NG3S916 - Sensors and Smart Vehicle Technology 01 Apr 2025 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 3

Associated Module Information

Module Code: NG3S916
Module Title: Sensors and Smart Vehicle Technology
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Information and Electronics
Faculty Sub Group: Electronics
Module Leader: Alexandre Oleon
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2019 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100165 - electronic engineering
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 3
Valid From 01 Apr 2025
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

• To develop an appropriate body of knowledge of different automotive sensors, their working principles, advantages, disadvantages, limitations and their roles.


• To develop an understanding of how different off-board wired communications systems technologies may be integrated together within a connected and/or autonomous system, their working principles, advantages, disadvantages and limitations.

Content Summary

Automotive sensors/actuators

Introduction to automotive sensors for autonomous vehicles and how they are classified – virtual sensors, general sensing and perception;
Automotive sensors and their advantages and disadvantages, including working principles and interaction with the environment;
Introduction to automotive sensors redundancies for safety-compliance;
Introduction to the use of actuators in advanced driving assistance systems, and their classification;
Control theory in relation to automotive electronics systems with sensors and actuators;
Introduction to sensors fusion;
Sensor fusion and its relationship with automotive electronic system architecture;
Automotive sensor fusion and its challenges;


Wired communications Off-Board

Flexray: Context and principle applications. Physical layer. Protocol - Message frames, headers addressing etc. Topology. Usage and compliance. Determinism.

Flexray demonstration

CAN: Context and principle applications. Physical layer (low speed and high speed, FT, SW, FD), and architecture. Protocol - Message frames, headers, addressing, message IDs. Usage and standards compliance. CAN demonstration.
LIN: Context and principle applications. Physical layer. Protocol - Message frames, headers, addressing etc. Topology. Usage and compliance. LIN bus demonstration
Development of network simulations: Prototyping and Simulation , Protocol test and verification using Vector tools.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 48
Practical classes and workshops 24
Independent Study 70
Directed Study 58
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the main wired communication technologies that are used, in current production consumer vehicles.
LO2 To demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of different types of sensors used in vehicles and their relevance for the control of advanced driving assistance systems.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Report 1 A written report that draws on knowledge and material from the module or course. 0 2000 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Practical Written Work 1 Lab assignment 0 3000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Report 1
Practical Written Work 1

Reading List

Bosch Automotive Electrics and Automotive Electronics
Systems and Components, Networking and Hybrid Drive ISBN 978-3-658-01784-2

Automobile Electrical and Electronic Systems, 4th ed
• ISBN-10: 9780080969428

Understanding Automotive Electronics, 6th Edition
• ISBN-10: 0750675993

Automotive Handbook, 10th Edition ISBN: 978-1-119-53081-7

Sherin, A.(2013), Sustainable Thinking: Ethical Approaches to Design and Design Management, Required Reading Range