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Applied Measurement and Control, 8142 - SS2026

The course does not assume advanced prior experience in embedded systems or electronics design. Instead, it provides a practical framework for combining concepts from physics, scientific programming, statistics, and environmental/energy applications.

The expected reading time of this page is approximately 15 minutes.

Requirements​

We do not explicitly verify whether you have passed these courses, but we do expect a solid understanding of the related topics:

  • 8115 Physics: Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism
  • 8125 Fundamentals of Scientific Programming
  • 8126 Statistics and Data Processing

Course Details​

  • Location & time: See Schedule Overview for details.
  • Moodle Course: 8142 Applied measurement and control
  • Teaching Semester: Summer 2026
  • Course ID: 8142, old ID EE_4.03
  • Credits: 5 CP
  • Duration: 1 semester
  • Total Workload (semester): 150 h, distributed as follows:
    • Lecture (15%): 22.5 h
    • Exercises (15%): 22.5 h
    • Self-study (70%): 105 h

Session Structure and Format​

Due to the late start of the course, we need to find a way to accommodate both the lecture (L) and exercise (E) blocks within a time frame that allows them to take place continuously. From a methodological perspective, scheduling the lecture on Tuesdays and the exercises on Fridays was not the most effective option. Taking this into account, along with a few additional constraints, the most suitable solution was to organize longer sessions on Fridays. This arrangement was developed primarily for fourth-semester E&E students, while also aiming to work well for the broader group of attendees.

Structure: To make effective use of the extended time slot from 08:15 to 15:30, we would keep the regular 1 hour and 30 minute block structure.

  • Morning sessions from 08:15 - 11:30, lecture block (L) would be followed by an exercise block (E), with a 15 minute break in between.
  • Lunch break from 11:30 to 12:15.
  • Afternoon sessions from 12:15 - 15:30, lecture block (L) would be followed by an exercise block (E), with a 15 minute break in between.

Format:

  • Lecture block: seminar format, personal attendance on campus is strongly recommended, especially for exercise and discussion sessions, as many activities involve guided practical work, equipment, and immediate feedback.
  • Exercise presentation (task description and objectives): 10–15 minutes
  • Exercise execution / exercise discussion: 40 minutes
  • Assignments: At your own pace at home with a defined submission deadline.

Note: sessions will not be recorded.

Schedule Overview​

Any revisions to the schedule will be communicated through the official channels, namely Moodle, email, or in-class.

DateTimeLocationTopicsMaterials
2026.04.2114:00 - 15:3003 02 130Introduction to applied measurement and control.
2026.05.1508:15 - 15:3003 02 130General principles of electrical measurements.
Sensors and Signals (part 1)
2026.05.2908:15 - 15:3003 02 130Sensors and Signals (part 2).
Power sources and regulators.
2026.06.0508:15 - 15:3003 02 130Introduction to microcontrollers and single-board-computers.
Output devices and actuators.
2026.06.1908:15 - 15:3003 02 130Wired and Wireless communication.
Provisional date for the midterm (to be confirmed).
2026.07.0308:15 - 15:3003 02 130Data processing and visualization.
Cloud, Database and Data loggers
2026.07.1008:15 - 15:3003 02 130Project development and discussion sessions.
2026.07.1708:15 - 15:3003 02 130Project development and discussion sessions.

Assessment & Grading​

This course emphasizes practice-based learning. Some components are completed individually in order to support the consolidation of knowledge through direct engagement with the material. At the same time, peer discussion, the comparison of different approaches, collaborative troubleshooting, and the exchange of insights are encouraged as integral parts of the learning process, particularly during exercise discussions block. The exercises and assignments are primarily formative in nature: they provide structured opportunities to monitor progress, receive feedback, and prepare for the summative component of the course, namely the final project.

Grading System​

Midterm Exam (30% of the module grade): A practical exam focused on solving problems related to previous exercises. This is an open-book exam, and the only permitted materials are your submitted exercises and assignments.

Project (70% of the module grade): The project includes (a) functional prototype, (b) report, and (c) short presentation. The project mark is based on 100 points in total, divided into 60 points for the group project and 40 points for the individual contribution.

Exercises​

When and where: Immediately after each lecture, on site.

Format: Live tutorial sessions consisting of guided, hands-on exercises. These typically include short demonstrations followed by step-by-step activities that establish the basis for approaching the related exercise.

Purpose: Support your learning process by applying the lecture material in practical-exercise which would help you to develop the tools and skills needed for subsequent coursework, assignments and ultimately the final project.

Execution format: Individual.

Submission: Moodle.

Assessment: Not graded.

Assignments​

When and where: Released alongside the corresponding lectures and exercises, and completed independently at your own pace within the allocated time frame. Submission is expected by the specified deadline. In addition, a dedicated on-site review session (exercise discussion) will be provided to address common questions and to discuss possible approaches.

Format: A combination of practical and theoretical tasks, supported by relevant internal (course-specific) and external resources.

Purpose: To extend and deepen the work initiated in the exercises, while preparing you for the demands of the final project.

Execution format: Individual.

Submission: Moodle.

Assessment: Not graded. General feedback will be provided during the exercise discussion. Given the number of students in the course, it is difficult to provide individual written (human) feedback for each learner.

Midterm​

When and where:

Format: In-person practical tasks, based on exercises and assignments. No internet connection, but your exercises and assignments submissions are gonna be available for you as support material (only if they were submitted on time in Moodle).

Purpose: consolidates the knowledge and understanding of all relevant topic to be able to perform and contribute to the final project.

Execution format: Individual.

Assessment: 30% of the final graded.

Final Project​

The final project is a group-based applied project in which students design, implement, test, and document a small measurement-and-control system. The project is intended to integrate course topics in a practical context and will include both group-based and individual assessment elements.

Communication Channels & Recommendations​

Moodle: Moodle will be used for course announcements, assignment submissions, and discussion. In particular, the discussion section should serve as the primary space for course-related questions, exchanges, and shared problem-solving.

Email: Email should be reserved for private or individual matters.

Considerations in case of technical difficulties: If you encounter technical difficulties, please use the Moodle discussion section as your primary communication channel, as both the problem and its solution may be beneficial to others in the course. When posting, please describe the issue clearly, indicate the steps needed to reproduce it where possible, avoid copy-pasting excessively long logs directly into the post, and include a screenshot if relevant.

Consultation hours: See the section “Consultation hours” in Moodle for more details.

Lab Access & Safety​

AI Policy​

Use of AI tools (e.g., large language models [LLM]) is permitted, with the expectation of full transparency and academic integrity.

Disclosure requirements (mandatory if you use an [LLM]):

  • Include a public link to the conversation/transcript you used.
    • If a shareable link isn’t possible, attach a PDF export of the exchange.
  • State the tool/model name (e.g., “ChatGPT, model and version as reported by the tool”), and the date/time of use.
  • Briefly describe what you used it for (e.g., outlining, proofreading, code scaffolding, debugging hints, literature search, etc.).

Supplementary Reading​

  • Environment and Energy. (2026). Applied measurement and control: Mini-Handbook [Open educational resource] courses.eolab.de/amc/handbook Hochschule Rhein-Waal, Faculty of Communication and Environment.

  • Severance, C. R. (2016). Python for everybody: Exploring data using Python 3. [Open educational resource] www.py4e.com/book

  • VanderPlas, J. (2016). Python data science handbook. [Open educational resource] jakevdp.github.io/PythonDataScienceHandbook/

  • Strumpen, V. (2015). Introduction to digital circuits: Chapter 1, Electrical foundations. [Open educational resource] strumpen.net.

Disclaimer​

This site is a supplementary resource for the lecture. It does not replace Moodle, which remains the official platform for announcements, and submissions. These docs are intended to enhance the learning experience and make selected content openly and widely accessible.