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2022/23 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ELEC1406 Communications for Robotics

10 creditsClass Size: 140

Module manager: Dr. S.A. Zaidi
Email: s.a.zaidi@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2022/23

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

Communications is an essential element of robotics systems. This module covers the underpinning principles of communications and their application to robotics, as appropriate for students in the first year of a programme of study with a focus on robotics. The module gives students an introduction to the basic building blocks of modern communication systems. It introduces familiarity with the technical concepts of both wired and wireless communication networks and their application to remote control of robotic systems.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Describe the operating principles of a limited range of communication systems and networks, including communication channels (wired and wireless), analogue and digital signals, the radio spectrum, basic modulation and coding techniques.
2. Identify the basic modules of a typical communications system and classify the performance of various communications systems.
3. Apply mathematical and computational methods to analyse communications signals and functions.
4. Implement a simple digital communications link and apply test and measurement equipment to analyse the system performance.


Syllabus

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

Fundamentals of communications: information and the basic properties and classification of signals, continuous and discrete systems, analogue and digital signals, sampling and quantisation, advantages/disadvantages of digital communication
Introduction to signal processing concepts, amplifiers and filters
Communication paradigms, and their application to robotics and the Internet-of-Things
Fundamentals of signal transmission: concept of the physical layer, bits and symbols, binary and m-ary transmission, basic line codes, compression and error correction
Networks and the Internet: protocol stack overview, local area vs wide area, application layer, publish/subscribe protocols, streaming protocols, communication transport protocols, medium access protocols, random access vs scheduled access
Fundamentals of radio propagation and spectrum management, principles of modulation, bandwith, channel capacity, introduction to frequency, time and code-division multiplexing

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Laboratory52.0010.00
Office Hour Discussions11.001.00
Lecture101.0010.00
Independent online learning hours15.00
Private study hours64.00
Total Contact hours21.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)100.00

Private study

Students are expected to use private study time to consolidate their understanding of course materials, to undertake preparatory work for seminars, workshops, tutorials, examples classes and practical classes, and also to prepare for in-course and summative assessments.



Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students studying ELEC modules will receive formative feedback in a variety of ways, including the use of self-test quizzes on Minerva, practice questions/worked examples and (where appropriate) through verbal interaction with teaching staff and/or post-graduate demonstrators.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
In-course AssessmentIn-Class Lab Test30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)30.00

Resits for ELEC and XJEL modules are subject to the School's Resit Policy and the Code of Practice on Assessment (CoPA), which are available on Minerva. Students should be aware that, for some modules, a resit may only be conducted on an internal basis (with tuition) in the next academic session.


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) (S2)2 hr 30 mins70.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)70.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 27/04/2023

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