Module ENGI3321: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Department: Engineering

ENGI3321: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Prerequisites

Corequisites

• Microelectronics, Electronics, Control and Signal Processing, Engineering Design, Management and Manufacture, OR, Electronics, Control and Signal Processing, BEng Engineering Project, BEng Electronic Manufacture.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Electrical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Environmental Engineering, Soil Engineering, Structures and Surveying, Civil Design, Design and Mangagement for Civil Engineering, BEng Mechanical Manufacture, BEng Civil Design, BEng Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics

Aims

• To build on the first and second year computer programming teaching and cover the programming language facilities necessary, and the stages involved, in the development of large scale software systems using conventional procedural languages.
• To understand the relationship between hardware and software when computers are used as components in engineering systems, and the design, implementation and testing of software in these situations.
• To cover the fundamental concepts of communications engineering, based on the mathematical and engineering knowledge acquired in the first two years of the course.

Content

• Computer instruction sets, large program features of C and C++, stages in the software development cycle.
• Hardware access methods in software, controlling a wide range of common devices in software and an appreciation of assembler programming.
• The use of amplitude, frequency and phase modulation in communications, information theory and digital communications.

Learning Outcomes

• The relationship between Computer Instruction Sets and High Level Programming Languages.
• The Large Program features of C and C++.
• The stages in software development.
• Software techniques for the computer control of devices.
• An understanding of basic modulation theory and why and when to use it.
• Appreciation of optimal coding through an understanding of information theory.
• Appreciation of Digital Communications.

• Design, implementation and testing of large scale computer software and Real-Time software.
• Design of communication links to meet specified requirements.

• Capacity for self-learning in familiar and unfamiliar situations.
• Numerical skills appropriate to an engineer.
• General problem solving skills.
• Proficient use of IT relevant to the engineering profession.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Courses in Sofware Engineering and Communications are taught by lectures and reinforced by problem assignments. Assessment is through written examination which enables each student to demonstrate an ability to analyse and solve new problems.
• Real Time Computing is taught by lectures and laboratory classes. These are continuously assessed in the form of computer programming exercises to test application to real-world problems.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Problem Sheets for lecture courses. Formative Real Time Computing assignments.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University