Engineering Design Syllabus

The syllabus varies by university. The subject families below represent a balanced Engineering Design pathway from circuits and machines to power systems, protection, control and emerging energy applications.

Engineering Mathematics

Mathematics includes differential equations, linear algebra, complex variables, transforms, probability, numerical methods and optimisation. State-space control relies heavily on vectors and matrices.

Basic engineering design

Students learn electrical quantities, DC and AC circuits, magnetic circuits, transformers, motors, wiring, earthing, batteries and safety. This foundation supports every advanced Engineering Design subject.

Engineering drawing and visualisation

Circuit theory teaches network laws, transient response and frequency response. Electrical circuits also provide intuitive examples of dynamic systems.

Mechanics and strength of materials

Students learn amplifiers, signal conditioning, converters and interfacing. Sensors often produce small or noisy signals that require careful conditioning before control.

Materials science and selection

Signals and Systems covers time and frequency descriptions, convolution, transforms, sampling and linear-system properties. It is one of the most important prerequisites for control.

Metrology and measurement

This subject covers measurement principles, uncertainty, sensors, transmitters, calibration and data acquisition. Temperature, pressure, flow, level, position, speed and force are common variables.

Measurement uncertainty and delay affect control quality. A precise controller cannot correct unreliable measurement.

Computer-aided design

Electromagnetic-field subjects cover electric and magnetic fields, Maxwell's equations, waves, energy and force. These ideas support machines, transmission lines, high voltage and electromagnetic compatibility.

Machine design fundamentals

Students examine transformers and DC machines, including construction, operating principle, equivalent circuits, characteristics, losses, efficiency, testing and control.

Design of machine elements

Induction and synchronous machines receive detailed treatment. Students study rotating magnetic fields, torque, starting, speed control, regulation, parallel operation and industrial application.

Product design methodology

Power-generation subjects introduce thermal, hydro, nuclear, diesel, gas, solar and wind stations. Students examine plant arrangement, performance, environmental impact and operational limits.

Manufacturing processes

Students analyse line parameters, models, voltage regulation, losses, cables, insulators, substations and distribution networks. Economic conductor choice and safe clearances are important.

Finite-element analysis

Power-system analysis covers per-unit representation, network matrices, load flow, balanced and unbalanced faults and stability. Numerical methods help engineers study large interconnected networks.

Computational fluid dynamics

This subject covers circuit breakers, fuses, relays, instrument transformers and protection of generators, transformers, motors, lines and buses. Selectivity, speed, sensitivity and reliability must be coordinated.

Vibrations and noise

High-voltage subjects examine electric stress, breakdown, insulation, impulse generation, measurement, testing and overvoltage protection. Laboratory work requires strict clearances and supervision.

Fatigue, fracture and failure analysis

Students learn power diodes, thyristors, MOSFETs, IGBTs and related devices. Ratings, switching losses, gate drive, cooling and protection influence practical converter design.

Tribology and lubrication

Rectifiers convert AC to DC, choppers regulate DC, inverters create AC and AC controllers vary alternating power. Students study waveforms, harmonics, control methods and applications.

Design optimisation

Digital Control covers sampling, discrete models, Z-transforms, stability, digital controller design and implementation. Engineers choose a sampling rate that captures dynamics without creating unnecessary computation or noise sensitivity.

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing

Electric drives combine motors, converters, sensors and controllers. Students study starting, braking, speed control, torque control, duty cycles and drive selection for industry and transport.

Design for manufacturing and assembly

Renewable-energy subjects cover solar photovoltaic systems, wind generation, converters, maximum-power tracking, storage and grid integration. Output variability and power quality require careful design.

Reliability and robust design

Smart-grid topics include digital measurement, communication, demand response, distributed generation, microgrids, advanced metering and energy management. Cybersecurity and interoperability are important.

Prototyping and additive manufacturing

Electric-vehicle subjects examine traction motors, inverters, batteries, chargers, regenerative braking, thermal management and vehicle-grid interaction. Safety extends beyond ordinary low-voltage electronics.

Testing and design validation

Students may study batteries, supercapacitors and other storage technologies, including state estimation, charging, degradation, protection and integration with renewable systems.

Mechatronic product design

Students learn processor architecture, memory, interrupts, timers, serial interfaces and embedded programming. Practical work may connect controllers with sensors, displays, drives or converters.

Sensors and transducers

Students examine resistive, capacitive, inductive, optical and semiconductor sensors. Selection considers range, accuracy, response, environment, calibration and maintainability.

Actuators

Actuators include motors, valves, hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic devices and power converters. Control commands must respect speed, force, travel and thermal limits.

Product data and lifecycle management

PLCs are rugged industrial controllers used for sequences, interlocks and machine logic. Subjects may cover ladder logic, function blocks, timers, counters, analogue signals and communication.

Students should learn safe state design, fault handling, documentation and change control rather than only drawing a simple ladder diagram.

Human factors and ergonomics

SCADA systems supervise distributed equipment, display process information, record trends and manage alarms. Human-machine interfaces must help operators understand conditions without overwhelming them.

Cost and value engineering

DCS platforms are common in continuous process industries. Students learn controllers, operator stations, field communication, redundancy, alarms and plant-wide integration.

Standards, safety and design ethics

Automation devices communicate through fieldbus, industrial Ethernet and other protocols. Networks must meet timing, reliability, segmentation and security needs.

Electrical machines and drives

Motor control applications use machine models, power electronics, feedback and digital control. Drives regulate speed, torque and position in pumps, conveyors, machine tools and vehicles.

Power-system control

Control supports voltage, frequency, generation, stability and renewable integration in power systems. Advanced programmes may study automatic generation control and power-electronic converters.

Robotics and motion control

Robotics subjects include kinematics, dynamics, trajectory generation, servo control and coordination. Accurate motion requires suitable sensors, actuators, models and real-time computation.

Embedded and real-time systems

Controllers run with time deadlines. Students learn microcontrollers, interrupts, scheduling, interfaces and real-time constraints. Code must be tested for timing and failure behaviour.

Control-system simulation

Numerical tools help create block diagrams, state models and response plots. Students should understand the solver, sampling and model assumptions instead of trusting every graph automatically.

Safety instrumented systems

Industrial plants use independent protective functions to reduce risk. Safety systems require hazard analysis, integrity targets, proof testing, documentation and controlled modification. This work requires specialised competence.

Industrial cybersecurity

Connected controllers and supervisory systems create cyber risk. Security includes segmentation, controlled remote access, backups, patch planning, monitoring and least privilege. Availability and safety requirements make industrial security different from ordinary office IT.

Typical laboratories

Project ideas

• closed-loop motor-speed controller;
• temperature or level-control laboratory plant;
• self-balancing mechanism;
• PLC-based safe material-handling sequence;
• renewable-energy converter control;
• state observer for a simulated plant;
• predictive control of a multivariable process;
• fault-detection system using authorised data;
• robotic position-control prototype;
• building energy-control demonstration.