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School of Engineering and Informatics (for staff and students)

Applied Technology for Product Design (H7125)

Applied Technology for Product Design

Module H7125

Module details for 2025/26.

15 credits

FHEQ Level 4

Module Outline

In this Applied Technology module you will develop your skills in the application of mathematical and engineering principles skills to real world scientific and engineering tasks. This will help you to understand a diverse range of engineering questions as why planes fly, how to determine the right materials for a construction project, how to design and build basic electronic circuits and how to characterise the performance of a combustion engine.
For this module, you will experience a mixture of theoretical analysis and practical laboratory skills. This draws on areas from physics, maths and electronics. The sections on electronics will include developing laboratory skills in the design and analysis of basic electronic circuits, including the use of computer tools for simulation and analysis.
Students consider the design process from requirements analysis, generation of possible solutions, simulation and evaluation of alternative design options.

Module Topics
Subjects include:
• Statics: Forces, equilibrium and stability, frameworks, friction, buckling, beam bending and torsion in a shaft.
• Dynamics: Distance, velocity and acceleration, equations of motion.
• Thermodynamics: Thermal properties of solids, liquids and gases. Gas laws, introduction to thermodynamic cycle analysis.
• Simple DC circuits: Ohm’s Law, Kirchhoff’s Law. Measurement of voltage, current and resistance. Equivalent circuits.
• Electronics: Diodes, characteristics of amplifiers, digital and analogue circuits. Sensors e.g. tactile, light dependent, pressure dependent).
• Design: Generating requirements, evaluating designs, risk, understanding component specification sheets.

Module learning outcomes

Describe factual and theoretical knowledge of underlying concepts and principles in electrical and mechanical technology, and use this knowledge to complete and solve given problems and tasks.

Apply their knowledge of mechanical and electrical technology to practical design problems. Interpret and evaluate relevant information e.g. from product data sheets and generate and evaluate options for solutions. Consider multiple approchaes to solving a design problem.

Develop laboratory skills in electronics allowing the construction of electronic systems.

TypeTimingWeighting
Multiple Choice questionsSemester 2 Assessment70.00%
Coursework30.00%
Coursework components. Weighted as shown below.
Problem SetT2 Week 8 50.00%
ReportT2 Week 11 50.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Spring SemesterLaboratory3 hours00000011111
Spring SemesterLecture1 hour11111111111
Spring SemesterLecture2 hours11111111000
Spring SemesterWorkshop1 hour11111111111

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

Dr Jon Powell

Assess convenor
/profiles/578263

Please note that the University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver courses and modules in accordance with the descriptions set out here. However, the University keeps its courses and modules under review with the aim of enhancing quality. Some changes may therefore be made to the form or content of courses or modules shown as part of the normal process of curriculum management.

The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.

School of Engineering and Informatics (for staff and students)

School Office:
School of Engineering and Informatics, ÈÕº«ÎÞÂë, Chichester 1 Room 002, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QJ
ei@sussex.ac.uk
T 01273 (67) 8195

School Office opening hours: School Office open Monday – Friday 09:00-15:00, phone lines open Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00
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