ENEX13001 - Instrumentation and Industrial Automation

Showing: 2026 HE Term 1
General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit will introduce you to the fundamentals of industrial instrumentation and automation systems. You will learn the principles of operation of different sensors, actuators, instrumentation amplifiers, and industrial data communication buses. You will also learn noise cancellation and signal conditioning, sensor and actuator interfacing, programmable logic controller (PLC) programming, and process control. You will learn how to specify the requirements for sensors, actuators, and control equipment for a given task, evaluate multiple options available and select the best combination of them for your design. You will also design, fabricate, and program production lines for a given product using industry-standard components and PLCs. You will carry out product line programming using industry-standard PLC programming software and hardware. In this unit, you must complete compulsory practical activities. Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for proposed dates.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 3
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: ENEX12002 Introductory Electronics OR (ENEE13018 Analogue Elecctronics & ENEE13020 Digital Electronics ) AND ENEE12016 Signals and Systems

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 2 - 2023

Term 2 - 2023 Profile
Mackay Mixed Mode
Term 2 - 2024 Profile
Mackay Mixed Mode
Term 2 - 2025 Profile
Mackay Mixed Mode
Term 2 - 2026 Profile
Mackay Mixed Mode

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Written Assessment 20%
2. Written Assessment 20%
3. Practical Assessment 20%
4. Online Test 40%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

Previous Feedback

Term 2 - 2025 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 100.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 13.33% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Student Unit Evaluation Survey
Feedback:
 The useful feedback on assessments was insufficient.

Recommendation:
 More useful feedback on all assessments should be provided.

Action Taken:
 More useful feedback was provided; however, feedback for the online quizzes in Moodle was not visible to students, as later correspondence revealed.
Source: Student Unit Evaluation Survey
Feedback:
 The response rate for unit evaluation survey is low.

Recommendation:
 Students should be encouraged to submit unit evaluation survey.

Action Taken:
 Students were encouraged to complete unit evaluation survey.
Source: Student Unit Evaluation Survey
Feedback:
 Preparation of demonstrations in advance would enhance their overall effectiveness and professionalism.

Recommendation:
 Instead of conducting live demonstrations, demo videos of Factory I/O and PLC simulations should be prepared in advance and uploaded to Moodle prior to the classes and workshops.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Source: Unit Evaluation Data
Feedback:
 The useful feedback on assessments needs improvement.

Recommendation:
 The lack of visibility of Moodle comments and feedback for Online Quiz I and II should be addressed.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Source: Unit Evaluation Data
Feedback:
 Unit requirements are not clear.

Recommendation:
 The sections in Lecture 1 covering unit requirements should be further improved.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Describe the need for instrumentation amplifiers in an instrumentation system and their operation
  2. Apply common industrial data bus protocols and use them in data acquisition and control programs
  3. Specify requirements for sensors, actuators, and accessories for a given process automation module, and select suitable components from a range of available options
  4. Program industrial PLCs to provide real-time solutions for industrial automation problems
  5. Implement complete solutions for industrial process automation problems
  6. Solve real-life problems and communicate professionally using instrumentation engineering terminology, symbols and diagrams that conform to Australian and international standards
  7. Work individually and collaboratively in teams, communicate professionally in presenting your solutions.
The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers in the areas of 1. Knowledge and Skill Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels:

Intermediate
1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. (LO: 4I 5I 6I )
1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline. (LO: 4I 5I 6I )

Advanced
1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. (LO: 1A 2I 3A 4A 5A 6A )
1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 3A )
1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1A 2I 3A 4A 5A 6A )
1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3A 4A 5A 6A )
2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem-solving. (LO: 1I 3A 4A 5A 6A )
2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. (LO: 1I 3A 4A 5A 6A )
2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. (LO: 2I 4A 5A 6A )
2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects. (LO: 2I 4A 5A 6A )
3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability. (LO: 4I 5I 6I 7A )
3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. (LO: 1I 2I 5I 6I 7A )
3.3 Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour. (LO: 4I 5I 6I 7A )
3.4 Professional use and management of information. (LO: 1I 4I 5I 6I 7A )
3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct. (LO: 5I 6I 7A )
3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership. (LO: 5I 6A 7A )

Note: LO refers to the Learning Outcome number(s) which link to the competency and the levels: N – Introductory, I – Intermediate and A - Advanced.

Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for further information on the Engineers Australia's Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineers and course level mapping information
https://moodle.cqu.edu.au/course/view.php?id=1511

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Written Assessment • • •
2 - Written Assessment • • • • • •
3 - Practical Assessment • • • • • •
4 - Online Test • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Communication • • • • •
2 - Problem Solving • • • • •
3 - Critical Thinking • • • • • • •
5 - Team Work • •
6 - Information Technology Competence • • • • • • •
7 - Cross Cultural Competence • •
8 - Ethical practice • • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10