Intro to Mechatronics

School: Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering

Course Name and Code: Introduction to Mechatronics (MEng 4204)

Instructor Name: Tatek Tafesse

Introduction to Mechatronics
 Definition of Mechatronics
Mechatronics basically
refers to mechanical
electronic systems and
normally described as a
synergistic combination of
mechanics, electrical,
electronics, computer and
control which, when
combined, make possible
the generation of simple,
more economic, and
reliable systems.
The term "mechatronics" was first assigned by Mr.
Tetsuro Mori, a
senior engineer of the Japanese company Yaskawa,
in 1969.
 Mechatronics Defined — I
• “The [mechatronics] was coined by Ko Kikuchi, now president of
name
Yasakawa Electric Co., Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo.”
– R. Comerford, “Mecha … what?” IEEE Spectrum, 31(8), 46-49, 1994.

• “The word, mechatronics is composed of mecha from mechanics and tronics

from electronics. In other words, technologies and developed products will be
incorporating electronics more and more into mechanisms, intimately and
organically, and making it impossible to tell where one ends and the other
begins.”
– T. Mori, “Mechatronics,” YasakawaInternal Trademark
Application Memo, 21.131.01, July 12, 1969.

Mechanics mecha
Mechatronics
Eletronics tronics
 Control Mechanica
Sensing code l Command
signal
Signalcomponents

Microprocess
Sensors
or or
Microcontroll
er Actuato
r
Parameter, Actuat
variables i on

PLANT

(Robot, Autonomous Guided vehicle, Numerical Controlled Machine,

Vehicle engines, Consumer products, Conveyor systems, Assembly
systems, Cranes, Defense equipments, Air craft engines, Other
machines,
consumer products, etc)

Physically, a mechatronic system is composed of four prime

components. They are sensors, actuators, controllers and
mechanical components. Figure shows a schematic diagram of
a mechatronic system integrated with all the above
components.
 Mechatronics: Working Definition for us

Mechatronics is the synergistic integration of sensors,

actuators, signal conditioning, power electronics, decision
and control algorithms, and computer hardware and
software to manage complexity, uncertainty, and
communication in engineered systems.

the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect
greater than the sum of their separate effects:
"the synergy between artist and record company"
 Product Realization Paradigm

• Engineered products frequently involve components from more than one

discipline
• Traditional product realization
– Discipline specific sequential process (design then manufacture)
– Drawback: cost overruns due to redesign/re-tooling
• A better but still deficient approach
– Discipline specific concurrent process (design for manufacturing)
– Bottleneck: sub-optimal integration
• Mechatronics based product realization exploits
– Integrated process founded upon interdisciplinary synergy
 Multi-/Cross-/Inter-Disciplinary

• Products and processes requiring inputs from more than

one discipline can be realized through following types of
interactions.
– Multi-disciplinary: This is an additive process of brining multiple
disciplines together to bear on a problem.
– Cross-disciplinary: In this process, one discipline is examined from
the perspective of another discipline.
– Inter-disciplinary: This is an integrative process involving two or
more disciplines simultaneously to bear on a problem.
Mechatronic Design Process
 Evolution of Mechatronics as a
Contemporary Design Paradigm

• Technological advances in design, manufacturing, and operation

of engineered products/devices/processes can be traced through:
– Industrial revolution
– Semiconductor revolution
– Information revolution
 Industrial Revolution

• Allowed design of products and processes for energy conversion and

transmission thus allowing the use of energy to do useful work.
• Engineering designs of this era were largely mechanical
– e.g., operations of motion transmission, sensing, actuation, and computation
were performed using mechanical components such as cams, gears, levers, and
linkages).
• Purely mechanical systems suffer from
– Power amplification inability.
– Energy losses due to tolerances, inertia, and friction.
 Examples of Predominantly Mechanical Designs

Float Valve
Bi-metallic Strip

Watt’s Governor
Cam Operated Switch
Thermostat
 Semiconductor Revolution
• Led to the creation of integrated circuit (IC) technology.
• Effective, miniaturized, power electronics could amplify and deliver
needed amount of power to actuators.
• Signal conditioning electronics could filter and encode sensory data in
analog/digital format.
• Hard-wired, on-board, discrete analog/digital ICs provided
rudimentary computational and decision-making circuits for control of
mechanical devices.

An Integrated Circuit An A2D Converter An Operational Amplifier

 Information Revolution
• Development of VLSI technology led to the introduction of microprocessor,
microcomputer, and microcontroller.
• Now computing hardware is ubiquitous, cheap, and small.
• As computing hardware can be effortlessly interfaced with real world
electromechanical systems, it is now routinely embedded in engineered
products/processes for decision-making.
– Microcontrollers are replacing precision mechanical components, e.g., precision-
machined camshaft that in many applications functions as a timing device.
– Programmability of microcontrollers is providing a versatile and flexible alternative to
the hard-wired analog/digital computational hardware.
– Integrated computer-electrical-mechanical devices are now capable of converting,
transmitting, and processing both the physical energy and the virtual energy
(information).
• Result: Highly efficient products and processes are now being developed by
judicious selection and integration of sensors, actuators, signal conditioning, power
electronics, decision and control algorithms, and computer hardware and software.
 Elements of Mechatronics—Mechanical

• Mechanical elements refer to

– mechanical structure, mechanism, thermo-fluid, and
hydraulic aspects of a mechatronics system.
• Mechanical elements may include static/dynamic characteristics.
• A mechanical element interacts with its environment purposefully.
• Mechanical elements require physical power to produce motion,
force, heat, etc.
 Machine Components: Basic Elements
Gear, rack, pinion, etc.

Cam and Follower

Chain and sprocket

Inclined plane wedge

Lever

Slider-Crank

Linkage Wheel/Axle Springs

 Elements of Mechatronics—Electromechanical
• Electromechanical elements refer to:
– Sensors
• A variety of physical variables can be measured using sensors, e.g., light using
photo-resistor, level and displacement using potentiometer, direction/tilt using
magnetic sensor, sound using microphone, stress and pressure using strain gauge,
touch using micro-switch, temperature using thermistor, and humidity using
conductivity sensor
– Actuators
• DC servomotor, stepper motor, relay, solenoid, speaker, light emitting diode (LED),
shape memory alloy, electromagnet, and pump apply commanded action on the
physical process

• IC-based sensors and actuators (digital-compass, -

potentiometer, etc.).

Flexiforce Sensor DC Motor Pneumatic Cylinder

 Elements of Mechatronics—Electrical/Electronic
• Electrical elements refer to:
– Electrical components (e.g., capacitor (C), inductor (L),
resistor (R), transformer, etc.), circuits, and
analog signals
• Electronic elements refer to:
– analog/digital electronics, transistors, thyristors, opto-isolators, operational
amplifiers, power electronics, and signal conditioning
• The electrical/electronic elements are used to interface
mechanical
electro- sensors and actuators to the control interface/computing
hardware elements
 Elements of Mechatronics—Control
Interface/Computing Hardware
• Control interface/computing hardware elements refer to:
– Analog-to-digital (A2D) converter, digital-to-analog (D2A) converter, digital
input/output (I/O), counters, timers, microprocessor, microcontroller, data
acquisition and control (DAC) board, and digital signal processing (DSP) board
• Control interface hardware allows analog/digital interfacing
– communication of sensor signal to the control computer and communication of
control signal from the control computer to the actuator
• Control computing hardware implements a control algorithm, which
uses sensor measurements, to compute control actions to be applied
by the actuator.
 Elements of Mechatronics—
Computer/Information System

• Computer elements refer to hardware/software utilized to perform:

– computer-aided dynamic system analysis, optimization, design, and simulation
– virtual instrumentation
– rapid control prototyping
– hardware-in-the-loop simulation
– PC-based data acquisition and control
 Elements of Mechatronics

• Typical for optimal design and operation of

knowledgebase
mechatronic systems comprises of:
– Dynamic system modeling and analysis
• Thermo-fluid, structural, hydraulic, electrical, chemical, biological, etc.
– Decision and control theory
– Sensors and signal conditioning
– Actuators and power electronics
– Data acquisition
• A2D, D2A, digital I/O, counters, timers, etc.
– Hardware interfacing
– Rapid control prototyping
– Embedded computing

Balance theory, simulation, hardware, and software

Key Elements of Mechatronics
 Mechatronics Applications
• Smart consumer products: home security, camera, microwave
oven, toaster, dish washer, laundry washer-dryer, climate control units,
etc.

• Medical: implant-devices, assisted surgery, haptic, etc.

• Defense: unmanned air, ground, and underwater vehicles,

smart munitions, jet engines, etc.

• Manufacturing: robotics, machines, processes, etc.

• Automotive: climate control, antilock brake, active suspension, cruise

control, air bags, engine management, safety, etc.

• Network-centric, distributed systems: distributed robotics,

tele- robotics, intelligent highways, etc.
Structural Control
 Home Automation

• Using a computer:
– Turn on the lights at
preset times
– Adjust brightness
– Turn on the heat at preset
times or temperatures
– Serve as a security
system
Robotics
Example 1 of Mechatronic Systems
Robot

Robot
examples

Robot sensors
Examples: 3 of Mechatronic Systems

program to track straight line

•program for collision avoidance in outside corridor
 Example: 4 of Mechatronic Systems

A computer disk drive is

an example of a
rotary mechatronic
system
• Requires
–Accurate positioning of
the magnetic read head
–Precise control of
media speed
–Extraction of digital data
from magnetic media
 Example: 5 of Mechatronic Systems
Washing Machine
• System Requirements
–Understanding of load
sizes
– Receptacle to hold
clothes
– ‘Plumbing’ (depth
measurement)
– Agitation of drum
– Ease of use,
Reliability
– Low Cost
• Actuators
– AC or DC Motors
– Water inlet/drain
• Sensors
– Water level
–
Example: 6 of Mechatronic Systems
Mechatronic is every where
Example: 7 of Mechatronic Systems
Mechatronic is every where
Example: 8 of Mechatronic Systems
Mechatronic is every where
Example: 9 of Mechatronic Systems
Mechatronic is every where
 Mechatronics @ Poly

Remote Robot Arm Manipulation

Remote Emergency Notification System

Type X
The Smart Walker
 Mechatronics @ Poly

Smart Irrigation System

Safe N Sound Driver

Remote Emergency
Notification System
Smart Cane
 Mechatronics Systems
Computers

Cars
Tools

Consumer Stealth Bomber

Electronics

High Speed Trains

MEMS
Micro to Macro
Applications
 Mechatronics Systems
-Manufacturing Applications-
Micro Factory
Micro Factory Drilling Unit
• Desktop sized Factory
• Build small parts with a small
factory
• Greatly reduces space, energy,
and materials
 Mechatronics Systems
-Manufacturing Applications-
CNC Bending
• Fully automated bending: load
sheet metal and the finished
bent parts come out
• Can bend complex shapes
 Mechatronics Systems
-Manufacturing Applications-

CNC Machining

Advantages
• Deliver the highest accuracies
• Can create very complex
shapes
 Mechatronics Systems
-Transportation Applications-
Automobiles
Typical Applications
• Brake-By-Wire system
• Steer-By-Wire
• Integrated vehicle dynamics
• Camless engines
• Integrated starter alternator

OEM Driven
• Reliability
• Reduced weight
• Fuel economy
• Manufacturing flexibility
• Design freedom
• Advanced safety features
• Cost
 Mechatronics Systems
- Door System/Module-

“Smart” Mirror motor-

unit pin-header “Smart”
Doorlock
CAM Bus

“Smart” Window Lift-unit Switchboard with

CAN Bus Gateway
Mechatronics Systems
-Seat System/Module-

Seat Harness Architecture showing various

smart connector interconnections solutions
 Mechatronics Systems
-Transportation Applications-
High Speed Trains
• Train Position and Velocity
constantly monitored from
main command center.
• Error margin in scheduling
no more than 30 seconds
JR-Maglev
• Fastest trains use magnetic Top Speed: 574 km/h (357 mph)
levitation Country: Japan

Magnetic Levitation

Transrapid
Top Speed: 550 km/h (340 mph)
Country: German
 Mechatronics Systems
-Transportation Applications-

Systems Uses Segway

• Tilt and pressure sensors
• Microcontroller
• Motors
• Onboard power source

Advantages
• Simple and
intuitive personal
transportation
device
 Mechatronics Systems
-Smart Robotics Application-
BigDog

System Can
• Carry 340 lb Advantages
• Run 4 mph • Robot with rough-terrain mobility that could
• Climb, run, and walk carry equipment to remote location.
• Move over rough terrain
 Mechatronics Systems
-Smart Robotics Aplications-

Vacuum Floors
• Robots can vacuum floors and
clean gutters so you don't have
to.

Cleans Gutter
 Mechatronics Systems
-Space Exploration Application-
Phoenix Mars Lander's

System Can
• Collect specimens
• Has automated onboard
lab for testing specimens

Advantages
• Robot that can travel to other
planets and take
measurements automatically.
 Mechatronics Systems
-Medical Applications-

Prosthetics
• Arms, Legs, and other body
parts can be replaced with
electromechanical ones.
 Mechatronics Systems
-Medical Applications-
Pace Maker
• Used by patients with slow or
erratic heart rates. The
pacemaker will set a normal
heart rate when it sees an
irregular heart rhythm.

Implantable Defibrillation
• Monitors the heart. If heart
fibrillates or stops completely it
will shock the heart at high
voltage to restore a normal heart
rhythm.
 Mechatronics Systems
-Defense Applications-

• Advanced technology is making

our soldiers safer. Stealth Bomber
• Some planes can now be flown
remotely.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

 Mechatronics Systems
-Sanitation Applications-

System Uses
• Proximity sensors
• Control circuitry
• Electromechanical valves
• Independent power
source

Advantages
• Reduces spread of germs by making
device hands free
• Reduces wasted water by
automatically turning off when not in
 Mechatronics Systems
-Sanitation Applications-
Systems Uses
• Motion sensors Paper Towel Dispenser
• Control circuitry
• Electromechanical
actuators
• Independent power
source
Soap Dispenser

Advantages
• Reduces spread of germs by making
device hands free
• Reduces wasted materials by
controlling how much is dispensed
 Mechatronics Systems
-Sports Applications-
Running Shoes

Advantages
• Automatically changes
cushioning in shoe for
different running styles and
conditions for improved
comfort
 Mechatronics Systems
-Smart Home Applications-

Solution Power Supply

Washing Machine
Rectifiers/Regulator

Pressure Sensor
MPX5006/MPX2010
Mechatronics Systems
-Smart Home Applications-

Smoke Detector System

That’s all for today !!
If you have any qustion?
Thank you for your attantion !!