Mechanical Engineering facilities
The Mechatronics engineering facilities include the following three main laboratories:
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥'s Mechanical Engineering Laboratory
Mechanical Engineering Laboratory
The main mechanical laboratory is a large open-plan space designed to accommodate the study of thermo-fluids, solid mechanics and dynamics and control. It also has an area with machine tools for the manufacture of student designs.
Equipment in this laboratory allows you to study gyroscope theory, vibration theory, no-linear control, inertia bending, etc.
The design studios have many computer laboratories available with CAD and Finite Element Modelling software. The primary packages used are CREO and AUTODESK Simulation for FEA modelling. Students will be using these design software tools from their first year of study.
Electronic Engineering Laboratory
Electrical and electronic experimental facilities are divided into specialised areas: general electronics and assembly, digital electronics and microprocessor engineering, power electronics, electrical smart grids and control systems engineering. Each facility is equipped with state-of-the-art experimental equipment. An additional CAD design suite provides access to computing facilities with specialist electronics CAD tools, including KiCAD, and LTSpice.
A specialised area incorporating a spacious radio frequency reverberation chamber and Faraday cage allows for experimentation in radio frequency engineering and electromagnetics, while our digital design suite is equipped with 8 and 32-bit embedded microprocessor platforms, together with high speed programmable logic development environments.
Power generation, transmission, distribution, conversion, drives and control are catered for in our power and control laboratories, equipped for experimentation from the component level to the systems level. Control laboratories are equipped with LabVIEW based control boards along with the MATLAB and Simulink package. Industrial control units, based on the Allen Bradley MicroLogix820 controller, and enable students to perform a comprehensive range of PLC programming tasks using a conveyor belt/pneumatic sorting application.
Our Embedded Systems lab is provisioned with state-of-the-art Rhode and Schwarz equipment for the design, development and testing of both analogue and microcontroller-based systems.
Robotics Laboratory
The new robotics laboratory includes a wide range of robots used in research and industrial applications. From small size Dobot Magician Arm to middle size Cobot (collaborative robot) Franka Emika to a larger robotic arm UR5, we have robotic arms of various sizes equipped with different end-effectors (Robotiq, OnRobot, Vacuum suction) that can be used in various industrial settings and tasks. In addition, the robotics laboratory has a mobile robot (Turtlebot) for service robot applications.
Library and learning zones
On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.
As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our , e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.
We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.
The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live , online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our , and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.
More flexible ways to learn
We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.
Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.