Electronics and Computer Engineering BEng (Hons)

University of Northampton

The modern world is driven by technologies powered by embedded systems and cyber-physical systems. These embedded systems can be found in mobile phones, smart watches, drones, smart cars, Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing devices, smart meters, medical equipment, train ticket machines, Industry 4.0 robotics and supply chain management systems, space machines, robotics, etc. Embedded Systems make use of microprocessors and/or microcontrollers, and sensors to detect information from the real world to implement dedicated functions, control or purpose within larger electromechanical system. Interfaced with connectivity such as ethernet, LoRaWAN, Bluetooth and/or other forms of wired/wireless networking, embedded systems form the core of the IoT, giving things that do not normally communicate over the internet the ability to send sensed data to initiate smart controls or decision making, thereby feeding into the advent of big data, data processing and AI. Therefore, embedded systems have a wide range of applications such as smart farming, robotics, smart home applications, wireless communication, entertainment and multimedia in cars, mobile computing and networking, motor and cruise control systems, mobile application development, safety devices, etc. Electronics and Computer Engineers use a wide range of skills to design and implement the hardware, firmware, and software for embedded systems as well as drive technological innovations in the fields of IoT, AI, and emerging embedded and cyber-physical systems. Out Electronics and Computer Engineering degree equips students with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and competencies required to enter a range of Electronics and Computer Engineering related careers through the exploration of software/hardware design concepts and implementation, the analysis of emerging trends and innovations such as Internet of Things (IoT), Embedded Systems, electronic circuits, mobile application development, programmable electronics, sensor development, basic robotics, hardware artificial intelligence and control devices. The course builds both your hardware and programming knowledge through modules such as Mobile Application Development, Embedded Systems, Computer Systems, Object Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Electronics, and Microprocessors and IoT. Widely used state-of-the-art development boards for programming hardware such as microcontrollers, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGAs), electromechanical robots and simulation environments are used wherever possible to give you hands-on practical experience.