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Unit outline_

MTRX1702: Mechatronics 1

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study aims to provide a foundation for the study of systems and embedded programming for the degree in Mechatronic Engineering. It is based around a systems engineering approach to requirements capture, software design, implementation, debugging and testing in the context of the C programming language. Problem definition and decomposition; the design process; designing for testing and defensive coding methods; modular code structure and abstract data types; best practice in programming. Programming in teams; documentation and version control. The C language: Preprocessor, tokens, storage classes and types; arithmetic, relational and bit manipulation operators; constructs for control flow: if, switch, for, do and while; arrays; pointers and character strings; dynamic memory allocation; functions and parameter passing; derived storage classes: structures and unions; file I/O.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ELEC1101 or ELEC2602 or COSC1902 or COSC1002
Assumed knowledge
? 

MTRX1701

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Mitch Bryson, mitch.bryson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Mitch Bryson, mitch.bryson@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final examination
Final exam
40% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Online task Weekly Tutorial Programming Problems
Students must complete a minimum number of programming challenges each week
10% Multiple weeks weekly
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Online task Week 2 Tutorial Programming Problems
Week 2 weekly tutorial programming problems are #earlyfeedbacktask
0% Week 02
Due date: 11 Aug 2024 at 23:59
Set of programming challenges in Ed
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Assignment 1
Develop program based on provided specifications.
15% Week 05
Due date: 01 Sep 2024 at 23:59
Approx. three weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Assignment 2
Develop program based on provided specifications.
15% Week 09
Due date: 29 Sep 2024 at 23:59
Approx. three weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Assignment 3
Develop program based on provided specifications.
20% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59
Approx. three weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Weekly Tutorial Questions: Students will work on tutorial questions that are available via EdStem each week. A minimum number of problems must be completed each week which are due 11:59pm Sunday at the end of each week. The tutorial questions during Week 2 will form the Early Feedback Task for the subject.

There are three assignments which are completed in EdStem: students develop a program in C to specifications provided, and marks are based on test cases and the quality of implementation and code-style/documentation.

The final exam is open-book and involves writing and analysing programs in C and general knowledge of the course content.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Weekly pre-class video content: students are expected to spend approximately 1 hour per week reviewing the pre-class video content before class. Independent study (13 hr) LO1 LO2
Students are expected to commit to approximately five hours of private study per week. Independent study (65 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 01 Introduction to the C programming language, EdStem, the shell/terminal, first c program Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Number systems, data types and arithmetic operations Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Branching and iteration, functions and function design Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 Pointers, arrays, multi-dimensional arrays, code style Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 05 Strings, the string standard library, debugging Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 Using multiple files in C, Scope and Extent, Modular Design and Implementation, Makefiles Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 07 Dynamic memory, user-defined types and structs Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 08 Input/output in C, including file I/O, code design Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 09 Bitwise operations in C, code design and debugging Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 10 Algorithms and data structures: sorting and searching Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 11 Algorithms and data structures: trees and graphs Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 12 Integration and unit testing, version control Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 13 Course review, where to from here Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2

Attendance and class requirements

Pre-class Videos: Students are expected to spend approximately one hour per-week reviewing the pre-class video content prior to attending classes.

Independent Study: Students are expected to undertake at least five hours of independent study per week outside of formally timetabled classes. Students are expected to commit to private study outside of the time tabled hours. It is expected that the appropriate reference books and web-based material will be read to supplement material presented during lectures.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Tim Bailey. An Introduction to the C Programming Language and Software Design (0.6 ed). ---, ---, 2005. ---.
  • Deitel, P.J. & Deitel, H.M. C: How to Program (6 ed.). Prentice-Hall, 2009. 9780136123569.
  • Steve McConnell. Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction (2nd). Redmond USA, Microsoft Press, 2004. 079- 0145196705.
  • Kernighan, B.W. & Ritchie, D.M. The C Programming Language (2ed). Englewood Cliffs NJ, USA, Prentice-Hall, 1988. 0131103628.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. analyse, design, implement, debug, and test programs
  • LO2. design and implement complete and correct programs in the C language.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

We value feedback from students on the course: feedback from past years has been used to update the tutorial format and make changes to our lecture format and use of small concept pre-lecture videos.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.