KD6031 - Instrumentation and Control of Dynamical Systems

You will experience a wide range of learning and teaching approaches in this module. The theoretical basis of the subject will be presented in the lectures, labs, and group projects. The module will be taught on a problem driven basis that promotes your autonomous learning. A key component of the module is technology enhanced learning through the use of relevant software packages such as MATLAB/Simulink, LabVIEW, Python, and C++, etc. Experience of these packages will directly increase your employability skills. Knowledge acquired from lectures and labs will be applied through practical work, particularly in the development of practical and working instrumentation and control systems, which is highly valued by industry and strongly applicable to careers in research.
Lectures will be given in a computer-based environment and allow you to both familiarise yourself with simulation software and design, simulate and evaluate control and instrumentation systems. Such a setting provides the opportunities for formative assessment.
Summative assessment is composed of a formal assignment report and a small group project. The assignment report is based on computer modelling and theories that is appropriate to this level. You are provided with written feedback on the report and in a plenary format designed to promote dialogue around the assessment. A project will be undertaken in small groups, providing you the opportunity to develop team-working skills in the instrumentation and control system design context. You will also receive feedback on the group project.

In addition to direct contact with the module team during lectures and seminars, you are encouraged to develop your curiosity by making direct contact with the module team either via email or the open-door policy operated throughout the programme. You will also be regularly referred to supporting resources including relevant texts and multimedia relevant to the module. References to these resources will be made available through the e-learning portal and in lectures and labs.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Determine which control algorithms fit better to a control problem assessing their limitations (AHEP4-C5, M5)

2. Apply appropriate engineering procedures to design a particular control system based on design specifications ( AHEP4- C5, M5, M12)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Predict and appraise the performance of control algorithms using appropriate tools, providing practical solutions from specification for a control or instrumentation system. ( AHEP4-C5, C12, M5, M12)

4. Acquire practical demonstration, communication, and group project presentation skills (AHEP4-M17).

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Manage time, resources, health & safety efficiently and work effectively both individually and as a member of a team through a group project (AHEP4-C11, M14, M11, M14).

Formative assessment within this module is performed in the lecture sessions as problems and puzzles are solved interactively. Example case studies may also be used in the lecture session as examples of key topics. Additionally, within the lecture content some formative assessment will be performed in the format of simple quizzes to determine what has been understood.

The summative assessment of the module is composed of the following:

1. Coursework (CW): Group project (weighted 50%) addressing LO1, LO4, LO5.
Students will work together in small groups to build a practical and working instrumentation and control system. Each group will prototype a working design and ensure that the design is fit for purpose. The project will typically consists of a number of work-packages providing each team member the opportunity to lead a package. The final group report should include a section detailing each student’s contribution. This will then be used to assess each student individually, based on the quality of their corresponding contributions. Each student’s final grade will consist of a group grade (50%) shared by all and an individual grade (50%).

2. Coursework (CW): Individual coursework (weighted 50%) addresses LO2, LO3.
The assignment paper will typically contain two sections (Section A and Section B). Each section is worth 50 % of the module mark. Each section will be made up of 2 design problems to solve. Feedback is provided to students individually and in a plenary format both written and verbally to help students improve and reflect on their own learning.

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Control is about changing or modifying the behaviour of a system, by some external means or actions, so that it behaves in a desired way and this regardless of any perturbation acting on the system. A system can be anything from a car to an airplane or a chemical reactor or simply your room. For example, if you want to change your room temperature (behaviour), then you have to turn your heater on or off (action) depending on whether it is cold or hot. In this module you will learn how to control various physical systems by designing and applying the appropriate control actions. For this you will first learn how to mathematically models systems, how to analyse them, how to derive the most appropriate controller for that system. You will also learn how to test your controller performance by simulation and practically implement the controller using the proper instrumentation methods.