Basic HTML Version
Engineering, Mathematics and Science
132
Computer engineering
Students who wish to study Computer engineering apply
to the Integrated engineering degree (TR032). The first
two years are common to all Integrated engineering
students and at the end of the second-year students select
Computer engineering as their specialist area.
See page 125 for details of the Freshman (first two) years.
What is Computer engineering?
Computer engineering is about understanding how computer
systems work, and also how they integrate with other systems
that surround us. Take for example a modern-day car; a car
contains many separate computer systems for controlling such
things as the engine timing, the brakes and the air bags. To be
able to design and construct such a car, the computer engineer
needs a broad theoretical understanding of all these various
sub-systems and how they interact. This might involve some
mechanical engineering, thermodynamics and fluids as well as
the computer systems themselves.
The impact of computer engineering has been more significant
and more pervasive than that of many other disciplines. The
mobile phone, the Internet and games consoles are all products
that were not even imagined 30 years ago, but have now been
realised by the ingenuity of computer engineers.
Computer engineers may design computer hardware, write
computer programs, integrate the various sub-systems together
or do all three. Computer engineers need good management
skills and good people skills as they often get quickly promoted
to project management positions.
The optional fifth year of the programme will allow students to
study toward the M.A.I. Master’s degree qualification with more
advanced level of treatment of the topics listed above.
What will you study?
Third year courses cover:
n
Microprocessor systems (including building a
microprocessor system)
– all aspects of the principles,
design, construction and characterisation of the hardware
and system software of microprocessor-based computers.
n
Computer networks
– protocols and behaviour of computer
networks.
n
Operating systems and concurrent systems
–
programmes that coordinate, manage and control the
allocation of computer resources to other programmes;
systems of programmes designed to run alongside one
another, in the same processor or in multiple connected
processors.
In the fourth year, in addition to a course in engineering
management and an engineering project, you will study:
n
Computer architecture
– distributed systems models, file
servers, naming, recovery from failure, advanced topics
and case studies, and the architecture of high-performance
computer systems.
n
Data engineering
– file and database management,
information structuring and retrieval,
n
Computer graphics
– introduction to computer graphics:
modelling, rendering and animation.
n
Computer vision
– image processing, 3D vision, object
recognition and tracking with reference to applications in
healthcare, multimedia and robotics.
n
Knowledge engineering
– knowledge management;
design and operation of rule-based systems, expert system
applications, heuristic search and case-based reasoning.
n
Sustainable computing
– this course introduces the
foundations of sustainability and gives an appreciation
for how energy is currently used in ICT and the problems
created by the continuous growth of the ICT industry.
n
Augmented reality
– interactive interfaces, 3D vision,
design and development of interactive augmented reality
games.
n
Security of networks and distributed systems
–
understanding of risk as it applies in distributed systems,
tools available to control risk, security protocols such as
Kerberos, TLS and digital rights management.
Practical work is emphasised throughout the third and fourth
years. In the fifth optional year, which leads to an M.A.I. Master’s
degree, students a number of elective courses during the first
semester. These courses include:
n
Distributed systems
n
Fuzzy logic
n
Formal methods
n
Advanced computer architecture
n
Networked applications
n
Artificial intelligence
n
Real time animation
During the second semester each student undertakes a final
year project that is assessed by a presentation and an end-of-
year dissertation. Some examples of project areas include:
n
An investigation into Sugarscape
n
Automatic visualisation of Java programmes
n
CLP-based printing job scheduler
n
Character comparison using image processing
n
Statistical analysis of non-invasive high speed interconnect
data
n
Genetic algorithms for programme optimisation
n
Virtual educational environments
n
Real-time smash simulation
n
Bluetooth IP with payment for services