ENEX13001 - Industrial Control and Automation

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the key principles and concepts of industrial control and automation. The unit will focus on the essential components of automation systems. You will also gain practical expertise in programming Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) using ladder logic and other programming languages. This unit will offer hands-on, project-based learning opportunities that will enable you to apply your theoretical knowledge in practical settings. In this unit, you will learn to configure sensors, actuators, and control equipment to solve industrial problems. You will assess multiple options and choose the best combination of components for your design. Additionally, you will create, evaluate, and simulate an automation solution to a given industry issue using industry-standard components, software, and PLCs. This unit aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9: "Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure" by fostering innovative and sustainable industrialisation using industrial automation solutions.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 3
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: ENEX12002 Introductory Electronics OR (ENEE13018 Analogue Electronics & ENEE13020 Digital Electronics).

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

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Residential School Compulsory Residential School
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Unit Availabilities from Term 3 - 2024

Term 2 - 2025 Profile
Mackay
Mixed Mode

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Online Quiz(zes) 30%
2. Laboratory/Practical 30%
3. Project (applied) 40%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 2 - 2023 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 0.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 50% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Student survey feedback
Feedback
Tutorial questions were worked through in a clear fashion and explained thoroughly while not taking a large amount of time
Recommendation
This practice will be continued and improved.
Action Taken
Same practice was followed and recorded tutorial sessions were made available to students.
Source: Unit Coordinator's reflection
Feedback
The end of term test was highly relevant to the materials taught in this unit.
Recommendation
This practice will improve student morale and performance and thus it will be continued.
Action Taken
The same practice was followed and the end-of-term test tested the materials taught in the class.
Source: Unit Coordinator's reflection
Feedback
Laboratory exercises were engaging and very relevant to the materials covered in the lectures and tutorials which enhance student understanding.
Recommendation
This practice will be continued with further improvement of the laboratory.
Action Taken
Additional laboratory exercises were introduced during the intensive lab sessions.
Source: Unit evaluation survey
Feedback
Assessment return could be further improved
Recommendation
Markers will aim to return assessments to students within two weeks of their respective due dates.
Action Taken
Every effort was taken to return marks within two weeks.
Source: Student unit evaluation survey
Feedback
The available learning materials and resources are insufficient to help students to learn independently.
Recommendation
Learning resources and video lectures should be improved with interactive content for independent learning.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Unit Coordinator's reflection
Feedback
The unit lacks adequate real-world examples of industrial automation systems.
Recommendation
Industrial automation-related technologies and real-world examples should be included in the unit content.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Unit Coordinator's reflection
Feedback
The online test may not be an adequate method for evaluating the practical knowledge of students.
Recommendation
The online test should be replaced with a practical project that applies industrial automation technologies to solve real-world problems.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Understand the principles and concepts of industrial control and automation, including sensors, actuators, controllers, communication systems and feedback mechanisms
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in programming Programmable Logic Controllers using languages such as ladder logic
  3. Apply theoretical knowledge through hands-on, project-based learning experiences that simulate real-world industrial automation problems, including the design and implementation of control logic
  4. Evaluate appropriate sensors and actuators for controlling physical parameters in industrial processes
  5. Comply with relevant industry standards and regulations governing industrial automation to ensure system reliability and safety
  6. Collaborate proficiently in teams when presenting solutions to industrial automation problems.

Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers in the areas of

1. Knowledge and Skills Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability, and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels: 

Intermediate

1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences that underpin the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 3I) 

1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. (LO: 4I 5I) 

1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline. (LO: 4I 5I) 

3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability. (LO: 4I 5I 6I) 

3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. (LO: 1I 2I 5I 6I) 

3.3 Creative, innovative and proactive demeanour. (LO: 3I 6I) 

3.4 Professional use and management of information. (LO: 1I 4I 5I 6I) 

3.5 Orderly management of self and professional conduct. (LO: 5I 6I) 

3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership. (LO: 5I 6I) 

Advanced 

1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. (LO: 1A 3I 4A) 

1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1A 3A 4A) 

1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 3A 4A) 

2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem-solving. (LO: 2A 3A 4I 6I) 

2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. (LO: 2A 3A 6I) 

2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. (LO: 2A 3A 6I) 

2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects. (LO: 2I 4I 5A 6I) 

Note: LO refers to the Learning Outcome number(s) that link to the competency and the levels: N – Introductory, I – Intermediate and A – Advanced.  

Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for further information on the Engineers Australia’s Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineers and course level mapping information: https://moodle.cqu.edu.au/course/view.php?id=1511

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Online Quiz(zes) • • •
2 - Laboratory/Practical • • • •
3 - Project (applied) • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Communication •
2 - Problem Solving • •
3 - Critical Thinking • •
4 - Information Literacy • •
5 - Team Work •
6 - Information Technology Competence • • • •
8 - Ethical practice •
9 - Social Innovation •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10