Overview
- Start dateOctober
- DurationOne year full-time
- DeliveryTaught component (50%), Group project (10%), Individual research project (40%)
- QualificationMSc
- Study typeFull-time
- CampusCranfield campus
Who is it for?
This course is suitable for engineering, science, mathematics and computing graduates alongside experienced engineers who are interested in a career in the automotive or intelligent mobility sectors. The course is intended to equip its graduates with skills that will be of immediate use but will also develop them for senior technical and business leadership roles in future. With the growing demand for highly skilled professionals both within automotive manufacturers and the high technology supply chain, successfully completing this course will provide a distinctive skill set that graduates will find useful in securing employment globally.
Why this course?
Cranfield has a long and excellent track record in graduate courses for the automotive industry, a strong track record in research, and strong links and collaborations with the automotive OEM and Tier 1 companies and their supply chains. Cranfield has an exceptionally high level of engagement with industry, and our graduates are highly valued.
As a postgraduate-only university, Cranfield University is well suited to the needs of those studying at Masters’ level, and has excellent facilities to support teaching and learning. We are located near Milton Keynes, which is emerging as a centre of excellence for connected and autonomous vehicles. We are placed centrally in the Oxford-Cambridge ‘arc’, noted for its enterprise in technology.
Cranfield has recently opened a new Intelligent Mobility Engineering Centre (IMEC) and the Multi-User Environment for Autonomous Vehicle Innovation (MUEAVI), a test ground for connected and autonomous vehicle engineering), both of which are used to support teaching across the automotive subject spectrum.
Informed by Industry
The MSc in Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Engineering (Automotive) is directed by an Industrial Advisory Panel comprising senior engineers from the automotive sector. This maintains course relevancy and ensures that graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge required by leading employers. You will have the opportunity to meet this panel and present your individual research project to them at an annual event held in July. Panel members include:
Mr Rod J Calvert OBE (Chair), Automotive Management Consultant
Mr Steven Miles, Ford Motor Company Ltd
Mr Clive Crewe, AVL
Mr Peter Stoker, Millbrook
Mr Stefan Strahnz,Chief Engineer Cost and Commercial Programmes
Mr Simon Dowson, Delta Motorsport
Mr Paul McCarthy, JCB Power Systems
Mr Steve Swift, Emerald Automotive
Mr Doug Cross, Flybrid Automotive Ltd
Mr Steve Henson, Barclays
Dr Leon Rosario, Ricardo
Mr David Hudson, Tata Motors
Mr Tobias Knichel, Punch Flybrid Limited
Mr Iain Bomphray, Williams Advanced Engineering
Mr Keith Benjamin, Jaguar Land Rover
Dr Charlie Wartnaby, Applus IDIADA
Course details
The course will include ten taught compulsory modules, which are generally delivered from October to March.
Course delivery
Taught component (50%), Group project (10%), Individual research project (40%)
Group project
The course will contain a challenging group design project with a multidisciplinary engineering focus and an in-depth individual design project. Where possible, connected and autonomous vehicles from research projects will be used to support learning.
Individual project
After having gained an excellent understanding of methods and applications, you will work full-time (May to September) on an individual research project. This research project will allow you to delve deeper into an area of specific interest, taking the theory from the taught modules and joining it with practical experience. A list of suggested topics is provided, and includes projects proposed by staff and industry sponsors, associated with current research projects.
It is clear that the modern design engineer cannot be divorced from the commercial world. In order to provide practice in this matter, a poster presentation and written report will be required from all students, and the research findings presented to the academic staff as well as the Industrial Advisory Panel members.
Modules
Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.
To give you a taster, we have listed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules which are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only, and may be subject to change for your year of entry.
Course modules
Compulsory modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
Vehicle Design Propulsion, and Performance
Aim |
• Provide deep understanding of vehicle propulsion options and driveline.
• Establish approaches and procedures to analysing and predicting vehicle performance. • Provide a framework for the appreciation of the interdependency of vehicle systems. • Critically evaluate the integration of different alternative powertrain options and be able to select appropriate solutions within legislation framework. • Evaluate vehicle emissions and control systems to identify appropriate solutions. |
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Syllabus |
Basic vehicle characteristics: Vehicle concepts, centre of gravity position, static and dynamic loads and weight distributions, front, rear and all wheel drive. Adhesion coefficient and influencing factors. Traction, braking and resistance to motion. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to: 1. Interpret and apply legislative requirements in generating vehicle concepts and designs. 2. Predict resistances to motion, determine powertrain system characteristics, calculate vehicle performance (max. speed, acceleration, gradient, fuel economy etc). 3. Understand vehicle concepts for propulsion driveline systems and components; optimise vehicle performance characteristics for the selected criteria / benchmarks. 4. Understand rotating component tribology in the context of vehicle efficiency. 5. Assess and critically evaluate vehicle systems and interdependency including vehicle design and ride quality. |
Path Planning, Autonomy and Decision Making
Aim |
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Syllabus |
You will be to complete approximately 20 hours of pre-work before the start of the teaching week. This can include pre-reading, using the "essential reading" list as a guide. You should also use this time to familiarise yourself with any software tools you feel you will need and to complete any tasks explicitly communicated by the module team. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Sensors, Perception and Visualisation
Aim |
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Syllabus |
You will be to complete approximately 20 hours of pre-work before the start of the teaching week. This can include pre-reading, using the "essential reading" list as a guide. You should also use this time to familiarise yourself with any software tools you feel you will need and to complete any tasks explicitly communicated by the module team. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Systems Engineering
Aim |
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Syllabus |
Topics covered by the course include: You will be to complete approximately 20 hours of pre-work before the start of the teaching week. This can include pre-reading, using the "essential reading" list as a guide. You should also use this time to familiarise yourself with any software tools you feel you will need and to complete any tasks explicitly communicated by the module team. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Embedded Vehicle Control Systems
Aim |
Within the context of modern automotive control system, the aim of this module is for you to critically evaluate the different technologies and methods required for the efficient vehicle implementation, validation and verification of the automotive mechatronic system. |
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Syllabus |
Course content includes: • A review of modern automotive control hardware requirements and architectures. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to: 2. Design and implement a digital controller. 3. Evaluate the effect of sampling times, communication delays and quantization errors in a feedback loop. 4. Construct efficient Matlab code for data coding/decoding and control algorithm implementation. 5. Appraise the purpose of the ISO26262 functional safety standard and the AUTOSAR standardized automotive software design. |
Transport System Optimisation
Module Leader |
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
You will be to complete approximately 20 hours of pre-work before the start of the teaching week. This can include pre-reading, using the "essential reading" list as a guide. You should also use this time to familiarise yourself with any software tools you feel you will need and to complete any tasks explicitly communicated by the module team. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction and ADAS Systems
Aim |
To provide you with an understanding of human factors in human-computer interaction and ADAS systems. |
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Syllabus |
You will be to complete approximately 20 hours of pre-work before the start of the teaching week. This can include pre-reading, using the "essential reading" list as a guide. You should also use this time to familiarise yourself with any software tools you feel you will need and to complete any tasks explicitly communicated by the module team. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Networked Systems and Cybersecurity
Aim |
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Syllabus |
You will be to complete approximately 20 hours of pre-work before the start of the teaching week. This can include pre-reading, using the "essential reading" list as a guide. You should also use this time to familiarise yourself with any software tools you feel you will need and to complete any tasks explicitly communicated by the module team. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Ethics, Safety and Regulation
Aim |
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Syllabus |
You will be to complete approximately 20 hours of pre-work before the start of the teaching week. This can include pre-reading, using the "essential reading" list as a guide. You should also use this time to familiarise yourself with any software tools you feel you will need and to complete any tasks explicitly communicated by the module team. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Technology Strategy and Business Models
Aim |
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Syllabus |
You will be to complete approximately 20 hours of pre-work before the start of the teaching week. This can include pre-reading, using the "essential reading" list as a guide. You should also use this time to familiarise yourself with any software tools you feel you will need and to complete any tasks explicitly communicated by the module team. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Teaching team
The course director for this programme is Dr Daniel Auger.
How to apply
Applications need to be made online.
Once you have set up an account you will be able to create, save and amend your application form before submitting it.