KL6012 - Mechanical Aerospace Engineering individual project

The module will be delivered via a combination of introductory lectures and progress review meetings with supervisors. The introductory lectures will focus on providing you with advice and guidance on general aspects of project management and report writing skills.

The module requires a significant proportion of self-directed independent learning within the framework of the project plan and supervisor’s guidance and feedback. Overall, learning will be through the input from lectures and supervision and your active development, execution and monitoring of the project plan.

Supervision of the project involves regular meetings between you and your project supervisor. These meetings allow you to receive guidance and formative feedback in order to steer you to successful completion of the project. These meetings also provide you with an opportunity to develop your verbal communication skills. The electronic learning platform (eLP) will provide a comprehensive resource for integrated learning incorporating learning materials and reading lists that will facilitate directed and self-directed learning.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

MLO1 Solve complex problems in aerospace-related mechanical engineering accounting for societal, user, business and customer needs with consideration of relevant health & safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, legislation, codes of practice and industry standards

MLO2 Discuss the role of quality management systems and continuous improvement in the context of complex problems

MLO3 Apply knowledge of engineering management principles, commercial context, project and change management, and relevant legal matters including intellectual property rights

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

MLO4 Select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to address complex problems

MLO5 Use a risk management process to identify, evaluate and mitigate both health and safety related hazards and risks as well as the project risks

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

MLO6 Identify and analyse ethical concerns and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct

MLO7 Plan and record self-learning and development as the foundation for lifelong learning and continuous professional development.

Formative feedback will be provided at the regular meeting with the project supervisor

The summative assessments will be based on two pieces:

Component 1 (30% of the total mark) is an overview of the selected topic containing a thorough and comprehensive assessment of societal, economic, legislative and environmental issues arising from the problem and its proposed solution. This component is a written technical memorandum answering MLO2, MLO3, MLO5, MLO6

Component 2 (70% of the total mark), assessing MLO1, MLO4, and MLO7 is the project report containing a literature review describing the problem and the existing approaches to its solution, if any may be found in the open literature, technical details and justification of the student’s own work and the skills audit with identification of the needs for further improvement.

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This individual project module gives you an opportunity to carry out an extended study in choosing an aerospace-related topic of mechanical engineering; it develops your ability to work independently, builds your competence and confidence, and promotes your self-reliance. It teaches you how to select and critically assess technical literature with the guidance on how to source it and assess the appropriateness of information is provided to you by your project supervisor. The module also aims to develop both verbal and written communication skills.

A key aim is to encourage you to apply theoretical and analytical techniques to solve an applied problem of your choice. The project will provide practical experience of drawing up a project specification defining aims, objectives and identifying an envisaged endpoint. With the supervisor’s guidance, you will prepare a project plan that includes a Gantt chart, project background and sourcing previous work and associated theory and numerical simulation tools

You will investigate cutting-edge research at the forefront of the field and provide critical analysis to select and apply analytical, computational, and practical approaches in the absence of complete data recognising the limitations of the techniques you employ. This individual project is focused on a research led learning incorporating enquiry-based activities.