| Unit name | Aerial Robotics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | AENGM0073 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Tom Richardson |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Aerospace Dynamics (AENG20008) or equivalent |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
Why is this unit important?
This unit will bring together dynamics, sensing, and control in the context of aerial robotics. Students will apply their knowledge in these areas to different types of UAVs and will also develop an understanding of path planning. In addition, they will be challenged to address the legal, ethical, and safety requirements of UAV operations. These will be brought together with the technical aspects of the course to plan a field robotics campaign.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit will build on the material taught in earlier years of study on flight dynamics and feedback control system design. It will enable you to carry out design, modelling, and analysis of air vehicle flight characteristics and to modify behaviour of a UAV using active control strategies. The unit will also address the legal and ethical aspects of UAV operations.
An overview of content
Within this unit, students will learn fundamental skills such as flight dynamics, control and avionics within the context of aerial robotics systems and applications. In additional to the legal requirements for UAV operations, students will be introduced to the use of software simulation tools for flight planning and algorithm development. These will include examples of flight dynamics models, sensor models and control systems, and be complemented with disruptive technologies such as autonomous navigation and bio-inspiration.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Students will have applied their fundamental understanding of dynamics and control to the design and operation of UAVs. They will also have extended their technical understanding in these areas and will have a clear overview of practical flight testing and evaluation.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
The unit will be taught through online or in-person short lectures introducing key concepts and case studies in aviation and aerial robotics that may serve as an inspiration or challenge, and where possible, hands-on demonstrations at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory Flight Arena, the Bristol Flight Lab or at the outdoor flight test space at Fenswood. Breakout sessions (in-person or online) will allow students to reflect on the material, brainstorm new ideas, assess stakeholder relevance, and ethical and societal implications.
[100%] – coursework (ILO 1 – 6); report planning an aerial robotics field campaign including details of the software and hardware to be used, as well as demonstrating a clear understanding of the legal requirements. This report will include technical sections on sensing, simulation, and control.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. AENGM0073).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
