Module Specification

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Avionics and Communications Systems
Code AERO250
Coordinator Prof JF Ralph
Electrical Engineering and Electronics
Jfralph@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2018-19 Level 5 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Aims

To develop an understanding of basic communication systems, avionic systems, including radar, navigation and aircraft vision systems.


Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):

MATH295 MATH295 Engineering Analysis or equivalent 

Co-requisite modules:

 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to show experience and enhancement of the following key skills:

  • Independent learning
  • Problem solving and design skills

After successful completion of the module, the student should:

  • be able to demonstrate their analytical skills to the design of simple avionic systems, including radio communications, radars and elementary EMC engineering.
  • be able to demonstrate the use of the Friis and Radar Equations, as well as the concepts of noise and interference.
  • be able to demonstrate their familiarity with, and ability to manipulate, the decibel notation that is used extensively in radar and radio systems.
  • be able to demonstrate a familiarity with b asic intertial and GPS navigation systems.  
  • be able to demonstrate an understanding of aircraft vision systems.
  • Be capable of analysing a simple radio and radar systems by performing the necessary link budget calculations.
  • Be able to demonstrate the use of error budgets in inertial navigation systems.
  • Be able to demonstrate their appreciation of the role of avionics within the multi-disciplinary world of aerospace engineering.

Syllabus

1-2 IntroductionCommunication systems; analogue and digital systems; signal bandwidth; signal to noise ratio; channel capacity; trade-offs in communication system design; modulation.

3-5 Amplitude Modulation: General idea of AM modulation; DSB-LC, DSB-SC, SSB and VSB modulations; modulation index, bandwidth and spectrum; AM demodulation; comparision of different AM systems in terms of power efficiency and bandwidth.

6-7 Angle Modulation: Frequency modulation (FM) and phase modulation (PM); narrow-band FM and PM; Carson''s rule; modulation index, bandwidth and spectrum; generation and demodulation of FM signals.

8 SamplingSampling theorem; signal reconstruction; aliasing.

9 Digitisation & Quantisation: Signal digitisation and quantisation for aerospace systems.

10 Pulse Modulation: Quantising, encoding and line coding; pulse code modulation (PCM); pulse amplitude modulation, pluse width modulation and pulse phase modulation (PAM, PWM and PPM); comparison of different pulse modulation methods.

11 Digital Modulation: Digital data transmission; amplitude shift keying, frequency shift keying and phase shift keying (ASK, FSK and PSK), comparisons; M-ary modulation.

12 MultiplexingFrequency division multiplexers (FDM); time division multiplexers (TDM), spread-spectrum.

13 Blo ck diagrams of radio and radar systems.

14 The radio frequency spectrum, radar and radio communication.

15 Basic electromagnetic wave theory and propagation

16 Radiation patterns of representative antennas - gain, directivity and efficiency

17 The Friis equation and the radar equation

18 Imaging Radar: SAR and DBS

19 Radar Cross Section of Basic Objects.

20 An introduction to inertial navigation and GPS.

21 Aircraft Vision Systems and Infrared Imaging.

22 Aircraft Data Buses.

23 EMC and Safety Critical Systems.

24 Review


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture -

Tutorial -


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 24

  12

      36
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 114
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Unseen Written Exam  3 hours  100  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 1 Notes (applying to all assessments) - none 
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             

Reading List

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List: