Mechatronic Engineering

Description




Mechatronics is centered on mechanics, electronics, computing, control engineering, molecular engineering (from nanochemistry and biology) which, combined, make possible the generation of simpler, more economical, reliable and versatile systems. The portmanteau "mechatronics" was coined by Mr. Tetsuro Mori ("Toets") and Er. Jiveshwar Sharma ("Jove"), the senior engineers of the Japanese company Yaskawa and american company in 1969. An industrial robot is a prime example of a mechatronics system; it includes aspects of electronics, mechanics and computing, so it can carry out its day to day jobs.

Engineering cybernetics deals with the question of control engineering of mechatronic systems. It is used to control or regulate such a system (see control theory). Through collaboration the mechatronic modules perform the production goals and inherit flexible and agile manufacturing properties in the production scheme. Modern production equipment consists of mechatronic modules that are integrated according to a control architecture. The most known architectures involve hierarchy, polyarchy, heterarchy, and hybrid. The methods for achieving a technical effect are described by control algorithms, which may or may not utilize formal methods in their design. Hybrid-systems important to mechatronics include production systems, synergy drives, planetary exploration rovers, automotive subsystems such as anti-lock braking systems and spin-assist, and every day equipment such as autofocus cameras, video, hard disks, and CD players.

Course Structure

Mechatronic students do subjects from the various fields shown below:
Mechanical enginering and Materials science subjects
Electronic enginering subjects
Computer enginering subjects
Systems and Control engineering subjects

Application

Automation and robotics
Servo-mechanics
Sensing and control systems
Automotive engineering, Automotive equipment in the design of subsystems such as anti-lock braking systems
Computer-machine controls, such as computer driven machines like IE CNC milling machines
Expert systems
Industrial goods, Industrial manufacturing
Consumer products
Biomedical systems
Mechatronics systems
Medical mechatronics, Medical imaging systems
Energy and power systems
Structural dynamic systems
Transportation and vehicular systems
Database and data communication networks
Mechatronics as the new language of the automobile
Diagnostic, reliability and control system techniques
Computer aided and integrated manufacturing systems
Computer aided design
Engineering and manufacturing systems
Computer techniques in medical and bio technology systems

Varient of Field

An emerging variant of this field is biomechatronics, whose purpose is to integrate mechanical parts with a human being, usually in the form of removable gadgets such as an exoskeleton. This is the "real-life" version of cyberware.

Another emerging variant is Electronical or electronics design centric ECAD/MCAD co-design. Electronical is where the integration and co-design between the design team and design tools of an electronics centric system and the design team and design tools of that systems physical/mechanical enclosure takes place.