Cyber Physical Systems (2 year) MSc

This module introduces you to the computer science of robotics, giving you an understanding of the hardware and software principles appropriate for control and localisation of autonomous mobile robots. A significant part of the module is laboratory-based, utilising physical robotic hardware to reinforce the theoretical principles covered. You will cover a range of topics including basic behavioural control architectures, multi-source data aggregation, programming of multiple behaviours, capabilities and limitations of sensors and actuators, and filtering techniques.

You will gain knowledge and hands-on experience of design and technical development of sensor-based systems. You will learn about the human-computer interaction challenges that need to be considered when creating ubiquitous computing systems along with strategies for addressing them, so as to create effective, appropriate and compelling user experiences.

This module will expose you to a variety of research methods, providing you with good quantitative and qualitative skills. Research approaches covered include:

• laboratory evaluation
• surveys
• case studies
• action research

In addition to project management, the module introduces the research process, from examining how problems are selected, literature reviews, selection of research methods, data collection and analysis, development of theories and conclusions, to the dissemination of the research based on analysis of research papers. The module also offers an overview of ethical considerations when conducting research, and supports in identifying directions for MSc projects.

The module provides an entry point to computational optimization techniques, particularly for modelling and solving linear and discrete optimization problems like diet optimization, network flows, task assignment, scheduling, bin-packing, travelling salesmen, facility location, vehicle routing and related problems.

Optimization sits at the interface of computer science and mathematics. Optimization is considered one of the key techniques within the broad spectrum of artificial intelligence methods. Optimization focuses on making decisions instead of predicting or identifying patterns. Optimization is also one of the most important areas within operations research (OR), which is a discipline that uses modelling techniques, analytics and computational methods to solve complex problems in industry and business.

In this module, you will learn to interpret and develop algebraic models for a variety of real-world linear and discrete optimization problems to then use powerful optimization software (linear, integer and mixed-integer solvers) to produce a solution. The module covers topics such as linear programming, integer programming, combinatorial optimization, modelling and optimization software, multi-objective optimization, simplex method, and branch and bound method among others. Optimization technology is ubiquitous in today's world, for applications in logistics, finance, manufacturing, workforce planning, product selection, healthcare, and any other area where the limited resources must be used efficiently. Optimization enables prescriptive analytics, in order to support and automate decision-making"

This module will provide you with an advanced knowledge of computer communications networks, using examples from all-IP core telecommunications networks to illustrate aspects of transmission coding, error control, media access, internet protocols, routing, presentation coding, services and security.

The module will describe Software Defined Networks (SDNs) and provide examples of using them to enable very large scale complex network control. It will also provide advanced knowledge of various routing and query protocols in:

• Ad Hoc Networks
• Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs)
• Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs)
• Disconnection/Disruption/Delay Tolerant Networks (DTNs)
• impact of new networking developments, such as security risks, ethics, interception and data protection will be reflected and discussed systematically

This module covers data structures, efficient algorithms on them and ways to determine their complexity. You will study some modern algorithms that are widely used in contemporary software.

The topics covered can include:

• binary search trees (red-black trees)
• dynamic programming
• graph-algorithms (eg shortest path, maximum flows)
• amortized analysis
• priority queues (binary, leftist and Fibonacci heaps)
• string algorithms (string matching, longest common subsequence).

Among the special topics relevant to contemporary application, we can study:

• public-key cryptography (the RSA cryptosystem)
• the page-rank algorithm (from Google search)
• neural networks.

The theory is practised in labs sessions where you will learn how to implement the algorithms and data structures as functional and imperative programs (using the languages Haskell and C), and apply these to solve large instances of real-world problems. The coursework consists of the implementation of some of the data types and algorithms on them.

This project involves a self-guided study of a selected advanced algorithm or data structure. The outcome of the project is an analysis and implementation of the algorithm or data structure, as well as an empirical evaluation, preferably on a real-world data set of significant size.

This module explores the range of data analysis problems that can be modelled computationally and a range of techniques that are suitable to analyse and solve those problems.

Topics covered include:

• basic statistics
• types of data
• data visualisation techniques
• data modelling
• data pre-processing methods including data imputation
• forecasting methods
• clustering and classification methods

This module focuses on handling uncertainty such as vagueness using fuzzy sets and similar approaches. It provides a thorough understanding of key topics such as:

• the nature of uncertainty captured by fuzzy sets and associated links to human reasoning
• inference using fuzzy sets
• similarity of fuzzy sets
• design and modelling of information via fuzzy sets
• type-1 fuzzy sets
• type-2 fuzzy sets
• fuzzy logic systems
• fuzzy set based applications

This module offers insight into the applications of selected methods of decision support. The foundations for applying these methods are derived from:

• operations research simulation
• social simulation
• data science
• automated scheduling
• decision analysis

Throughout the module, you will become more competent in choosing and implementing the appropriate method for the particular problem at hand. You will engage in a mixture of lectures, workshops, and computer classes.

This module focuses on the possibilities and challenges of interaction beyond the desktop. Exploring the 'mixed reality continuum' - a spectrum of emerging computing applications that runs from virtual reality (in which a user is immersed into a computer-generated virtual world) at one extreme, to ubiquitous computing (in which digital materials appear embedded into the everyday physical world - often referred to as the 'Internet of Things') at the other. In the middle of this continuum, lie augmented reality and locative media in which the digital appears to be overlaid upon the physical world in different ways.

You will gain knowledge and hands-on experience of design and development with key technologies along this continuum, including working with both ubiquitous computing based sensor systems and locative media. You will learn about the human-computer interaction challenges that need to be considered when creating mixed reality applications along with strategies for addressing them, so as to create compelling and reliable user experiences.

This module covers the history, development and state-of-the-art in computer games and technological entertainment.

You will gain an appreciation of the range of gaming applications available and be able to chart their emergence as a prevalent form of entertainment. You will study the fundamental principles of theoretical game design and how these can be applied to a variety of modern computer games.

In addition, you will study the development of games as complex software systems. Specific software design issues to be considered will include the software architecture of games, and the technical issues associated with networked and multiplayer games.

Finally, you will use appropriate software environments to individually develop a number of games to explore relevant theoretical design and practical implementation concepts.

This module will cover four main concepts.

It will start with an introduction to big data. You’ll find out about the main principles behind distributed/parallel systems with data intensive applications, identifying key challenges such as capture, store, search, analyse and visualise the data. 

We’ll also look at SQL Databases verses NoSQL Databases. You will learn:

• the growing amounts of data
• the relational database management systems (RDBMS)
• an overview of Structured Query Languages (SQL)
• an introduction to NoSQL databases
• the difference between a relational DBMS and a NoSQL database
• how to identify the need to employ a NoSQL database

Another concept is big data frameworks and how to deal with big data. This includes the MapReduce programming model, as well as an overview of recent technologies (Hadoop ecosystem, and Apache Spark). Then, you will learn how to interact with the latest APIs of Apache Spark (RDDs, DataFrames and Datasets) to create distributed programs capable of dealing with big datasets (using Python and/or Scala).  

Finally, we will cover the data mining and machine learning part of the course. This will include data preprocessing approaches, distributed machine learning algorithms and data stream algorithms. To do so, you will use the machine learning library of Apache Spark to understand how some machine learning algorithms can be deployed at a scale. 

Cyber security is an essential consideration for the protection of IT-based devices, systems, networks and data, providing safeguard and reassurance to the organisations and individuals that now rely (and increasingly depend) upon them. We provide coverage of both technical and human perspectives, considering the fundamental threats and safeguards that concern both personal and workplace contexts. You will emerge with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable informed cyber security decisions spanning the technical, human and organisational dimensions of the topic.

You will gain knowledge and practical experience across a range of key cyber security topics, including foundational concepts and principles, authentication and access control, operating system security, cryptographic mechanisms and applications, security management, risk assessment, cyber-attacks and threat intelligence, network and Internet security, intrusion detection and incident response, and human aspects. You will learn about the challenges that need to be considered when designing and implementing secure systems, along with associated approaches to ensure that security is addressed in an effective and holistic manner.

This module looks at the practice of malware analysis, looking at how to analyse malicious software to understand how it works, how to identify it, and how to defeat or eliminate it.  

You will look at how to set up a safe environment in which to analyse malware, as well as exploring both static and dynamic malware analysis. Although malware takes many forms, the focus of this module will primarily be on executable binaries. This will cover object file formats and the use of tools such as debuggers, virtual machines, and disassemblers to explore them. Obfuscation and packing schemes will be discussed, along with various issues related to Windows internals.

The module is practical with encouragement to safely practice the skills you're taught.

This module involves discussing current topics relating to computer security. Each week, as individuals or as a group, you will make a presentation on an assigned topic in computer security followed by a discussion. You will meet with a member of staff to discuss and plan the form of the presentation. You'll also prepare questions for the audience and write a concise (10 page) summary of the material.

The aim of the module is to gain a deeper understanding of the important topics in computer security. You'll learn how to summarise research and present it to a peer audience. 

This module provides an introduction to machine learning, pattern recognition, and data mining techniques.

It considers both systems which are able to develop their own rules from trial-and-error experience to solve problems, as well as systems that find patterns in data without any supervision. In the latter case, data mining techniques will make generation of new knowledge possible, including very big data sets.

The module also offers the opportunity to work on real-world datasets and gain experience in technical paper writing in the format of conference publications.

You will complete a significant original research project at the cutting-edge of cyber physical systems. Where appropriate, your project may also be done in partnership with an external organisation.

You will complete a high-quality dissertation, and get practice in presenting your work to a professional standard.