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Unit information: Individual Exploratory Project in 2015/16

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Unit name Individual Exploratory Project
Unit code AENG30003
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director Professor. Allen
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

Year 2 AENG units, depending on actual project

Co-requisites

Occasionally, particular year 3 AENG units, depending on actual project

School/department School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

The aim of the project is to provide the students with an exercise in scoping, preparing, planning and commencing a piece of original research of engineering relevance in year three (H-level) of a four-year MEng programme. It may be wholly research or include aspects of novel design, or systems engineering, which is orientated towards theoretical and/or practical work. This project will provide an opportunity to explore a subject, define and plan a series of activities, and undertake preliminary investigations in preparation for a deeper and more focused research activity to be undertaken in year four (AENGM3100 Research Project). Integral to this IXP project are development of skills in the following: time and resource management; search, acquisition and critique of literature materials; verbal and visual communication; reasoning and planning; originality and creativity in problem solving.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Refer to QAA Output standards matrix • KU1,2 • IA1,2,3 • PS1 • GT1 • US1,2,3 • E1,2,3,4 • D4 • P2,3,4,5,8 • The intended outcomes are the preparation of a comprehensive project report including a literature review; project plan outlining methodology to be applied and tasks to be undertaken; and, where relevant, identification, design and preparation of software tools or hardware rigs/fixtures. These outcomes will be exploited in the year 4 AENGM3100 Research Project

Teaching Information

All members of the Aerospace Engineering staff (and occasionally staff from other departments) are involved. Each project has a Supervisor and one Specialist Assessor. A moderator (usually the Head of Department) is also part of the assessment team. Where projects have an industrial dimension, external personnel may also be involved in an advisory role but not assessment.

Assessment Information

The assessment is based upon a student's ability to convey and defend their technical research to both specialist and non-specialists in two distinct forums; • A written project proposal (max. 10 pages A4), including a review of the subject identifying the major challenge(s), a description of the intended scientific approach to be taken, a task list, a project timeline, and, if relevant, a summary of preliminary studies/software tools developed/hardware designed [10 cp]. To be submitted at end of Week 18. • A 10 minute poster presentation [4 cp] + Viva Voce examination [6 cp]. To be held in Weeks 19-20.

Reading and References

Various, depending on project topic

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