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AMME5700: Foundations of Instrumentation (2014 - Semester 1)

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Unit: AMME5700: Foundations of Instrumentation (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: Faculty of Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Wu, Xiaofeng
Session options: Semester 1
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit: http://web.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/AMME2700
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: AERO1560 OR MECH1560 OR MTRX1701 OR ENGG1800.
Brief Handbook Description: This unit aims to develop in students an understanding of the engineering measurements and instrumentation systems. The students will acquire an ability to make accurate and meaningful measurements. It will cover the general areas of electrical circuits and mechanical/electronic instrumentation for strain, force, pressure, moment, torque, displacement, velocity, acceleration, temperature and so on.
Assumed Knowledge: ENGG1801. Programming Skills, 1st Year maths skills, familiarity with fundamental Aerospace concepts.
Lecturer/s: Dr Wu, Xiaofeng
Tutor/s: Bai, Xueliang - [email protected]
Timetable: AMME5700 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 2 13
2 Laboratory 2.00 1 12
3 Tutorial 2.00 2 12
4 Independent Study 5.00
T&L Activities: Lectures : 2 1hr Lectures per week.

Laboratory: Demonstrations of the application of technology in practice. 2 sessions for each student during the semester.

Tutorial: Descriptive Tutorials with examples, tutors will be available for consultation.

Session Duration 2hrs.

Independent Study: In order to complete assignments and to understand the concepts and applications presented students will be required to engage in self-study.

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Fundamental concepts in Electrical Circuits, Experimental Technique and Instrumentation will be taught. Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
Choice and manipulation of appropriate solution processes to find answers to mechanical measurement problems. Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2)
In order to find solutions to the problems posed students will be shown methodologies by which they can recognise the extent of information needed; locate needed information efficiently and effectively evaluate information and its sources; use contemporary media and technology to access and manage information Information Seeking (Level 3)
As part of their assessement students will be required to use oral, written, and visual communication to further their own learning; make effective use of oral, written and visual means to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding; use communication as a tool for presentation of their ideas and concepts to others. Communication (Level 3)
Using groupwork exercises students will learn skills in working in teams. In particular the sharing and managing of responsibilities required to complete a project. Professional Conduct (Level 2)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Design (Level 2)
1. completion of a simple design project based on presented theory.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
2. Understand concepts of instrumentation.
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2)
3. Ability to apply scientific principles to a particular situation in order to obtain a numerical solution to an Engineering problem.
Information Seeking (Level 3)
4. Ability to investigate available literature in order to build up background information on set problems. This may be done using library and/or on-line resources.
Communication (Level 3)
5. Ability to report and present a design or result to a group of colleagues.
Professional Conduct (Level 2)
6. Understanding of the professional standards set for mechanical measurements.
7. Work as a team to efficiently manage a project and produce an acceptable result. Meet set deadlines.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Assignment No 10.00 Week 5 2, 3, 4,
2 Assignment No 10.00 Week 9 2, 3, 4, 6,
3 Assignment No 10.00 Week 13 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7,
4 Lab Yes 5.00 Week 7 1, 3, 4, 5, 7,
5 Lab Yes 5.00 Week 13 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
6 Quiz No 10.00 Week 7 1, 2, 3, 6,
7 Quiz No 10.00 Week 13 1, 2, 3, 6,
8 Exam Yes 40.00 Exam Period 1, 2, 3, 6,
Assessment Description: Assignment: Assignment problems covering basic circuitry.

Assignment: Assignment problems covering signal processing.

Assignment: Assignment covering complete mechanical instrumentation system.

Lab: Design basic digital/analogue circuitry. Team component.

Lab: Develop mechanical instrumentation system. Team component.

Quiz 1: 1 hour

Quiz 2: 1 hour

Exam: 2 hours
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Special Conditions to Pass UoS Attendance at laboratory sessions and presentation is compulsory.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Prescribed Text/s: Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
Online Course Content: http://web.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/AMME2700

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Introduction, basic circuit theory: Kirchhoff Current Law, Kirchhoff Voltage Law, energy flow, circuit elements.
Week 2 Analysis of DC/AC circuits.
Week 3 Signal conditioning ciruits
Week 4 Data acquisition
Week 5 Strain measurement
Assessment Due: Assignment
Week 6 Force, torque, and pressure measurements
Week 7 pressure measurement
Assessment Due: Lab
Assessment Due: Quiz
Week 8 Displacement, velocity and acceleration measurements
Aircraft instruments required.
Week 9 vibrating systems
Assessment Due: Assignment
Week 10 Thermal/Flow measurements.
Velocity and pressure measurement.
Week 11 Static and dynamic characteristics of signals
Piezo-electric and piezo-resistive devices.
Week 12 Statistical methods
Week 13 Sensors, actuators and control
Assessment Due: Assignment
Assessment Due: Lab
Assessment Due: Quiz
Exam Period Assessment Due: Exam

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Master of Professional Engineering (Aerospace) 2013, 2014
Master of Professional Engineering (Biomedical) 2013, 2014
Master of Professional Engineering (Mechanical) 2013, 2014
Aeronautical Engineering (Space) / Medical Science 2014

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Project and Team Skills (Level 3) No 0%
Design (Level 2) No 18%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) Yes 21%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2) Yes 37.5%
Information Seeking (Level 3) Yes 8.5%
Communication (Level 3) Yes 1%
Professional Conduct (Level 2) Yes 14%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.