What Is Mechatronics?

What Is Mechatronics?

An introduction to mechatronics as the integrated design of mechanical, electrical, electronic, computer and information technologies.

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Mechatronics Today
Electronics, computers and control systems are advancing rapidly.
Computer-controlled systems are becoming widespread in design and production.
Mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, pneumatic and computer technologies together form the discipline of mechatronics.
Multidisciplinary Engineering: Mechatronics and Electromechanics
Mechatronics and electromechanics can both be described as multidisciplinary fields.
In electromechanics, the mechanical system is generally designed first, followed by the electrical, electronic and control systems. In mechatronics, these systems are designed concurrently.
Examples of Mechatronic Systems
Today, systems without computer control or electrical and electronic components are increasingly rare.
Aircraft flight-control systems, washing machines, dishwashers, automotive fuel injection, ABS, airbags, remote-controlled door locks, photocopiers and numerically controlled machine tools are examples of mechatronic systems.
Mechanical Systems
Systems that transmit, transform or store power.
They transmit motion from energy-producing systems such as motors to the required part.
They can change the direction, form and characteristics of motion.
A rack-and-pinion mechanism, for example, can convert linear motion to rotary motion or rotary motion to linear motion.
Mechanical-System Components
Axles
Fasteners and joining elements
Gears
Couplings and clutches
Belts and pulleys
Shafts
Bearings
Springs
Chain mechanisms
Functions of Mechanical-System Components
Springs store energy, while couplings and clutches transmit motion between motors and mechanical systems.
Such components combine to form a mechanical system.
Electrical and Electronic Systems
Mechatronic systems require a power source.
The energy supplied by the power system equals the useful work plus energy losses.
Electrical and electronic systems are responsible for control functions such as starting and stopping the system.
Electrical systems involve three basic quantities: charge, current and voltage.
Electronic systems transmit information through low-energy signals.
Information storage, processing and transmission are major functions of electronic systems.
Classes of Electrical and Electronic Systems
Power systems
Communication systems
Functions of Electrical and Electronic Components
Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.
Generators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Electrical and Electronic Components
Electric motors
Sensors
Actuators
Signal-processing circuits
Signal-amplification circuits
Relays
Switches
Fuses
Information Systems
Also known as intelligent systems.
They evaluate information and can make intelligent decisions.
A mobile robot’s response to an obstacle, for example, is enabled by information systems.
Fields of Information Systems
Artificial intelligence
Artificial neural networks
Fuzzy logic
Computer Systems
Responsible for high-speed decisions and precise calculations.
Computer systems give machines capabilities analogous to human reasoning and decision-making.
Computer-System Components
Hardware
Software
Real-Time Systems
Systems that detect changes at the input immediately and produce an appropriate output.
Real-time systems use analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters.
Incoming analog data is converted to digital form, processed and converted back to analog form for the output.