanced Techniques in Multi-Disciplinary Design | AENGM2005 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Artificial Intelligence with Logic Programming | COMS30106 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Image Processing and Computer Vision | COMS30121 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Design Verification | COMS31700 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Advanced Computer Architecture | COMSM0109 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Interactive Devices | COMSM0009 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Communication Systems (M) | EENGM2100 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Advanced DSP & FPGA Implementation | EENGM4120 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Statistical Pattern Recognition | EMATM0012 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Transport and Mobility Modelling | EMATM0021 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Intelligent Information Systems | EMATM0042 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Human-Robot Interaction (UWE, UFMFHP-15-M) | EMATM0043 | 15 | Optional | TB-2 |
Uncertainty Modelling for Intelligent Systems | EMATM1120 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Control Theory | EMATM2700 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Bio-Inspired Artificial Intelligence | EMATM0029 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Intelligent Adaptive Systems (UWE) | EMATM0034 | 15 | Optional | TB-2 |
Electromechanical Systems Integration (UWE, UFMEEA-15-M ) | EMATM0030 | 15 | Optional | TB-4 |
Human-Robot Interaction (UWE, UFMFHP-15-M) | EMATM0043 | 15 | Optional | TB-2 |
Virtual Product Development | MENGM6049 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Biomechanics | MENGM6051 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
MRes Robotics and Autonomous Systems | 180 |
The assessment of the taught component of a doctoral degree is governed by the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and is assessed separately from the research project. Progression to the research project may be dependent on the successful completion of the taught component - please refer to the relevant handbook for the structure of the particular programme.
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
It may be possible to exit the programme with a taught award. For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Research Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points of taught units, to include at least one of 'Robotics Fundamentals' and 'Robotic Systems'. There is no Postgraduate Diploma exit award.
To be awarded the MRes, students must have successfully completed 180 credit points from the taught units, including the dissertation unit. Note that the MRes degree will only be awarded to students electing to exit the CDT programme after one year.
The dissertation unit is must pass at the first attempt for students on the PhD. The dissertation unit may only be retaken by students who intend to exit with the MRes.
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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