Programmable Electronics module (GA32010)

​​This module provides a broad experience of modern engineering software applied to the design process and as an embedded feature in products and systems.

You will begin with the fundamentals of basic electronics, using kits and test equipment to construct and troubleshoot circuits and design input/output interfaces.

Building on this foundation, you will move into microcontrollers and embedded systems, studying the C programming language, microcontroller interfaces, and motor control schemes.

Teaching combines bi-weekly lecture and tutorial classes with regular two-hour laboratory sessions, giving you structured opportunities to apply theory in a practical setting and develop your lab notebook skills. 

​What you will learn 

​In this module, you will: 

• ​Understand the structural layout and key commands in embedded controller programming languages 
• ​Appreciate how engineers design components for use in simulated environments 
• ​Construct and troubleshoot basic electronic circuits using components and test equipment 
• ​Design input/output circuits for interfacing with users and the environment 

​By the end of this module, you will be able to: 

• ​Write simple C code for basic embedded systems involving digital input/output and analogue input 
• ​Develop microcontroller software to interface with circuits and manage data 
• ​Accurately construct electronic circuits and interface them with a microcontroller 
• ​Work effectively in teams and communicate findings in oral and written form​

Assignments / assessments

​​Lab practical reports (50%) 

​Class test (50%) 

​This module does not have a final exam.​

Teaching methods / timetable

• ​​Lectures and linked tutorials on a bi-weekly basis 
• ​Two-hour laboratory sessions on alternate weeks 
• ​Hands-on practical work with electronic kits, components, and test equipment 
• ​Lab notebook maintained throughout the module​