BSEN30520 Sensors and Sensing Systems

Academic Year 2024/2025

This course will introduce students to modern sensors and advanced measurement systems for a wide range of applications in food and agriculture. Sensors are recognised as key enablers of a sustainable future through timely provision of data that can be used in decision making to improve agricultural productivity and climate resilience, while also optimizing resource usage.

In this module, students will learn the basic theory of sensors, general measurement principles and concepts are introduced. Physical parameters of interest, available methods and appropriate sensor solutions for measurement will be explored. Data acquisition, management and processing techniques will be presented, with a particular focus on imaging based and intelligent measurement and monitoring techniques. Students will learn the basics of programming and developing a sensing system based on Arduino.

Through participation in lectures and tutorials, students will learn how evaluate a range of solutions to a sensing application against appropriate technical criteria, design, program and operate a temperature sensor measurement and control system and analyse the resulting data to monitor an environment.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. demonstrate an understanding of the principles of sensor measurement systems
2. evaluate a range of solutions to a sensing application against appropriate technical criteria
3. design, program and operate a temperature sensor measurement and control system
4. analyse time-series data obtained with a sensing system

Indicative Module Content:

1. Fundamentals of sensors and components of sensor systems
2. Principles of operation of temperature sensing systems
3. Architecture and operating principles of microcontrollers
4. Sketching in Arduino to control inputs and outputs
5. Design, wire and operate a sensing system based on Arduino
6. Demonstrate understanding of circuits with Arduino
7. Learn how to use a multimeter to test an Arduino circuit
8. Bioprocessing Monitoring and Control Systems
9. Principles of light detectors & colour measurement
10. The principles of basis of humidity measurement
11. Basic principles of spectroscopy, spectral imaging and related applications

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

7
Project Supervision

14
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

121
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
active/task-based learning; lectures; lab work; enquiry & problem-based learning 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Exam (In-person): Exam based on course content n/a Graded No

50
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment on application of sensors n/a Graded No

50

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Pre-and post feedback on assignments will be provided throughout the semester for group and individual assessments.

F, Dunn, Patrick, and Davis, Michael P.. Measurement and Data Analysis for Engineering and Science, Taylor & Francis Group, 2017.