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Overview

Course Prescription

The formal introduction to the design process is completed by one or more open-ended projects which typically include elements of design from concept to working prototype. Professional issues introduced in ENGGEN 303 (health and safety, sustainability, cultural diversity/awareness, communication, leadership, teamwork, financial awareness) and design for repair are reinforced and developed.

Course Overview

This project-based course intends to help students further their electronics systems design experience gained during previous design courses. The project is based around the design and implementation of a switch-mode power supply, an essential sub-system found in all modern electronics devices. To gain fundamental understanding of switch-mode power converters, students will design and implement a pocket-sized power supply that could replace the bulky low-voltage power supply found on a typical work bench. The power supply would be fed from a USB-C PD capable port and its isolated output voltage is controlled by the user via a computer. Real-time information about the load attached to the power supply will also be displayed on the computer. To achieve this, students will be working as part of a design team of four students, who will undertake an investigation and subsequently design and develop a power supply that meets a set of specifications given.

There are four components to this project - hardware design, magnetic design, firmware development, and system integration. Students will start the project by developing a ‘paper’ design of the hardware, and then validate this design using LTspice simulations. Students will then work on the magnetic design, which will be validated and improved using Ansys Maxwell. In parallel, using Proteus Virtual System Simulator (VSM) and an Atmel development board, students will develop and validate the firmware needed to control your power supply. Finally, working with the fellow teammates, hardware, magnetic and firmware designs will be integrated to develop a prototype power supply to characterise and show that it meets the given design specifications. At the conclusion of the project, each design team will be interviewed by an assessor and given the opportunity to demonstrate the performance of their design. The top designs will be judged by engineers from Fisher & Paykel Appliances, who sponsor this course, and the best design team will be awarded a prize. 


Further information about the course can be found in the course website - https://uoa-ee311.github.io/ .

Workload Expectations

This course is a 15 point course with no exam. Students are expected to spend 10 hours per week across the entire semester including during the break.

For this course, weekly, you can expect 2 hours of lectures (in average), 2 hour of reading and thinking about the content and 6 hours of work in the lab on the design project.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is required at scheduled activities including lectures, labs, interviews and workshops to complete and receive credit for components of the course.
  • Lectures will be available as recordings. 
  • Other learning activities including labs and workshops will not be available as recordings.
  • The course will include live online events including seminars and support sessions.
  • Tests are conducted on campus and include practical components.
  • The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable detailed in the course outline.

Teaching and Learning Methods

  • Lab attendance is compulsory and there are two 3 hours labs per week.
  • Lecture attendance is expected as there will be quizzes and in class problem solving.
  • Tests are conducted on campus and include practical components.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

Following learning resources are essential to the course and it is expected that students would have revised these resources before starting ELECTENG 311

  1. COMPSYS 201 Lecture & Lab Notes 
  2. ELECTENG 202/291 Lectures & Lab Notes
  3. ELECTENG 204 Lectures & Practicals
  4. ELECTENG 209 Learning Resources
  5. ELECTENG 310 Learning Resources
During ELECTENG 311, we will provide a variety of learning resources including lecture notes, video recordings, guides, workshops and laboratory support sessionsFollowing learning resources are optional but it would be helpful if the students have/are taken/taking these electives,
  1. ELECTENG 210/292 Lectures & Practicals
  2. ELECTENG 303/332 Lectures & Practicals
  3. ELECTENG 305 Lectures & Practicals
  4. ELECTENG 309 Lectures & Practicals

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

  • Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the University's Health and Safety policy.
  • There are certain risks associated with working in the MDLS E&I labs and using lab equipment to develop a prototype. All students are required to complete appropriate health and safety inductions before entering the labs that will be used during the course.
  • Students should also read and familiarise with the information detailed in the "MDLS risk assessment form" for this course 
  • Students should strictly follow all the health and safety rules and failing to do so will result in penalties and restrictions on access

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

The combined score of the 2 tests must be over 40% to pass the course.

No late submission is allowed unless late submission penalties are specified on Canvas.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123456

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

There wasn't sufficient feedback to make conclusive changes. However, as per a couple of comments received, the teaching team will try to release progress review grades within 2 weeks.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.