Engineering smart systems

"Smart" systems are critical to the future of engineering. This unit will introduce the fundamentals required for these systems from the perspective of software, electrical, electronic and mechatronics engineering. Theory underpinning systems approach, analogue and digital circuit design and Python programming will be presented.

The fundamental stages in the software and hardware development life cycle will be introduced, including requirements analysis, functional analysis, design integration and verification.

Concepts such as Boolean Logic, Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s Laws, Nodal Analysis and Thevenin Equivalence will also be introduced. These will be used to analyse and design solutions that contain electrical components including capacitors, semiconductor devices such as diodes, transistors and basic microcontrollers.

The contribution of each topic to a contemporary engineering application will be demonstrated. These concepts will be practised through hands-on projects carried out in teams. Communication and teamwork skills will be developed through team-based tasks.

Active learning - Teaching and learning method

In this unit, formal contact hours consist of workshops and practice classes. Learning in the unit is through multiple methods consisting of:

• Pre-workshop work with online quiz assessment

• Workshop and practical class engagement

• Completion of in-semester content tests

• Completion of a major project

• Completing problem sheets throughout the semester

Practical class allocation

There are 3-hours of practice classes scheduled each week, commencing in Week 1. You must enrol in one practice class only using Allocate Plus. If you are not allocated to a particular practice class, you will not be accepted into that session without the written consent of the unit coordinator. Once a particular session is full, no more students will be accepted unless evidence is shown that timetabling means that is the only session possible.

Teaching approach

In a typical week, you are expected to:

• Read selected unit materials and watch online videos prior to attending workshops. This will be assessed in a weekly pre-workshop online quiz in Moodle.

• Attend workshops that focus on the application of the weekly discipline-specific topics and examples. Engagement in workshops will be assessed via the use of audience response systems.

• Perform self-study to work your way through the problem sheets with included solutions.

• Engage in practical classes, which will include a mix of activities that teach and apply teamwork, information literacy and writing skills, and apply and consolidate discipline-specific knowledge gained in workshops in hands-on experiments

• Work in teams on completing the two major projects for the unit. You can also find information on inclusive teaching practices for students with learning disabilities or mental health conditions at www.monash.edu.au/lls/inclusivity

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.