Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

Preparing for Learning in Higher Education

This module is designed to give you the best possible start to your university studies, making sure you have all the essential skills you need to succeed. Through lectures and workshops we will teach you how to write in an academic style, how to find quality sources, how to reference work, culminating in writing up a mini-research project.

Introduction to Computing

This module will promote and support your development of learning in Computer Science as you prepare for progression to the following year. It teaches fundamental computer programming techniques and knowledge and enhances wider conceptual awareness of the discipline.

Foundation in Data Analysis

Develop a strong foundation in data collection and analysis. This module will introduce you to qualitative and quantitative data and how to analyse it; the collection of primary and secondary data; the production of high quality graphics; and report writing.

Group Challenge (Sciences)

In a group, you'll formulate questions that can be tested by scientific investigations and take part in weekly workshops with academics.

Foundation Mathematics A

You will study pure mathematics topics, including proof, algebra, trigonometry, differentiation, integration, exponentials, logarithms, sequences and series. The applied topic is probability and statistics.

Foundation Mathematics B

This module extends the knowledge gained in the Foundation Mathematics A - pure mathematics topics. You will also study functions and vectors. The applied topic is mechanics.

Foundation Mathematics 1

This module delivers core mathematics skills to build a solid basis for future studies. You will study the following topics: factors, multiples, indices, fractions and standard form; algebra, linear and quadratic equations; averages and spread; functions, exponentials and logarithms; and right angled triangles and trigonometry.

Foundation Mathematics 2

This module delivers core mathematics skills to build a solid basis for future studies.You will study the following topics: polynomials; sequences and series; complex numbers and trigonometry; and differentiation and integration.

Programming Portfolio

Gain the practical knowledge to design, implement and test algorithms. The module uses lectures to deliver concepts, a practice lab to apply the programming concepts learnt by developing programs to solve problems. You will take part in hands-on practical assessments, which will enable you to acquire extensive programming skills in an industry standard programming language. We will support you whether you are new to programming or have existing skills.

Algorithms and Data Structures

Start to think like a computer (bleep bloop)! This module explores logic, data storage and algorithms with the use of practical demonstrations and activities. Operating in parallel with programming-focussed modules, we will develop a toolkit of key concepts from a theoretical (non-code) perspective, facilitating a better understanding of these fundamentals. Topics to expect include pseudocode, state machines, essential keywords, common data structures, sort algorithms and search algorithms. You will learn methods to analyse and compare algorithms and their constituent parts in order that you may better design, evaluate and develop effective, efficient and performant software solutions.

Computational Thinking

This module Computational thinking is essential for developing computer-based solutions. This module will enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of the key mathematical underpinnings of computer science, to aid you in problem solving and programming. The development of your competence in logic, mathematics and statistics will also provide evidence of your numeracy and more advanced skills and is valued by employers.

Architectures, Operating Systems and the Cloud

In this module you will explore the fundamental properties of computers that allow them to execute programmes. You will learn about how Computers are made to work in hardware and simulation (Virtual Machines). A collection of Virtual Machines is a cloud, and this Module allows you to get experience with the development of your own cloud using appropriate platforms.

Professional Development

Employers want much more than discipline specific skills. This module sets you up to grow your professional skills and awareness, when working both individually and as part of a team. You will also develop your appreciation of the challenges within the sector, and how technology can help to solve worldwide issues. You will begin a personal portfolio that you will add to over your degree and you will work as part of a team to produce a design prototype, demonstrating your personal professional development. Through researching your discipline, you will understand the range of career roles available and what you need to do to progress in them.

Robotic Foundations

Robots are a combination of electronic, mechanical and computer systems. This module focuses on the underlying science and technologies of structures, actuators and sensors which make up the component parts of robots. The module provides a hands-on opportunity to the students to work on industry-standard robot simulation tools to safely model real-world robots and to simulate their behaviour in different scenarios – knowledge and software that can then be ported to real-world systems. Alongside this, the module provides an opportunity of developing diversity of soft skills including but not limited to; team-working, project planning, report writing.

Artificial Intelligence

Data is one of the 21st century’s most valuable commodities. In this module you will learn how to analyse, validate and interpret it to inform decision making. You will implement artificial intelligence techniques to solve a real world problem. . Nationally, there is a widely recognised shortage of qualified Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data scientists to meet the needs of industry.

Connected Devices and IoT

Everything is connected. Whether components of a robot, smart homes or cities, many sensors and subsystems must work together and communicate with each other flawlessly and at high speed to achieve their goals. This module will give you a practical introduction to the options available and the tools and techniques needed to make multiple software and hardware systems integrate together. You’ll examine the abilities of wired and wireless communication systems, learn where and when particular systems are appropriate, learn about the Internet of Things and implement examples.

Data Analysis and Visualisation

Data analytics has rapidly become a part of all of our lives, and is an increasingly sought-after skill on the job market. In this module you'll learn the theoretical and practical skills to analyse any dataset independently, starting from exploratory analysis of a new dataset for hypothesis finding, over choosing and comparing different algorithms, and presenting and explaining your results quantitatively and visually. You will learn to train models of different complexity that can make predictions or uncover hidden patterns in data, making responsible and fair decisions that can help improve our lives.

Electronics and Microcontrollers

All robotic systems require electronics for functionality. This module introduces fundamental concepts of electrical and electronic circuits through a practical, hands-on approach. You will construct basic circuits using discrete components, sensors, and microcontrollers while exploring how to interface both electrical and sensor based electronic circuits with these controllers.

Embedded System Applications

The module gives you the experience of developing a real-time embedded control system to develop transfer skills.  It also gives a good grounding of very low level programming an embedded device.

In this practical module, you will also gain confidence to create software that generates the requisite signals to control a real-world system and build a driver architecture onto the fundamental behaviours that they implement.

Computer Vision

Computer vision is fundamental to intelligent systems ranging from advanced microscopes to access control systems and from autonomous robots to self-driving cars. You'll will develop expertise that are currently being used in real-world systems. This includes design and analysis of algorithms for image processing and computer vision as well as evaluation of various cutting-edge solutions in the context of emerging applications.

Machine Learning

Machine learning comprises the theory and practice underlying recent advances in artificial intelligence and is a core requirement for anyone seeking to work in the AI or data analysis field. This module will introduce core algorithms in machine learning, including state-of-the-art deep learning models, and consider practical issues around complexity, optimisation and performance. You will learn to systematically compare algorithms and establish the mathematical foundations to implement your own. 

Robotics and Automation

The major portion of robots in an industrial setup is an arm-like structure ‘manipulator’. The study of manipulators for diversified applications has highlighted the need for their thorough kinematic and dynamic analysis to design the sophisticated algorithms for their control and trajectory planning. Given the expensive and dangerous nature of ‘giant’ robotic manipulators, the module provides a hands-on opportunity to the students to work on industry-standard robot simulation tools to safely model real-world robots and to simulate their dynamic behaviour in different scenarios – knowledge and software that can then be ported to real-world systems.

Communicating and Teaching Computing

This module enables you to undertake a placement in a school, college or other educational establishment where you can develop your practical teaching and communication skills, as well as extending your knowledge of the education process. These skills are valued by employers, whether you are interested in potentially going on to train or teach others or not. You will also have the opportunity to develop an educational project to demonstrate your skills in practice.

Honours Stage Project

Your Honours Stage Project is your chance to spend a full third of your study time working on a topic of interest to you, and producing something major as a result. You can design your own project, work with a member of staff to develop an idea, or choose one from a catalogue. Develop an AI program, do some research in virtual reality, or build a new robot butler – the choice is yours. With regular support from a supervisor, you’ll learn to create, undertake, evaluate and report on a significant individual project which you’ll be proud to show off to an employer.

Edge AI for Robotics

This module highlights the computing and development issues faced when creating new robotic solutions and discusses new research ideas which can be used to build solutions for existing problems. You will apply Artificial Intelligence techniques to build useful behaviour in robotic systems.

Cutting Edge Concepts

This module enables review of cutting-edge and emerging concepts and methods across the spectrum of computer science. We will meet as a reading group to select, review and discuss academic publications of high quality, that take topics beyond the curriculum and into the current state of the art; students will learn how to read and review academic materials critically.

Autonomous Robots

In this module you will explore advanced techniques building autonomous robots and understand the complexities and interactions between computation and design of such systems.

Dependable Reactive Real-Time Systems

This module focuses the issues of real-time and dependable design and introduces you to the appropriate concepts and design methods. It focuses on the design of single systems and goes further to discuss specific challenges encountered today in the design of cooperative and multi-robot systems.

Commercial Development Practice

Commercial Development Practice is a reach-out project of the School of Computer Science, where we work on real commercial software for real clients. With the support of academic and specialist staff, our software development teams provide commercial software development services to customers with bespoke software development needs. This excellent opportunity gives you critical experience of working professionally with clients across the entire software project lifecycle from customer brief through to specifying, designing, developing and testing software using industry-standard technologies and techniques. Employers tell us they are actively looking for candidates with experience applying the project management methodologies, frameworks and tools that you will explore, use and hone during your time in CDP. Graduates tell us that their experiences are highly sought after in industry, and you will certainly end up with lots to put on your CV and talk about in job interviews!