University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2022/23 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Engineering > Department of Engineering Mathematics > Robotics (MSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 4EMAT002T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Paul O'Dowd
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Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
School/department | Department of Engineering Mathematics |
Teaching institution | Universities of Bristol and the West of England |
Awarding institution | Universities of Bristol and the West of England |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
This MSc aims to provide the background and focus to prepare students to understand, design and implement robotic systems as well as comprehend the foundational methods and relevant theories. The structure allows students from a variety of backgrounds in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics and related disciplines to acquire the skills to become Robotics practitioners and researchers. The programme is designed to expose students to three fundamental themes: Perception, Action and Cognition. We also promote a hands-on approach to develop intelligent actuating and sensing systems with the final dissertation based at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, the most comprehensive Robotics Lab in the United Kingdom.
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Students in this course are expected to have an Engineering, Physics, Mathematical or related background. The teaching is a combination of lecture units and hands-on practicals as part of units at both UoB and UWE. The combination of seminars, lectures and laboratory assignments addresses outcome 1 in a broad manner. Learning outcome 1 the ability to understand design and implement robotic systems that link Action, Perception and Cognition is handled by the overall programme's structure. The structure considers two terms. Term 1 is taught at both UoB and UWE. Group practicals as part of the unit are carried out in the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL). For group cohesion, most units in term 1 are mandatory; the activity at BRL is important to set the scene well within Robotics. To provide student choice within the broad area that comprises robotics, they will be able to choose one optional unit in Term 1 and a further three in Term 2. A research skills unit of 15 credits is split across the first and second terms. For the second term, two core units, Robotic Systems PG, and a choice of Intelligent Adaptive Systems or Medical Robotics and Image-Guided Surgery, provide further integration and foundational aspects and are complemented by 3 optional units to be selected from a broad set of units across the faculties of Science and Engineering. Finally the dissertation worth 60 credits is based at BRL. In terms of theme coverage we have the following structure. Learning outcome 2 (Action) is covered by units Robots Fundamentals, Intelligence and Adaptive Systems / Medical Robotics and Image-Guided Surgery (C), Technology and Context of Robotic Autonomous Systems (C), Bio-inspired Artificial Intelligence (C), Advanced Dynamics (O), Control Theory (O), Advanced Techniques in multidisciplinary design (O), and Animation Production (O). Learning outcome 3 (Perception) is covered by units Image Processing and Computer Vision (C), Uncertainty Modelling for Intelligent Systems (O), Technology and Context of Robotics Autonomous Systems (C), as well as by aspects from Robotic Systems PG (C). Learning outcome 4 (Cognition) is covered by units Robotics Fundamentals (C) and Intelligent and Adaptive Systems / Medical Robotics and Image-Guided Surgery (C), Uncertainty Modelling for Intelligent Systems (O), Computational Neuroscience (O), Learning in autonomous systems(O), Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (O), and Advanced DSP &FPGA Implementation (O). Learning outcome 5 (integration) is covered by Robots Fundamentals (C), Robotic Systems PG (C) Technology and Context of Robotics Autonomous Systems (C), the Dissertation (C), and some of the optional units, for example, Virtual Product Development (O) and Design Verification (O). Learning outcome 6 The acquisition of skills to write, evaluate and conduct research in Robotics will be principally covered by the Research Preparation unit (C). Learning outcome 7 the implementation of a real robotic system that combines Action, Perception and Cognition as per learning outcome 7 is expected to be covered by the Project (C), however smaller examples of integration as part of a team will be considered in Robotic Systems PG (C). |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
The learning outcomes are assessed in the specific units using a range of methods to include coursework which is both practical and theoretical, essays, exams and presentations. A final dissertation will be expected as part of the project unit which will likely include a presentation to markers. This dissertation is the programme's principal system integration point where students will demonstrate the skills learned throughout the course. In particular students will demonstrate the ability to design, analyse, implement and evaluate a robotic system under the supervision of BRL academic staff and potentially in collaboration with industry partners. This project is likely to coalesce aspects from the three main strands of the course to include aspects of perception, action and decision making in a working system and guided by the design and integration principles that the students have been exposed to. Further skills such as delivery of results under time constraints and scientific and technical writing will be also demonstrated through the writing of the dissertation. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Intellectual skills are developed through individual and team work on case studies, in class and coursework challenges and written assignments. Students are exposed to designing and evaluating robot systems in the first term and this continues on the second term in the units Intelligent and Adaptive Systems and Robotic Systems respectively. Skills for literature and research consultation and evaluation are further developed in the Research Preparation unit. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
The learning outcomes are assessed in the specific units using a range of methods to include coursework which is both practical and theoretical, essays, exams and presentations. A final dissertation will be expected as part of the project unit which is fundamentally about designing and evaluating a robotic system and therefore an indication of the integration and convergence skills to be developed during the MSc. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Through team and individual work, the student will develop the skills to coordinate and lead projects from the planning to the implementation. Relevant units include Robots Mechanics, Intelligence and Programming, Robotic Systems, Research Skills and The Project unit. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
The learning outcomes are assessed in the specific units using a range of methods to include coursework which is both practical and theoretical, essays and presentations. |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
60 credits must be completed in the foundation modules in particular in both or at least one of the units Robots Mechanics, Intelligence and Programming and/or Robotic Systems. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
120 credits to be completed on the taught modules for the Diploma. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
180 credits will result in a full Masters Degree after the completion of 120 credit taught modules and 60 credits from the project dissertation module. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
NB: Teaching for this programme is delivered at both the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England campuses. Students attending the programme will be given free transport passes to travel between the two universities.
https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/H67B1/robotics
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/engineering/departments/engineering-mathematics/courses/postgraduate/
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Robotics Systems | EMATM0054 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Robotic Fundamentals (UWE, UFMF4X-15-M) | EMATM0033 | 15 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | EMATM0044 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Dissertation | EMATM0055 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Robotics Research Technology and Methods | EMATM0058 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Machine Vision (UWE, UFMFRR-15-M) | EMATM0056 | 15 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Human-Robot Interaction (UWE, UFMFHP-15-M) | EMATM0043 | 15 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
One UWE and one UoB option to be chosen from the following list: | ||||
Optional units are subject to timetabling constraints of the teaching timetables at both the University of Bristol and the University West of England. | ||||
Bio-Inspired Artificial Intelligence | EMATM0029 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Intelligent Information Systems | EMATM0042 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Advanced Control & Dynamics (UWE, UFME7F-15-M) | EMATM0031 | 15 | Optional | TB-2 |
Assistive Robotics (UWE UFMFSR-15-M) | EMATM0059 | 15 | Optional | TB-2 |
Soft Robotics | EMATM0057 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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