MEng Artificial Intelligence

Cybernetics deals with systems and their control. These may be technological systems such as robots, biological such as the control of human body temperatures, or environmental as illustrated by the Gaia Hypothesis which states that the Earth itself is a self-regulating cybernetic system. Its study brings together several academic disciplines and spans subjects including robotic systems, biomedical engineering, computer science, information technology and engineering.

Students choose cybernetics at Reading because of the unique focus we place on the subject, the world renowned nature of our research into the subject, and the wide range of cutting-edge technologies you can learn. These include Autonomous Robots, Artificial Intelligence, Terahertz Radiation and Virtual Reality.

Have you ever wanted to make intelligent machines or explore human intelligence? This is a practical AI course where modern techniques such as evolutionary computation, naturally inspired algorithms and artificial neural networks are used to solve realworld problems beneficial to science, business and industry. The course aims to provide you with the skills you need to develop Machine Learning systems that have the intelligence to perform such things as instructing robots or controlling the Artificial Intelligence needed in the latest computer games. We also emphasise the animal side of intelligence, including psychology and cognition.

The MEng degree programme allows you study Artificial Intelligence in more depth and includes a range of additional modules as well as a six month industrial placement or research project in the fourth year.

What will you study?

Year 1

Programming

Software engineering

Computer applications

Engineering mathematics

Cybernetics and circuits

Fundamentals of computing

Year 2

System design and project management

Signal processing

Embedded microprocessors and digital systems

Databases

Neuroscience

Neural networks

Machine intelligence

Optional modules

Essential algorithms

Java

Robotic systems

Institution wide language programme

Year 3

Group Project

Social, legal and ethical aspects of science and engineering

Computer networking

Modern heuristics

Evolutionary computation

Optional modules

Law and management

Machines in motion

Virtual reality

Multi agent systems

Image analysis

Sustainable electrical energy

Bionics

Data mining

Year 4

Swarm intelligence and artificial life

Mind as motion

Advanced neural networks

Industrial project or both a research

project and research studies

Optional modules

Medical image and signal processing

Visual intelligence

Computational robotics

Practice of entrepreneurship