Electronics 1: Introduction to Electronic Circuits, Sensors, and Mechatronics

This module introduces students to both analogue and digital electronics as found in all electronics systems. The module approaches the subject both theoretically and practically, including topics such as analysis of circuits, CPU architectures and interfacing to micro-controllers. By the end of the module, students will be able to design and implement both circuits and python based embedded programs in electronics hardware that contains four main elements: 1) sensors that produce electrical signals from physical world; 2) driver and actuators that provide mechanical movements; 3) communication links that passes messages between a mobile device and the embedded electronic systems; 4) embedded programming that gives the electronic system intelligence and adaptability.               

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students will be better able to:

•   Analyse basic circuits to predict voltages and currents
•   Understand digital logic and basic CPUs
•   Build simple passive circuits to meet specifications
•   Measure electrical signals, appreciating issues of accuracy
•   Produce working robots that can sense, drive, link, and measure by combining electronic themes
•   Cooperate in a team project to build a robotic device
•   Write computer code to achieve defined outcomes
•   Apply design principles in context of electronic system             

 

Description of Content

Signals and Measurement:
  Voltages, currents, signals
  Analogue and digital signals
  Oscilloscope and Digital Multi-Meter
Passive networks:
  Potential divider
  parallel serial circuits
  Ohm's law
  Circuits with resistors, capacitors, inductors
Nodal Analysis:
  Kirchhoff's law
  Equivalent circuits
Frequency Response Impedances
  Amplitude gain vs frequency behaviour
Amplifiers:
  Concept of amplification
  Operational amplifier
  Gain-bandwidth product
Logic Circuits:
  Boolean variables and Boolean algebra
  Logic gates
  De Morgan's theorem
  Number representations
CPU basics:
  Simple CPU architecture
  Microcontroller system basics
  Memory systems
Sensors:
  Parameters of sensor performance
  Various types of sensors
Actuators:
  Motors
  Solenoids
  Motor drivers