Electronics underpins almost every facet of the modern world, from miniature surgical instruments to giant passenger planes, with imminent new developments such as autonomous cars and collaborative robots. You’ll gain industrially relevant skills in the core aspects of electronics: sensing gives detailed awareness of the world, logic makes intelligent decisions, and actuation produces tangible outputs. The theory you’ll learn is applicable industry-wide, enhanced by regular sessions in our remote laboratory where you’ll have complete real-time control over state-of-the-art electronics equipment from your computer.
What you will study
This module will introduce you to the broad spectrum of activities comprising electronic engineering and the analytical methods needed to support it. It is designed to give continuity into Electronics: signal processing, control and communications (T312). The combined modules will strongly emphasise the development of the practical knowledge and skills required by industry.
It’s presented in five blocks. The first block introduces the module and shows how sensors, logic and actuation are combined to make working systems. The context of the overall module is the sensing–logic–actuation cycle, in which electronic systems (i) collect information about their environment through sensors responding to light, sound and other physical phenomena, (ii) use logic and signal processing to reason about the sensor data in the context of what they already know, to plan and decide what to do next, and (iii) control their motors and actuators such as wheels, legs, arms, and grippers to move and operate successfully within their environment. The theory will be illustrated by many electronic systems, from the devices everywhere in our homes and everyday lives to state-of-the-art systems across various application areas.
Block 1: Introduction
This block introduces and motivates the module, explaining the roles of sensing, logic and actuation in electronics engineering. Building on the basic theory of electricity, you’ll learn about common electronic devices and how they work together to make circuits with standard functionality. You’ll learn how to read and draw schematic diagrams for electronic systems. This is supported by circuit design and simulation software. You’ll be introduced to the OpenEngineering Laboratory and experiment on a driven pendulum that produces sine wave signals similar to those in electrical and electronic systems.
Block 2: Sensing
You’ll learn about sensors, signals and signal processing. You’ll learn how various sensors work, including light-dependent resistors, photodiodes, thermistors, pressure sensors, and ranging devices, and how to design robust sensor circuits using operational amplifiers (op-amps). The theory of Fourier analysis is developed and used as the basis of signal processing, including sampling and filtering. You’ll use your computer to investigate various aspects of signal processing and filtering out noise. Circuit simulation software and OpenEngineering Laboratory experiments will give you experience in sensor circuit design and signal processing using industry-standard interfaces controlling real devices. The OpenEngineering Laboratory experiments include photodiodes and strain gauges.
Block 3: Logic
This block covers the basics of Boolean logic and the use of binary numbers and sequential logic in computing devices and controlling systems. You’ll learn about microcontrollers and microprocessors, including how they can be programmed to read sensors and control actuators. In your OpenEngineering Laboratory experiments, you’ll use a specially designed digital logic tutor board, with real digital logic gates, that can be rewired instantly from your computer.
Block 4: Actuation
This block covers actuators and the circuits that drive them. You’ll learn about transistors and semiconductors, electromagnetics, linear actuators, DC and stepper motors, cooling in electronics, and control. You’ll use the OpenEngineering Laboratory and circuit simulation software extensively. The OpenEngineering Laboratory exercises will involve controlling various motors and measuring their properties.
Block 5: Integration
This block illustrates the process of designing electronic and mechanical systems using a quadcopter drone case study. You’ll learn that the integration process iterates between the whole system's design and its interacting subsystems' design. The OpenEngineering Laboratory exercise experiments with ranging devices.
Entry requirements
We recommend you have one of the following:
passes in Engineering: origins, methods, context (T192), Engineering: framework, analysis, products (T193) and Engineering: maths, modelling, applications (T194)
a pass in Engineering the future (T174) or its predecessor T173; plus a pass in Essential mathematics 1 (MST124) or its predecessor MST121
engineering knowledge equivalent to OU level 1 and mathematics knowledge to A-Level or above.
Check you’re ready with our self-assessed quiz.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
marking your assignments and offering detailed feedback to help you improve
providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content
guiding you to additional learning resources
facilitating online discussions between your fellow students in the dedicated forums.
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Assessment
Course work includes:
3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment
The TMAs and EMA assess your learning of the module material as well as practical OpenEngineering lab activities.
Quizzes to help you prepare for the TMAs and EMA don’t count towards your final mark. Their purpose is for you to test your understanding for yourself. You can try the questions any number of times.
What's included
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
a week-by-week study planner
course-specific module materials
audio and video content
assessment details and submission section
online tutorial access
access to student forums.
Additionally, the website includes:
access to third-party software
access to our OpenEngineering laboratory.
We also provide physical:
module books
activity booklets.
Computing requirements
Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer with at least 8 GB of RAM and a quad-core processor (2.4 GHz minimum speed). It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device.
Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
Operating systems – Windows 11 or the latest supported macOS.
Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection. You’ll need control over your internet connection settings – corporate firewalls may prevent access to our OpenEngineering Lab.
Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended. Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.
Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
Software – Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.
If you have a disability
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying T212 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
Future availability
Electronics: sensing, logic and actuation (T212) starts once a year – in October.
It will next start in October 2027.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2028.