431-330 Design Laboratory

431-222 Electronic Circuit Design 1 (prior to 2005 Electronic Devices) and 431-204 Digital Systems 2: System Design.

On completion of this subject students should be able to plan, manage and complete a small engineering project as a team; design and construct to professional standards using commercial components to a specification; keep laboratory notebooks to professional standards; and write clear and concise reports and present a project to a group of peers.

Topics include two design tasks relevant to electrical and computer engineering to be completed by small teams. Support lectures on project management, design and construction skills, oral and written presentations will be given.

• ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals

• ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large

• in-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline

• ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution

• ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance

• ability to function effectively as an individual and in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member

• understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development

• understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to them

• capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning

• intellectual curiosity and creativity, including understanding of the philosophical and methodological bases of research activity

• openness to new ideas and unconventional critiques of received wisdom

Laboratory notebooks to be kept during laboratory sessions and submitted at the end of the semester (10%), a formal written report (less than 3000 words) to be submitted by each team for each design task (35%), an oral presentation on one of the design tasks (25%). Marks will also be awarded for practical and construction skills for both projects (30%).