ME302: MECHATRONICS

Most mechanical engineering systems today involve significant amounts of electrical and electronic control systems. Effectively, most modern mechanical engineering systems are mechatronic systems. Mechatronics is the discipline that results from the synergetic application of electrical, electronic, computer, and control engineering in mechanical engineering systems. Thus, it is essential for the mechanical engineer to have a strong understanding of the composition and design of mechatronic systems, which is the goal of this course.

Mechatronic systems are around us everywhere. A car contains many mechatronic systems, such as anti-lock braking systems, traction control, the engine control unit and cruise control, to name a few. A satellite dish position control unit is another example of a mechatronic system. Modern industrial automated processes would not be possible without the discipline of mechatronics, covering areas such as vehicle manufacturing, pharmaceutical industries, and food processing plants. Robotic systems are interesting and complex examples of mechatronic systems that contain many sensors and actuators and that require very fast and sophisticated controllers.

For you, as a mechanical engineering student, this course will represent a gateway into the world of electrical, electronic, and control engineering. It is one of the few courses in the mechanical engineering major that heavily relies on electrical, electronic, and computer engineering. Being a multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary course, your study of mechatronics integrates and builds on a number of different courses that you have already studied, such as mechanics, electromagnetism, measurements, and introduction to mechanical engineering (the design project).

Course Designer: Dr. Lutfi Al-Sharif

Primary Resources: This course comprises a range of different free, online materials. However, the course makes primary use of the following materials:

• Rensselear Polytechnic Institute and Marquette University: Kevin Craig’s Multidisciplinary Mechatronic Innovations (This resource contains many articles and videos about the discipline of mechatronics.)
• Colorado State University’s “Video Demonstrations of Mechatronic Devices and Principles”, “Video Demonstrations of Robotics”, and “Video Demonstrations from Introduction to Mechatronics and Measurement Systems” (These webpages contain numerous videos that illustrate mechatronic components and mechatronic systems.)
• All about Circuits: Tony R. Kuphaldt’s Volume I, DC; Volume III, Semiconductors; and Volume IV, Di­gital (These resources contain material explaining the basics of electrical and electronics circuits and components.)

Requirements for Completion: In order to complete this course, you will need to work through each unit and all of its assigned materials. Pay special attention to Unit 1 as this serves as an introduction to lay the groundwork for understanding the more advanced, exploratory material presented in the latter units. You will also need to complete:

• Subunit 1.2 Activity
• The Final Exam

Note that you will only receive an official grade on your final exam. However, in order to adequately prepare for this exam, you will need to work through all of the resources in each unit as well as the activity listed above.
 
In order to pass this course, you will need to earn a 70% or higher on the final exam. Your score on the exam will be tabulated as soon as you complete it. If you do not pass the exam, you may take it again.
 
Time Commitment: This course should take you a total of 109.5 hours to complete. Each unit includes a time advisory that lists the amount of time you are expected to spend on each subunit. These should help you plan your time accordingly. It may be useful to take a look at these time advisories and to determine how much time you have over the next few weeks to complete each unit, and then to set goals for yourself. For example, Unit 1 should take you 10.5 hours. Perhaps you can sit down with your calendar and decide to complete subunit 1.1 (a total of 6 hours) on Monday and Tuesday nights; subunits 1.2 through 1.4 (a total of 4.5 hours) on Tuesday night; etc.