Engineering

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Project-based course introducing real-world design aspects of hardware and software components of computer systems using appropriate design methodology. Practical skills will be gained in computer aided design tools, printed circuit board design and construction. Professional issues introduced in ENGGEN 204 (health and safety, sustainability, cultural diversity/awareness, communication, leadership, teamwork, financial awareness) and design for repair are reinforced and developed.

This project-based course intends to introduce the fundamentals of electronic and embedded software systems design principles. Students will be working in teams of 4, to design and develop a smart energy monitor, similar in functionality to the ones used in smart houses to measure and display the amount of energy consumed by appliances. The smart energy monitor that would be developed during the course would feature an 7-segment display to display information as well as wireless Bluetooth communication with mobile devices.

To achieve the goals of this project, students will be introduced to a range of electronics and embedded software design tools used to engineer modern day complex systems. These tools include Altium PCB Designer, Atmel Studio IDE, Proteus Virtual Systems Simulator, Git, LTspice Circuit Simulator, PCB assembly & rework equipment and electronics test & measurement instrumentation. Using these tools and together with the understanding of fundamental principles, the students will develop electronic circuitry and embedded software needed to implement a smart energy monitor. Working with the fellow teammates, a prototype will be implemented to test and validate the viability of proposed solutions and the findings will be presented. The top designs will be judged by engineers from Tru-Test Datamars, who sponsor this course, and the best design team will be awarded a certificate.  

Further information about the course can be found in the course website via the link

- https://uoa-ece209.github.io/

Prerequisite: COMPSYS 201 and ELECTENG 202, or COMPSYS 201 and ELECTENG 291, or PHYSICS 140 and 244 Restriction: ELECTENG 209

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

This course is a 15 point course with no exam. Students are expected to spend 10 hours per week across the entire semester including during the break.

For this course, weekly, you can expect 2 hours of lectures (in average), 1-2 hour of reading and thinking about the content and 7-8 hours of work on labs and the design project.

Campus Experience

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

1. ELECTENG 101 Lecture Notes
2. COMPSYS 201 Lecture & Lab Notes 
   
3. ELECTENG 202/291 Lectures & Lab Notes
4. ELECTENG 209 Learning Resources (Lecture Notes, Video Recordings, Guides, Workshops and Support Sessions)

• Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
• There are certain risks associated with working in the MDLS E&I labs and using lab equipment to develop a prototype
• Therefore all students are required to complete appropriate health and safety inductions before entering the labs that will be used during the course
  
• Students should also read and familiarise with the information detailed in the "MDLS risk assessment form" for this course  
• Students should strictly follow all the health and safety rules and failing to do so will result in penalties and restrictions on access

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Improvements will be made to the way practical tests are conducted

• We will conduct a number of workshop to help students learn how to use the design tools required for this course
• The lab assessments will guide the students through the design 
• There will be in average about 10 support hours a week conducted in MDLS 5 & 6 as well as through Zoom

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page .

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter .

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.