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Critical Evaluation of Intelligent Robots - ELE00151M

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  • Department: Electronic Engineering
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

This module is designed to allow students to engage with the current literature in the area of intelligent robotics and apply the knowledge gained during the taught component of the MSc to critically evaluate a particular area of intelligent robotic systems.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

Subject content aims:

  • To support synthesis and application of material from the taught degree course into a critical evaluation of an area of intelligent robotic systems.

  • To provide experience of critical thinking applied to an area of study, specifically robotic systems.

  • To provide research training in terms of identifying and locating appropriate research literature.

  • To critically evaluate potential ethical issues related to specific robotic systems.

Graduate skills aims:

  • To provide experience of preparing a substantial individual report

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Demonstrate that they have acquired appropriate knowledge of literature and existing specialist knowledge in a particular part of the subject area that builds on taught theory and practice of robotic systems engineering. Examined in the report.

  • Demonstrate that they have engaged in research and critical understanding of advanced scholarship in their chosen area. Examined in the report.

  • Formulate a moderate sized problem in the chosen area; select and justify an appropriate approach to that problem and be able to evaluate ethical issues related to a specific robotic application/system. Examined in the proposal section of the report, in which the student uses their research to identify a specific substantive (e.g. development) project or “further work” and "ethical issues".

Graduate skills learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Be able to prepare a report the structure and presentation of which is uncontentious, that demonstrates the ability to critically reflect on their own performance and details the development and deployment of a robotic system. Examined in the presentation aspect of the report mark

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The assessment is for students to write a guided (by academic supervisors) literature review and critical analysis of the state of the art with proposed future directions to address identified knowledge gaps, and prepare a 9,000 – 10,000 word report to IEEE formatting standards.

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments. A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.

The School of PET aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. The School will endeavour to return all exam feedback within the timescale set out in the University's Policy on Assessment Feedback Turnaround Time. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Formative Feedback:

Students will receive feedback from regular meetings with their academic supervisors while writing their assessment papers.

Summative Feedback:

Feedback forms with a detailed breakdown of grades will be returned to students following assessment of their coursework papers at the end of term

Indicative reading

All material to complete the module is provided for students within the module and their literature review forms the main part of their study of the state of the art.



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.