Basic

Mechatronics
By: Mark Anthony Alconcel
 Contents
Mechatronics
Basic Mechatronics systems and
components

Outlook Development
method.
Basic Mechatronics
“mechatronics”
where electronics means “hardware” and “software”
mechanics is the generic term for the disciplines of “mechanical
engineering” and “hydraulics”.
-The aim is to achieve a synergistic optimization of mechanical
engineering, electronic hardware and software in order to project more
functions at lower cost, less weight and installation space, and better
quality.
Mechatronic systems
and components
Applications
Mechatronic systems and components are now
present throughout almost the entire vehicle:
starting with engine-management systems and
injection systems for gasoline and diesel engines to
transmission control ,systems, electrical and
thermal energy management systems, through to a
wide variety of brake and driving dynamics
systems.
 Examples at system level
“X-by-wire” systems - A general trend is emerging in the further
development of systems for fully automatic
vehicle handling and steering

“Drive-by-wire” system -A system that was implemented long ago,

electronic throttle control.

“Brake-by-wire” system - replaces the hydromechanical

connection between the brake pedal and the wheel brake. Sensors
record the driver’s braking request and transmit this information
to an electronic control unit.
 Examples at component level
-Fuel injectors are crucial components in determining the future potential
of Diesel engine technology.

-Common-rail injectors are an excellent example of the fact that an

extremely high degree of functionality and, ultimately, customer utility can
only be achieved by controlling all the physical domains (electrodynamics,
mechanical engineering, fluid dynamics) to which these components are
subjected.

-Combining both measures mechatronically is it possible to achieve good

vibration resistance in driving mode. As well as reducing the weight by
approx. 15 %, the overall height is also reduced by approx. 20 %.
 Examples in the field of micromechanics

Another application for mechatronics is the area of

micromechanical sensor systems, with noteworthy
examples such as hot-film air-mass meters and yaw-
rate sensors.
Development methods
 Simulation
The special challenges that designers face when
developing mechatronic systems are the ever
shorter development times and the increasing
complexity of the systems. At the same time, it is
vital to ensure that the developments will result in
useful products.
-Recursions at each of the design levels
shorten the development stages significantly.

-Simulations, rapid prototyping, and

simultaneous engineering are tools that allow
rapid verification, and they create the
conditions for shortening product cycles.
 V model
The dependencies of the different product development phases are
illustrated in the “V model”: from requirement analysis to
development, implementation, testing and system deployment.

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Outlook
-The major driving force behind mechatronics is continuous
progress in the field of microelectronics. Mechatronics benefit
from computer technology in the form of ever more powerful
integrated computers in standard applications.

-However, future “X-by-wire” systems without the

mechanical/hydraulic fall back level must also provide the
prescribed functionality in the event of a problem. The
condition for their implementation is a high-reliability and high
availability mechatronic architecture which requires a “simple”
proof of safety. This affects both single components as well as
energy and signal transmissions.
 The design approaches of mechatronic systems should
strive toward continuity in several aspects:
Horizontal
“Simultaneous
engineering” across several
disciplines in order to deal Vertical
with all product-related “Top-down” from system
aspects at the same time simulation, with the objective of
overall optimization, through to
finite element simulation to
achieve a detailed understanding,
and “bottom-up” design
Beyond company engineering from component
testing through to system testing
boundaries
Step by step, the idea a
“virtual sample”
is nearing our grasp