Robotics

Progress and innovation in robotics is now faster than ever, and is providing a wide range of industries and professions access to increasingly sophisticated autonomous and remotely operated devices with a widening range of applications and uses including manufacturing, agriculture, security and medicine. As well as enjoying a growing commercial side, robotics also supports scientific research in unprecedented ways, giving us access to ever more remote, unpredictable and hazardous locations. Of course, it is also a major global research discipline in its own right, and robotics' progress has created a burgeoning worldwide demand for experts in a range of disciplines in this expanding billion-dollar industry.

A unique partnership

The MSc Robotics is available through a partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol, and provides a comprehensive understanding of advanced robotics and automation systems. While providing an excellent background for a range of technology careers that require robotics and automation knowledge and skills, it also offers the specialisms to support doctorate-level studies and ongoing research careers.

Uniquely, the partnership gives you access to the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, a world-leading centre for autonomous robotic systems and robotics research.

Content

The full Masters course comprises of 180 credits divided into three 60 credits stages: Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, and Masters. Students work incrementally through the three stages and must pass all modules at each stage in order to progress to the next.

The course is designed and structured to help you develop the critical and practical skills needed to create intelligent robotics systems. Throughout your studies, this will involve understanding and critically analysing the nature of intelligence in natural and artificial systems, and using the resulting insights to build smart technologies.

The following core modules are indicative of the course structure:

• Image Processing and Computer Vision (10 credits) - An introduction to advanced image-processing techniques and their application in the field of computer vision.
• Animation Production (10 credits) - This unit explores animation principles, character setup and visual effects production, using professional software to introduce fundamental concepts. The syllabus includes conceptual design, animation, SDK and expressions, character setup, and dynamics and simulation.
• Uncertainty Modelling for Intelligent Systems (10 credits) - Exploring the techniques and methodologies developed within Artificial Intelligence to represent and reason with imprecise or uncertain information explaining the mathematics and underlying philosophy, and investigating practical applications.
• Robotic Systems (10 credits) - An overview of the latest robotics research and a hands-on approach to the subject, introducing key topics such as PID control and modelling, computer vision, robotic design and mobile robotics.
• Research Skills (20 credits) - Preparing you for conducting your own independent research in robotics and autonomous systems.
• Robotic Fundamentals (15 credits) - Focuses upon three fundamentals of robots: the mechanics of robot bodies kinematic properties and algorithms, intelligent control techniques, and programming.

Plus one optional mdule from:

• Intelligent and Adaptive Systems
• Medical Robotics and Image Guided Surgery.

In addition, three optional modules from:

• Computational Neuroscience
• Advanced Dynamics
• Artificial Intelligence with Logic Programming
• Advanced DSP and FPGA Implementation
• Pattern Analysis and Statistical Learning
• Human-Robot Interaction.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we will inform you.

Learning and Teaching

You'll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, group work, and through sessions at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL). The course is offered in partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol, and you will attend sessions at UWE Bristol's Frenchay campus, the University of Bristol, and BRL.

For more details see our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Study time

Full-time one year, starting in September.

Assessment

You will normally be assessed through examination and coursework, as well as the dissertation.

For more details see our full glossary of assessment terms.

Study facilities

Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL)

A multi-million pound partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol, BRL is the largest research facility of its kind in the UK. It is nationally and internationally recognised as a centre of excellence for advanced robotics research.

BRL is helping us understand and develop robotic devices that can behave intelligently, without human supervision and intervention, that can be used in a wide range of applications to help humans perform otherwise dangerous or unpleasant tasks. For instance, robots already clear landmines, unblock pipework, gather data from oceans' floors and the possibilities are endless. It is also currently investing in infrastructure for biomedical robotics and neurologically inspired control systems.

Find out more at the BRL website.

Find out more about the facilities and resources UWE has to offer.

Careers / Further study

The course provides an excellent route into this increasingly important area of industry, and into research and development.

The partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol has created a unique centre of excellence for engineering, in the heart of one of the UK's most important hubs for engineering industry especially in the aeronautical and electronics sectors. Bristol is a major base for companies such as Airbus, Rolls Royce, Toshiba and Hewlett Packard, with whom both universities enjoy close links.

Our award-winning careers service helps you develop your employment potential through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.

Supplementary fee information

Fees are set by the University of Bristol.

Entry requirements

An upper second-class honours degree in an Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or related subject. Other disciplines will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

How to apply

Applications are made directly to the University of Bristol.

For further information

• Email: pg-admissions@bristol.ac.uk
• Telephone: +44 (0) 117 331 5835