Aims and Fit of Module

On completion of the module, a student is expected:
1. To be creative in the design and to be able to evaluate results and synthesise knowledge.
2. To provide an appreciation of electrical engineers’ responsibilities in the context of sustainable development.
3. To raise the awareness of environmental issues, and examine the principles and tools for sustainable product design.
4. To provide a practical understanding of the pressures facing the industry in terms of integrating Sustainable Design into an established product development process (e.g. internal drivers, legislation).
5. To provide an appreciation of current range of tools and resources available for Sustainable Design and understand how to use some of the most common tool (e.g. Life Cycle Analysis).
6. To know how to build an electronic robot from a given circuit diagram.
7. To improve computer literacy and to develop the ability to solve 'real' engineering problems by numerical methods using MATLAB.
8. To recognise the basic building blocks of electrical circuits.
9. To correlate theory in textbooks with its practical application.
10. To design and construct an electronic product (e.g. LED running lights, robot and clock).
11. To know how to complete individual work and be a valuable team member.
12. To develop presentation and oral communication skills.

Learning outcomes

A.Understand basic electronic lab equipment and design software. B.Design and construct an electronic product. C.Demonstrate an appreciation of electrical engineers’ responsibilities in the context of sustainable development. D.Solve mathematically-oriented problems by wiring simple programmes in MATLAB. E.Show creativity in design, be able to evaluate results and synthesise knowledge.

Method of teaching and learning

Seminars: four seminars will be given about sustainability theory, covering two case studies. Students will have team discussion sessions among themselves for the case studies. They will be responsible for the topics they choose for a selected case study and write a report on sustainability.
Practical exercises: with the aid of scripts, students complete experiment by building new robot devices and design new circuits (e.g., clock). Practical skills will be developed by building a system with electronic and mechanical components, system testing and trouble shooting.
Progress tutorial/quiz will be held to monitor the progress.
Lectures: five lectures will be given on MATLAB programming in lecture hall.