BSc (Hons) Robotics

• Our robotics courses have a large number of laboratory practical sessions embedded in their modules, and this is a strong feature of the robotics teaching in Plymouth. This ensures that you can consolidate theory learned in lectures using real practical tasks, making your understanding of topics much more concrete. 
  
• Take opportunities throughout your degree to build and program robots, ranging from small wheeled robots through industrial robotic equipment to advanced humanoids.
  
• Benefit by studying modules that will support you to design and build robots and automated systems. Our emphasis is on the software aspects of robotics and embedded systems. 
• Experience the highest number of humanoid robots available to undergraduate students in Europe.
• Capitalise on the opportunity to take a work placement in your third year, putting your robotics skills into action in the real world.
• Rise to the challenge as part of the Plymouth Humanoids team, battling it out in a variety of international robot competitions.
• Join our Robotics Society and have the opportunity to assist robot development for international competitions such as the Robocup humanoid football league and robot athletics.
• Immerse yourself in a degree accredited by the Institution for Engineering and Technology (IET) and meet the educational requirements for becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
• Benefit from free IET membership while you are on the course.
• To complement your formal learning we offer regular PALS sessions that provide the opportunity for you to learn with and from your peers. Share knowledge, discuss ideas, and ask questions in a relaxed and friendly environment.

• Year 1
• In Year 1 you'll get stuck into the practical, with opportunities for laboratory based project work to increase your confidence in using electronic instrumentation for robotic system evaluation. You'll consolidate your hardware and software skills using industry standard software for simulation, remote control and monitoring. Throughout the year, you will take part in a hands-on robot design and build workshop, ending in a competition where your robot is tested against other students' robots.

  Core modules

  • BPIE112 Stage 1 Electrical/Robotics Placement Preparation

    This module is aimed at students who may be undertaking an industrial placement in the third year of their programme. It is designed to assist students in their search for a placement and in their preparation for the placement itself.

  • ELEC138 Electrical Principles

    The module introduces: passive and reactive devices, D.C. and A.C. circuit principles, elementary electric and magnetic field theory. It also introduces and develops methods for the solution of problems in electrical engineering.

  • ELEC139 Analogue Electronics

    This module provides an overview of analogue circuit characterisation, analysis and design, linking theory to practice. It will examine how common analogue systems are constructed from elementary components.

  • ELEC140 Digital Electronics

    This is a foundation module in digital electronics and computer control, which introduces digital devices and provides a background in the principles, design and applications of combinational and sequential logic circuits.

  • ELEC143 Embedded Software in Context

    This module develops skills in elementary programming through the use of high-level programming languages and the use of the flowcharts to develop algorithms. The module has a strong practical bias where students are required to solve various problems by programming existing microcontroller hardware.

  • MATH188 Engineering Mathematics

    This module begins with a review of basic mathematical techniques and then moves on to cover important functions, complex numbers, calculus and the use of matrices. Many examples used in the module are drawn from Engineering applications.

  Optional modules

  • ELEC145 Electronic Design and Build

    This module will introduce the students to practical skills needed to design and build an electronic system. A number of hands-on tutorials on specific topics will provide the necessary knowledge. Most of the module will be organized around practical design-and-build exercises combining analogue, digital and software.

  • ROCO104 Robot Design and Build

    This module will introduce the students to practical skills needed to design and build a small robot. A number of hands-on tutorials on specific topics will provide the necessary knowledge. Most of the module will be organized around practical design-and-build exercises framed in the context of a robot competition.

• Year 2
• During your second year, you'll develop a greater understanding of robot construction and software development and integrate your software and hardware knowledge to customise a microprocessor controlled robot. There's an emphasis on teamwork with opportunities for both group and individual presentations of your projects. You'll use industrial standard software tools for design and simulation, data monitoring and control.

  Core modules

  • BPIE212 Stage 2 Electrical/Robotics Placement Preparation

    This module is aimed at students who may be undertaking an industrial placement in the third year of their programme. It is designed build on the Level 1 module (BPIE111) and to assist students in their search for a placement and in their preparation for the placement itself.

  • ELEC238 Communication Systems

    This module extends the student's knowledge of electrical engineering systems in order to develop an awareness of electrical engineering principles and apply them to electronic and communication engineering.

  • ELEC240 Embedded Systems

    This module introduces the architecture of an embedded system and the engineering process to design, implement, program and validate them. Students will interface analogue and digital peripherals to microcontroller and FPGA devices, develop programming techniques to solve various real-time problems and perform testing.

  • ELEC241 Real Time Systems

    The module enables students to build robust and scalable solutions to real-world problems using both Microcontroller and FPGA technologies. This will include both hardware and firmware development skills.

  • ROCO222 Introduction to Sensors and Actuators

    A systems level study of the principles and design requirements of modern electronic motor systems. Operating performances of various electrical machines are characterised in four quadrants and the requirements of the corresponding power electronic converter topologies are examined. Control strategies are investigated in terms of drive system performance.

  • ROCO224 Introduction to Robotics

    This module covers the theory and implementation of robotics, for both physical and simulated robots. Industry standard robot kinematics and simulations are used to analyse different robot designs, and are practically experienced through commercial tools. The basic mechanical principles for building physical robots are also covered, as well as the algorithms required for planning and generating movement.

  • ROCO225 Introduction to Control

    Module starts with modelling of electrical and mechanical systems using differential equations. Transfer functions, PID control design and state space models are then introduced. This leads to the design of state feedback controllers, observers and optimal controllers. Practical work involves Matlab simulations and culminates in the control of real physical systems using microcontrollers.

• Optional placement year
• Your optional work placement year gives opportunities to put theory into practice, grow your understanding of robotics in the real world and showcase your growing expertise. We can help you find industrial placement opportunities in the UK, France, Germany and Japan. Placements complement your studies with on-the-ground experience and could lead to final year sponsorship. Many of our graduates are offered permanent jobs with their placement company.

  Core modules

  • BPIE332 Electrical Industrial Placement

    A 48-week period of professional training spent as the third year of a sandwich programme undertaking an approved placement with a suitable company. This provides an opportunity for the student to gain relevant industrial experience to consolidate the first two stages of study and to prepare for the final stage and employment after graduation.

• Final year
• In the final year, you have the opportunity to consolidate your knowledge in specialist robotics topics including machine vision, humanoid robotics, behavioural computing and design for entertainment systems, and robotics and control systems. Your final project showcases your abilities to potential employers and relates your technical knowledge to the business environment. You'll demonstrate your communication skills in an oral and written presentation of your project.

  Core modules

  • AINT308 Machine Vision and Behavioural Computing

    Providing an advanced knowledge of artificial vision systems for interactive systems guidance and control, this module is underpinned by current theoretical understanding of animal vision systems.

  • AINT354 Design for Entertainment Systems

    The module follows a small developer model facilitating company formation around an Entertainment prototype, from initial concept to product launch. Work as part of an interdisciplinary team, develop a commercial pitch and understand your position in the value chain. Make a games product, smart toy or robot system to generate a start-up company. Use online management and version control following an agile methodology.

  • ELEC350 Advanced Embedded Programming

    The module aims to develop programming skills in embedded programming, by making use of advanced features of high-level programming languages and by deepening the knowledge of modern programming techniques in embedded systems. The module has a strong practical bias where students are required to solve various problems by programming existing microcontroller hardware.

  • PROJ325 Individual Project

    The project presents the student with a design, experimental or investigative problem which relates the theoretical studies to a practical application. The project objectives will be based on problems originating from industry, commerce and current research programs. Students will also create a business plan in conjunction with their projects.

  • ROCO318 Mobile and Humanoid Robots

    This module examines the technology, control and modelling of mobile and humanoid robot systems. Mathematical analysis and computational algorithms underpin practical considerations and case studies.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc Robotics programme specification 2755

UCAS tariff

96