Prerequisite/Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

The module is based on knowledge achieved when studying the 2nd semester on the Master of Science in Energy Engineering with specialisation in Mechatronic Control Engineering or similar.

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• Have knowledge about and comprehension of how to optimize mechatronic systems
• Have knowledge about and comprehension of how to design control and/or diagnostic systems for mechatronic systems
• Have knowledge and comprehension within different system identification and/or diagnostic methods

Skills

• Be able to judge the usefulness of the used different scientific methods for the design of control and/or diagnostic systems for mechatronic systems
• Be able to judge the usefulness of different optimisation algorithms for doing optimisation of a mechatronic system
• Be able to verify the different scientific analysis and evaluate the methods used by means of laboratory experiments

Competences

• Be able to control the working and development process within the project theme, and be able to develop new solutions using optimisation to design mechatronic systems and incorporate control and diagnostics systems
• Be able to show entrepreneurship to define and analyse scientific problems in the area of optimisation, control and/or diagnostic of mechatronic systems, and based on that make and state the reasons for decisions made
• Be able to set up innovative ideas within the area of optimisation, control, and/or diagnostic of mechatronic systems
• Independently be able to continue own development in competence and specialisation
• Be able to follow more sophisticated literature, or state-of-the-art, within advanced mechatronic control systems

Type of instruction

Problem based project oriented project work in groups. The project work must be documented by a scientific paper (max. 8 pages) accompanied by a project summary report. The project summary report should elaborate the project details and conclusions. The maximum length of the summary report (report without appendices) is 50 pages, and in addition the summary report should follow the rules as laid down by the Study Board in “Procedure for Project Work”, i.e. the total number of pages must not exceed 30 + 15 × number of students in the project group. The scientific paper will be presented at a conference arranged within the Department of Energy Technology, prior to the project examination. The project should be based upon a mechatronic system to which an optimisation, control and/or diagnostic system is to be set up. First the system is to be modelled and different system identification methods can be applied to determine the parameters of the system. The system model is verified by simulations and data time series from either a real system or a laboratory set-up. Based on the model, the optimisation, control and/or diagnostic system is set up to improve the performance of the system, either with regard to power output, energy efficiency, life time extraction, fault detections etc. and the system should be implemented and verified experimentally. Due to special technical or scientific documentation requirements, the student documents the project work in a project report, which can be prepared individually or in a group within the project theme; however the student’s special preferences for the semester must be approved by the Study Board in advance.

Extent and expected workload

Since it is a 20 ECTS project module, the work load is expected to be 600 hours for the student

Exam

Prerequisite for enrollment for the exam

• It is a pre-condition for students who have not studied the Aalborg PBL Model at Aalborg University that they have passed the course in Project Based Learning and Project Management prior to the project examination.
• It is a pre-condition that the student has submitted a scientific article and presented the scientific article at the CES conference prior to the project examination. All group members must be present at the conference.

Exams

Name of exam	Mechatronic Systems
Type of exam	Combined written and oral examination, Project Exam
ECTS	20
Permitted aids	All written and all electronic aids
Assessment	7-point grading scale
Type of grading	Internal examination
Criteria of assessment	As stated in the Joint Programme Regulations. http:/​/​www.engineering.aau.dk/​uddannelse/​studieadministration/​

Additional information

Project on 3rd Semester Mechatronic Control Engineering.

The student may follow a relevant study as a guest student (30 ECTS) at another university in Denmark or abroad, see details in Moodle. However, the student's special preferences for the semester must be approved by the Study Board in advance.

Examination format

The project group should orally present the project work and scientific paper as specified in the Examination Policies and Procedures, Addendum to the Joint Programme Regulations. The project group members will undergo an oral examination with internal adjudicator, based on the scientifc paper and the project summary report.