Unit information: Communications CDT Group Project in 2018/19

Unit name	Communications CDT Group Project
Unit code	EENGM8890
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Morris
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None,
Co-requisites	None.
School/department	Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

The group project involves an investigation into the design of an unfamiliar product, process or system. It offers the opportunity for an in-depth study of a specialist subject as part of group (normally 5 students per group), and requires both research and theoretical/practical application. The group project requires each group member to contribute a total of 200 hours of effort, and is carried out under the guidance of a member of staff. Importance is given to the planning of the work programme; the setting and achievement of objectives; laboratory recordkeeping; appropriateness of the design (including costing where appropriate); analysis of the results and overall presentation of the work.

Aims:

The precise aim of each group project wil vary between the project groups each year. The CDT will recruit students from mathematics, computer science and electrical engineering. This means that the groups will contain a range of different skills. Each group will be assigned a project designed to test the skills of the group in group working and research skills. In this way the students will be encountering new challenges and are encouraged to seek and propose their own solutions to these challenges and hence demonstrate the ability to operate effectively as a group. The project will involve the design and performance analysis of hardware or softare, or a mix of both. Documentation of the work involves both the day-to-day recording of information in a laboratory notebook, together with a group report at the end of the project.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will be expected to:

1. Work as a group and undertake both individual and group project tasks. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles relating to an engineering problem; an awareness of developing technologies in the area, together with an appreciation of their work in the wider multidisciplinary engineering context.
2. Apply appropriate mathematical and engineering tools to the analysis of the problem; to demonstrate aptitude in assessing possible solutions and the formulation of suitable designs.
3. Demonstrate technical competence in the practical design of hardware and/or software. Assess the theoretical and practical limitations of the system: including commercial and industrial constraints.
4. Show independent learning and the skills to individually tackle unfamiliar challenges. Show aptitude in project planning and monitoring, and updating plans to reflect changing operating environment. Record procedures and outcomes accurately in a laboratory notebook.
5. Demonstrate report structuring, writing and presentation skills by means of the interim assessment, group project presentation and project report. Field/respond to challenging technical questions as art of the poster presentation.

Teaching Information

Self-learning and individual research

Group project work

Individual and group instruction/training in use of equipment and softare

One-to-one tuition

Assessment Information

Group mark 30%

Project report mark 70%

Reading and References

Project-dependent - supplied by group project advisor