In this course, your will improve your understanding and ability to manipulate signals by studying their frequency content as obtained from Fourier Analysis. In the course, Continuous Fourier Transform and its properties is introduced, including convolution and modulation. With the use of Discrete Fourier Transform digital signals can be analyzed. Digital Filtering and the z-transform are introduced as an introduction to Digital Signal Processing with emphasis on digital filtering.

In this course, you will learn more about modelling of simple thermal systems. In addition, you will be introduced to modeling physical systems in general, and how to linearize nonlinear systems. After this introduction, the three main topics of the modelling part are dealt with: a) Mixed systems combining components from different physical domains, b) Stability and Control of systems and c) Distributed systems. These topics are accompanied with 4 practicals: 1) Characterization of an electro-motor, 2) The design of a feedback for a motor-generator pair, 3) The non-uniform heating of a rod and 4) The heat transfer in a flow experiment.

Next to the courses mentioned above, you also get to choose between one of the following four subjects:

Engineering Solid Mechanics

This course covers how the stiffness and strength of mechanical structures such as bars, shafts and beams can be determined. The analysis of stiffness is required to determine how much a structure will deform. The analysis of strength is required to determine is a structure will collapse or fail. After the discussion of simple slender members, the theory will be extended to more general complex 3D loading situations. Based on this elasticity theory, it is explained how principle stresses can be used to establish practically useful failure criteria. The course takes your elementary understanding of statics and materials science to establish knowledge about the complex analysis of mechanical structures and machines.

Programming in Engineering

Computations are omnipresent in complex engineering problems in solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, civil and process engineering. Many problems are resolved with the aid of computers and dedicated programs today. Therefore, it is really important for an engineer to be familiar with computers and programming languages. In this course, you will learn how to translate problems into algorithms and how to implement the algorithm into a computer language. We will focus on implementation in two widely used programming languages: MATLAB and C++. You will learn how to write, compile, and execute small programs in each language. We teach you how to write structured reusable code (object-oriented programming in C++) and how to visualize your solutions (in MATLAB).  Further, we teach how to better understand, analyze, optimise, and debug code. The course consists of lectures as well as lots of practical exercises. The course is divided into two sections, C++ and MATLAB. At the end of each section, you will be asked to solve a final assignment (at home), and attend an oral exam. The course is complemented with an extension on the implementation on solving ODE’s and the communication with an electronics platform such as an Arduino and Raspberry Pi.

Classical Mechanics

We will study the motion of macroscopic particles and bodies using a new formulation of classical mechanics which is equivalent to Newtonian mechanics but offers several advantages when treating for instance constraints or different types of coordinate systems. We will derive Euler, Lagrange, and Hamilton formalisms and revisit the behavior of particles in a central force field, coupled oscillations and normal mode analysis, as well as the dynamics of rigid bodies.

Electronics

This electronics course starts with an introduction into modeling of non-linear components and an introduction into semiconductor physics of diodes, bipolar transistors. This is subsequently used for analysis and synthesis of basic analog circuits. These analog circuits are then extended into systems with feedback to create well-behaved stable circuits and well-behaved oscillators. The last part of the course presents an introduction into (radio frequency) transmitter systems, more complex analog circuits and digital electronics. The material is presented in the form of lectures/exercise classes and labs/projects. The final project of this module is the design, realization and characterization of an RF-transmit-receiver system to transmit audio wirelessly; this project is done in small groups, and includes peer review.

In the project students have to demonstrate the ability to build and model a system of their choice. In addition, they will use signal analysis to characterize the performance or to control this system. So, in the project you will apply all you learned in the courses Models and Signals.