1.

Define Mechatronics
2. . The term Mechatronics is used for the integration of microprocessor control system,
electrical systems and mechanical systems. Mechatronics is defined as the integration of
precision mechanical & electronic control for the development of smart products & process.
2. What is a system? Give an example.
3. A system can be considered as a box, which has an input, and an output and where it is not
concerned with what goes on inside the box but only the relationship between the output
and the input. Example: A motor may be thought of as a system, which has as its input
electric power and as output the rotation of a shaft.
4. 3. What is a measurement system? A measurement system can be considered as a black box,
which is used for making measurements. It has as its input the quantity being measured and
its output the value of that quantity. Design skill – Ability to solve problems which will
benefit the company.
5. 4. Write about the sensor and give an example. A sensor, which responds to the quantity
being measured by giving as its output a signal which is related to the quantity. Example: A
thermocouple is a temperature sensor. The input to the sensor is a temperature and the
output is an e.m.f. which is related to the temperature value.
6. 5. Write about the signal conditioner? A signal conditioner takes the signal from the sensor
and manipulates it in to a condition, which is suitable for either display, or in the case of a
control system, for use to exercise control.
7. 6. What are the two basic forms of the control system? The two basic forms of the control
systems are, a. Open loop control system. b. Closed loop control system. Type Advantage
Disadvantage Open Loop a. It is being relatively simple i.Low cost ii. Good reliability
iii.inaccurate since there is no iv.correction of error Closed Loop Accurate in matching the
actual to the required values. a. More complex b. More costly c. Greater chance of
breakdown as a consequence of the greater number of components..
8. 7. What are the elements of the closed loop control system? The various elements of a
closed loop control system are, a. Comparison element b. Control element c. Correction
element d. Process element e. Measurement element
9. 8. What are the two types of feedback loop? The two types of feed back loop are, a. Positive
feed back loop b. Negative feed back loop. "The feedback is said to be negative/positive
feedback when the signal; which is feed back, subtracts/adds from the input value. It is
required to control a system. The control elements decide what action to take when it
receives an error signal"
10. 9. What are the types of control elements? There are two types of control elements. They
are a. Hard – wired systems b. Programmable systems.
11. 10. What are the various elements of a closed loop system for a person controlling the
temperature? The various elements of a closed loop system are, 1. Controlled variable 2.
Comparison element 3. Error signal 4. Control unit 5. Measuring device For example,
Controlled variable - The room temperature Reference value (The required room
temperature) Comparison element - The person comparing the measured value with the
required value of temperature. Error signal - The difference between the measured and
 required temperatures Control unit - The person Correction unit - The switch on the fire
Process - The heating by the fire Measuring device - A thermometer
12. 11. Write about the Mechatronics approach in a micro-processor – controlled washing
machine? In the microprocessor-controlled washing machine, a mechanical system has
become integrated with electronic controls. As a consequence, a bulky mechanical system is
replaced by a much more compact microprocessor system, which is readily adjustable to give
a greater variety of programs.
13. 12. What is the larger scale application of Mechatronics? A larger scale application of
Mechatronics is a Flexible Manufacturing engineering System (FMS) involving computer –
controlled machines, robots, automatic material conveying and overall supervisory control.
13. List some of the applications of Mechatronics? 1. Home Appliances: Washing machine,
Bread machines etc 2. Automobile: Electrical fuel injection, Antilock brake system 3. Aircraft:
Flight control, Navigation system 4. Automated Manufacturing
14. 14. What are the components of Mechatronics System? 1. Actuators 2. Sensors 3. Signal
Conditioning units 4. Digital control devices 5. Graphical Displays
15. 15. What is meant by a system in Mechatronics? The System is the group of physical
component combined to perform a specific function. Any mechatronics devices consists of
systems
16. 16. What are the main applications of mechatronics? Washing machines, dish washers, micro
ovens, cameras, camcorders, robots, automatic conveyors, computercontrolled machines
17. Draw the block diagram of measurement system. Quantity value measured Transducer or
Sensor Signal Processor Recorder ฀
17. 18. Sketch the graphical representation of mechatronics system. Mechanical System
Graphical Displays.
18. LEDs LCD Digital Display CRT Output Signal Conditioning and interfacing D/A,D/D
Amplifier Power Transistor
19. 19. Obtain the basic functions of control systems. 1. To minimize the error between the
actual and desired output 2. To minimize the time response to load changes in the system
20. What are the types of control system? Open loop system Closed loop system
20. 21. List down the requirements of control systems. Stability Accuracy Response
21. 22. Give an example for open loop system and closed loop systems. 1. Closed loop system –
Automatic water level controller 2. open loop system - Electric fire
22. 23. Compare open loop control system and closed loop control system. Open loop systems
Closed loop systems It is suitable where accurate positioning of the tools is not required
System is very simple It is suitable for rough works Error is not currently checked and
rectified The feedback signal controls the table position accurately Is used almost in all
automation process Its not suitable for rough works Error is currently checked and
rectified
23. 24. What are the basic elements of feedback system? Forward path Feedback path Error
detecting device Amplifier Compensating network
24. 25. What is meant by sequential control what are the two modes in it? A system operating
with sequential control is one where a set of prescribed operations are performed in
sequence. The modes are, Event – based mode, Time – based mode
25. 25. Give an example for event-based and time–based sequential control. Time-based Water
Heater Event-based Domestic washing machine
1. What is the purpose of a sensor? Sensor is used for an element which produces a signal relating to
the quantity being measured. I.e., an lectrical resistance temperature element, the quantity being
measured is temperature and the sensor transforms an input of temperature into a change in
resistance.

2. Define transducer? The term transducer is often used in place of the term sensor. Transducer is
defined as elements that when subject to some physical change experience a related change. Thus,
sensors are transducers.

3. What are the terms that define the performance of the transducers? 1. Range and span 2. Error 3.
Accuracy 4. Sensitivity 5. Hysteresis error 6. Non – linearity error 7. Repeatability / reproducibility 8.
Stability 9. Dead band / time 10. Resolution 11. Output impedance.

4. Define static characteristics? The static characteristics are the values given when the steady –
state conditions occur. i.e., the values given when the transducer has settled down after having
received some input.

5. Define dynamic characteristics? The dynamic characteristics refer to the behavior between the
time that the input value changes and the times that the value given by the transducer settles down
to the steady – state value. Dynamic characteristics are stated in terms of the response of the
transducer to inputs in particular forms.

6. What are the terms that you can find from the dynamic characteristics? 1. Response time. 2. Time
constant. 3. Rise time 4. Settling time.

7. What is a displacement sensor? Displacement sensors are concerned with the measurement of
the amount by which some object has been moved.

8. What is a position sensor? Position sensors are concerned with the determination of the position
of some object with reference to some reference point.

9. What is a proximity sensor? Proximity sensors are a form of position sensor and are used to
determine when an object has moved to within some particular critical distance of the sensor.

10. What are the two basic types of the displacement and the position transducers? The two basic
types are, 1. Contact sensors 2. Non contact sensors.

11. Write about the strain – gauged element? The electrical resistance strain gauge is a metal wire,
metal foil strip, or a strip of semiconductor material, which is wafer – like and can be stuck onto
surfaces like a postage stamp.

12. Define gauge factor. The gauge factor is defined as the ratio of per unit change in resistance to
per unit change in length. Gauge factor Gf= ΔR/R/ΔL/L

13. Write about the gauge factors for different types of strain gauges? The gauge factor of metal wire
or foil strain gauges with the metals generally used is about 2.0. Silicon p – and n – type
semiconductor strain gauges have gauge factors of about + 100 or more for p- type silicon and – 100
or more for n – type silicon.
14. What is the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor? The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor
is given by, C = εA/d = εrεoA/d Where ε = Permitivity of the medium/m εr= Relative permitivity εo=
Permitivity of the free space = 8.85x10-12F/m A = Area of plates D = Distance between two plates

15. Define LVDT? The Linear Variable Differential Transformer consists of three coils symmetrically
spaced along an insulated tube. The central coil is the primary coil and the other two are identical
secondary coils, which are connected in series in such a way that their outputs oppose each other.
16. Determine the working Principle of LVDT? When there is an alternating voltage input to the
primary coil, alternating e.m.f.s are induced in the secondary coils. With the magnetic core central,
the amount of magnetic material in each of the secondary coil is the same.

17. What are the uses of LVDT? The uses are as follows. a. Widely used as primary transducers for
monitoring displacements. b. Also used as secondary transducers in the measurement of force,
weight and pressure.

18. Write about inductive proximity switch? Inductive proximity switch consists of a coil wound
round a core. When the end of the coil is close to a metal object is inductance changes. This change
can be monitored by its effect on a resonant circuit and the change used to trigger a switch. It can
only be used for the detection of metal objects and is best with ferrous metals.

19. What is an encoder? An encoder is a device that provides a digital output as a result of a linear or
angular displacement.

20. What are the two types of position encoders? The two types of position encoders are, a.
Incremental encoders b. Absolute encoders.

21. What is an incremental encoder? An incremental encoder is used for the measurement of
angular displacement. A beam of light passes through slots in a disc and is detected by a suitable
light sensor. When the disc is rotated, the sensor produces a pulsed output with the number of
pulses being proportional to the angle through which the disc is rotated. Hence, the angular position
of the disc is determined.

22. Write about absolute encoder? An absolute encoder is used for the measurement of angular
displacement. This gives an output in the form of a binary number of several digits, each such
number representing a particular angular position. The rotating disc has three concentric circles of
slots and three sensors to detect the light pulses.

23. What are the uses of photosensitive devices? Photosensitive devices can be used to detect the
presence of an opaque object by it breaking a beam of light or infrared radiation, falling on such a
device or by detecting the light reflected back by the object.

24. Write about Hall effect sensors? When a beam of charged particles passes through a magnetic
field, forces act on the particles and the beam is deflected from its straight line path. A current
flowing in a conductor is like a beam of moving charges and thus can be deflected by a magnetic
field.

25. What is Hall co-efficient? The transverse potential difference is given by, V = KHBI Where, b KH =
Hall co-efficient B = Magnetic flux density at right angles to the plate, I = Current

26. What are digital signals? Digital signals are discrete time signals in that they are not continuous
functions of time but exist at only discrete times.
27. Why the signal conditioning is required? Signal conditioning of analogue signals requires
components such as amplifiers filter circuits and digital signal microprocessor

What the operations that are carried out with a PLC on data words? The operations that are carried
out with a PLC on data words are, a. Moving data b. Comparison of magnitudes of data c. Arithmetic
operations such as addition and subtraction d. Conversions between binary coded decimal (BCD),
binary and octal.

18. What is the criteria need for the selection of a PLC? The criteria needed for the selection of a PLC
are the following. a. Input/output capacity is required. b. Types of inputs/outputs are required. c. Size
of memory required. d. Speed and power is required for the CPU.

19. What are the numbers of stages in the design process? The design process can be considered as a
number of stages. They are, a. The need b. Analysis of the problem c. Preparation of a specification d.
Generation of possible solutions e. Selections of a suitable solution f. Production of a detailed design
g. Production of working drawings.

20. What are the advantages of the microprocessor controlled system? The microprocessor
controlled system can cope easily with giving precision and programmed control. The system is much
more flexible. This improvement in flexibility is a common characteristic of Mechatronics systems
when compared with traditional systems.

21. What is the advantage of using PLC solution over mechanical solution? A PLC solution could
involve the arrangement with the given ladder program. This would have the advantage over the
rotating cam of having off and on times which can be adjusted by purely changing the timer preset
values in the program whereas a different cam is needed if the times have to be changed with the
mechanical solution.

22. What are the axes of a pick and place robot? The robot has three axes about which motion can
occur. a. Rotation in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction of the unit on its base. b. Arm
extension or contraction and arm up or down. c. Gripper can open or close.

23. How do the movements of robot take place?

Clockwise rotation of the unit might result from the piston in a cylinder being extended and the
counter clockwise direction by its retraction. Likewise the upward movement of the arm might result
from the piston in a linear cylinder being extended and the downward motion from it retracting, the
extension of the arm by the piston in another cylinder extending and its return movement by the
piston retracting.

24. What is the use of PLC in automatic car park system? An illustration of the use of a PLC in the coin
operated barriers for a car park. The in-barrier is to open when the correct money is inserted in the
collection box and the out – barrier is to open when a car is detected at the car park side of the
barrier.
25. How does a car park barrier works? When a current flows through the solenoid of valve, the
piston in a cylinder moves upwards and causes the barrier to rotate about its pivot and rise to let a
car through.

26. Write about the engine speed sensor? The engine speed sensor is an inductive sensor and
consists of a coil for which the inductance changes as the teeth of the sensor wheel pass it and so
results in an oscillating voltage.