ROBOTIC STUDENT  YEAR TWO

This term I have 8 modules to do. Neural computation, control and measurement, signals, further computer systems, databases, GUI and web design,digital circuit design, engineering applications and algorithms.

All these modules are extremely demanding and I am not over exaggerating. This term we had 6 modules throughout. Each of these modules has its own course work and depending on whether the module is 10 or 20 credits, it can run for one term or two respectively. The timetable is slightly less hectic as compared to the first year, but this is only to accommodate for the amount of time you spend out of lectures. By saying this you will probably be in the library, in a lab doing practical work, meeting up with a lecturer or class mates or doing all three at the same time!

Neural computation is a tricky module. This module has a piece of course work where you have to program or simulate a neural network in C++. You are given hints and tips as to how the network should work but the rest is up to you. As you can imagine trying to teach your own program to work is not the easiest thing. You firstly have to make sense of your own program before it can learn.  The other parts of the module are all biology and understanding the brain and how neurons work within the brain and nervous system. GUI and web design is possibly my favourite module because it is the simplest one. For course work we had make a website for an animal charity. This meant we had to sort out our own clients and find out of they actually wanted a website, if not we just made a website for an animal charity anyway.

Digital circuit design is an extension from the computer and internet technologies module we did in the first year. It looks a lot at, programmable logic. From how the actual gate works to how it interacts with the drivers that work in the actual programming language. We also look at analogue and digital converters, how they work, how they are built and designed and of course their implementation. Signals is literally a module about the analysis of binary signals. it could be a signal going down a telephone line, we looked at how you calculate its bandwidth, how the signal is being generated and all the other implications involved in signal generation and transmission.

Control and measurement is a very hard module, by far the hardest module in the whole degree. I have to say even the lecturer warns you that 90% of the students will not understand it and by that he is right. Very complicated as it looks at how systems work and respond to inputs. This module has a horrible piece of course work where you to model various systems using the techniques taught in first year engineering maths, cybernetics and it application. So referring to first year notes and understanding is key.

The last of the modules we did this term was engineering applications where we learnt about printed circuit boards, how to make them, how they work, about bad circuit practice and much more (there is also an exam at the end of term). This is all in preparation for the mobile insect robot we will be building next term.

As you can see with all the course work and exam at the end its all a lot to take in But I have to admit, you do feel a sense of accomplishment after all the work is done. Unfortunately I have no pictures this term. I have time to rest over Christmas and next term we start again.

YEAR2 Continued