MEng (Hons) Robotics

Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with a robotics degree.

What can you do with a robotics degree?

• Four year integrated masters programme.

• 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.

• When our new engineering and design facility is launched, students in engineering, science and the arts will have access to a range of specialist equipment and innovative laboratories.
  

• Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

• Undertake a major robotics design and implementation in your final project, showcasing your technical and managerial skills.

• Capitalise on the opportunity to take a work placement in your second or third year, putting your robotics skills into action in the real world.

• Students are able to get involved with industrial partners for their project work.

• Students can undertake industrial placements and summer internships with researchers at the University. 

• Draw on unique opportunities to engage in world-class robotics research, and in a variety of activities.

• Year 1

• In your first year you'll learn through doing, developing your knowledge and practical problem-solving skills in our dedicated robotics and electronics laboratories. From engineering mathematics to analogue and digital electronics, you’ll build up the essential foundations for understanding robotic systems. Group project work will help you develop your communication skills and you'll learn structured design procedures for hardware and software all brought together in an integrating robotics project.

  Core modules

  • Stage 1 Electrical/Robotics Placement Preparation (BPIE112)

    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.

  • Analogue Electronics (ELEC141)

    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.

  • Digital Electronics (ELEC142)

    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.

  • Electrical Principles and Machines (ELEC144)

    This module gives an introduction to the electrical properties of materials, capacitance, Inductance, and electromagnetism. Basic circuit principles and their application in dc and ac circuit analysis are then applied to electrical machines, transformers and energy conversion.

  • Embedded System Design and Build (PROJ100)

    The module enables students to work collectively to build prototype solutions to real-world problems using both software and hardware. This will include development and verification skills in both hardware and software. 

  • Engineering Mathematics (ENGR104)

    This module provides students with a number of fundamental mathematical skills, and techniques, which are essential for the analysis of engineering problems.

• Year 2

• Throughout your second year, you will develop a greater understanding of underlying theoretical and practical principles of robotic systems. You will make use of standard software tools for design and simulation and control of robots which are essential preparation for a placement or your final year individual project

  Core modules

  • Stage 2 Electrical/Robotics Placement Preparation (BPIE212)

    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.

  • Engineering Mathematics and Statistics (MATH237)

    This module provides an introduction to mathematical and statistical methods that are important in the study of electronic and communications engineering. The mathematical techniques (transforms) are central to the study of linear, time-invariant systems. As well as introducing descriptive statistics, basic probability distributions, the module also considers the more advanced topics of reliability and quality control.

  • Control Engineering (ROCO219)

    This module introduces basic concepts in how to control systems that have dynamics. This can involve making an unstable system stable, like balancing a Segway transporter to ensure it always remains upright. Or to get a system to follow a desired input and reach the desired goal. For example, controlling a robot arm so it moves directly to a target location without oscillating or overshooting.

  • Introduction to Robotics (ROCO224)

    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.

  • Real Time Systems Project (PROJ200)

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

  • Sensors and Actuators for Robotic Systems (ROCO226)

    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.

• Optional placement year

• An optional work placement experience gives you the opportunity 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 and abroad. Placements will complement your studies with real-world industrial experience which can lead to final year sponsorship. Many of our graduates are offered permanent jobs with their placement company.

  Core modules

  • Electrical Industrial Placement (BPIE332)

    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.

• Year 4

• In the fourth year, you will learn additional more advanced concepts and topics in the field of robotics. You will also have the opportunity to make use of the knowledge you have consolidated this far and apply it to your individual project, which also provides a means to develop and practice your presentation and communication skills which are also vital for your future robotics career.

  Core modules

  • Advanced Embedded Programming (ELEC351)

    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.

  • Mobile and Humanoid Robots (ROCO318)

    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.

  • Individual Project (PROJ300)

    Investigate problems from industry or current research, define the problem boundaries, investigate possible solutions and present your results.  You’ll have the chance to demonstrate a wide range of skills in project management, ethics, IP, research, critical thinking, engineering decisions, hardware, electrical/electronic and mechanical, design and simulation, software implementation, schematic capture and testing.

  • Computer Vision (ROCO321)

    The module will provide an advanced knowledge of artificial vision systems for interactive systems guidance and control. It will be underpinned by current theoretical understanding of animal vision systems.

  Optional modules

  • High Speed Communications (ELEC345)

    A circuit and system design module covering analogue and high frequency techniques and their place in modern communications systems.

  • Machine Learning for Robotics (ROCO351)

    This module introduces basic concepts in the area of machine learning, which is a rapidly expanding field that allows computers to learn how to behave and perform complex tasks without being explicitly programmed to do them. Applications range from signal processing, image recognition through to the control of robotics systems.

• Final year

• The final year of the MEng programme introduces more specialist topic in robotics and a major robotics project.

  Core modules

  • MEng Project (PROJ515)

    This group project involves an in-depth study of a complex real-world problem originating from industry, commerce or research. It could include theoretical, computational and experimental work in addition to a critical literature survey and also involves the design and build of a prototype to support the claims made in the project execution plan.

  • Distributed and Interactive Communications Systems (ELEC520)

    In this module, students will develop applications involving interconnected hardware devices and software capabilities. Devices include both embedded and networked computers. Capabilities include sensor data acquisition, actuator control, and behaviour generation. The module will cover both theory and practical work, including management of code complexity, and dealing with real-time and reliability issues.

  • Advanced Robot Design and Prototyping (ROCO507Z)

    This module aims to give the students a theoretical and practical understanding of designing and building advanced robot assemblies and mechanisms, through engineering and bioinspired approaches.

  • Soft Computing Techniques for Autonomous Systems (MECH557)

    This module will develop knowledge and understanding of soft computing techniques and will explore the benefits of these in autonomous systems. The module will include seminars and guest lectures from key people from Industries and academics to share their experiences in the autonomous systems areas.

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:

MEng (Hons) Robotics programme specification_3746

UCAS tariff

128

A level