Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering

• Biomedical engineers develop new tools to diagnose disease and repair or replace diseased organs. Pacemakers, blood analysers, cochlear implants, medical imaging, lasers, prosthetic implants, devices capable of making the paralysed walk, and life-support systems all use electrical engineering expertise. Medical information systems depend on computer systems expertise, as well as communications. Biomedical engineers also design electromedical equipment, advise clinicians on patient care and monitoring equipment, and work directly with patients on rehabilitation.

• Automation and control engineers design, build and operate the automatic systems that control our water supply, chemical plants, oil refineries, factories, mines and even traffic control systems.. They also design the many automatic systems in medical equipment, aircraft, ships and cars, and in domestic appliances such as dishwashers.

• Power generation and distribution engineers provide a reliable and safe electricity supply network for our everyday needs. They plan, develop, test, install and maintain the equipment and systems that produce, distribute and use electricity. Some design power systems for aircraft and spacecraft. Others provide computer-controlled energy management systems that conserve energy in manufacturing facilities. Still others design electrical motors for everything from household appliances to processing plants, and design and build solar panels and wind-powered generators.

• Robotics engineers design and program systems that perform functions associated with human intelligence like voice recognition, mechanical tasks such as sorting or assembling and making predictions on the basis of experience. Robotic systems involve a combination of mechanical, electronic, and computing components. A computer and its program provide the ‘brains’ of the robot, allowing it to remember, process information and perform tasks.

The tasks of an electrical and computer systems engineer are as varied as their roles.

On a day-to-day basis they might:

• Conduct project feasibility studies
• Liaise with clients, consumers and other professionals
• Research information and solve design problems
• Prepare and interpret circuit diagrams, specifications, schematics, standards and regulations
• Design and optimise complete ‘systems-on-a-chip’ for individual and consumer applications
• Consider project costs over the lifecycle of systems
• Implement cryptographic coding algorithms to protect data
• Devise new ways of helping the disabled
• Examine the environmental and safety aspects of a planned project
• Plan the manufacture or use of equipment
• Supervise the simulation, prototyping and testing of new systems and the correction of faults
• Manage the production, installation and maintenance of systems and equipment
• Train technicians and customers in the use of equipment
• Prepare and present reports and proposals
• Provide advanced technical support and advice to clients.

Careers in electrical and computer systems engineering

The demand for electrical and computer systems engineers exceeds supply. Graduates work locally and internationally in power generation, industrial and power electronics, automation systems, computer programming, robotics, health care, water and energy industries. Many work in large public and private telecommunications, manufacturing and electrical power companies. Others work for defence and intelligence organisations.

The program also prepares them for work in other industries, for example online ticketing, banking and financing, and in organisations that need to create, store, encode and transmit data or manage complex systems.

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