TRC3500 Sensors and artificial perception
Faculty of Engineering
TRC3500 Sensors and artificial perception is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton and Malaysia. It needs (ECE2131 or ECE2031) and (FIT1008 or ECE2071) and unlocks 3 units.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton, Malaysia
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
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Requisites
Before TRC3500
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After TRC3500
3 units list TRC3500 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Overview
The unit provides an introduction to the principles of sensing circuits and the inferential techniques required to deploy them for applications in artificial perception. We survey the components of a basic sensor’s circuit architecture in the context of a range of sensing technologies and provide hands-on practice in their construction and characterisation. Applications in biomedical technology, robotics and automation are considered alongside a theoretical framework for understanding the complexity of data collected in real-world environments. You will gain an appreciation for how decisions in circuit design and signal processing impact artificial sensation and perception in practice.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | Flexible |
| First semester | Malaysia | On campus |
Assessment
- AssignmentsExerciseThreshold hurdle10%
- ProjectsProjectThreshold hurdle50%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Describe physical principles of sensing and transduction such as resistive, capacitive, inductive and piezoelectric effects.
- 2
Formulate signal processing pipelines for a desired I/O mapping, taking into account considerations, such as analog-to-digital conversion, sampling and filtering.
- 3
Analyse sources of noise in systems at the circuit, signal and inferential levels to make optimal inferences under uncertainty.
- 4
Construct a complete sensory system by designing and implementing hardware, embedded systems and software components.
- 5
Synthesise sensor and performance data to justify circuit design decisions and produce effective written and graphical summaries to communicate a sensing system's performance.
Workload and teaching
- Practical activities16 hours
- Workshops24 hours
- Applied sessions24 hours
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
The online lessons provide an in-depth theoretical background to the practical problems addressed in the laboratories.
The workshops and laboratories will focus on problem-based learning where you will solve increasingly sophisticated problems in artificial sensing and perception with a mixture of hardware and software applications.
You will collaborate to complete projects in groups. Peer evaluation will be used to hold individual group members accountable for their contributions.
Learning resources
Required resources
- ElecLab Toolkit - Information regarding how to acquire one on your campus is available on this webpage.
Where it fits
TRC3500 is part of 10 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
- BIOMDENG03Biomedical devices streamBiomedical engineeringNo reviews yet
- CHEMENG04Chemical engineering technical electivesChemical engineeringNo reviews yet
- ECSYSENG04Electrical and computer systems engineering technical electivesElectrical and computer systems engineeringNo reviews yet
- ELCVLTMR01ElectivesElectric vehicle technologyNo reviews yet
- IOTMNR01Studying electrical and computer systems engineering specialisationInternet of Things (IoT)No reviews yet
- MECHENG03Mechanical engineering technical electivesMechanical engineeringNo reviews yet
- NTWCONTY02Studying electrical and computer systems engineering specialisationNetworks for connectivityNo reviews yet
- ROBMCTRN04Part C. Robotics and mechatronics engineering knowledge and applicationRobotics and mechatronics engineeringNo reviews yet
- SNSYSMNR01Core unitsSensory systems in Industry 4.0No reviews yet
- SMTMFMNR03Studying electrical and computer systems engineering specialisationSmart manufacturingNo reviews yet
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Tan Wen Shan
- Dr Elizabeth Zavitz
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Elizabeth Zavitz
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for TRC3500?
You need (ECE2131 or ECE2031) and (FIT1008 or ECE2071) before you enrol.
What can I take after TRC3500?
TRC3500 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 3 units, including ECE4191, ECE4810 and TRC4200.
When is TRC3500 offered?
In 2026, TRC3500 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton and Malaysia.
How much work is TRC3500?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does TRC3500 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include TRC3500?
TRC3500 is part of Biomedical engineering; Chemical engineering; Electrical and computer systems engineering; Electric vehicle technology; and Internet of Things (IoT), and 5 other areas of study.