Mechatronics Overview

Question 1

Mechatronics engineering

Answer 1

the synergistic integration of elements of mechanical, electrical, control, and computer engineering
the integration must occur throughout the design and manufacturing process

Question 2

Mechatronic design

Answer 2

one that uses all the elements of mechatronic engineering to achieve the design objectives and/or a design that is in some way optimal

Question 3

What are the engineering approaches?

Answer 3

“Over-the-Wall Engineering”
Concurrent Engineering
Mechatronic Engineering

Question 4

Benefits of mechatronic engineering

Answer 4

shorter development cycles, lower costs, increased quality, increased reliability, increased performance, and increased benefits to the customer

Question 5

Measurement system

Answer 5

used to obtain measurements, its input is the quantity being measured and its output is the value of that quantity
consists of a combination of three smaller systems: sensor, signal conditioner, display
i.e. electronic thermometer

Question 6

Sensor

Answer 6

outputs a signal related to the quantity being measured

Question 7

Signal conditioner

Answer 7

manipulates the output signal from the sensor into a form suitable for inputting to the display system (i.e. amplification, filtering)

Question 8

Display

Answer 8

outputs the value of the quantity in a readable form

Question 9

Control system

Answer 9

the objective is to keep its output as close as possible to its reference input (setpoint)

Question 10

Elements of a control system

Answer 10

digital controller - microprocessor, memory, software, interface circuitry for inputting and outputting digital and analog signals (or a micro controller)
process - the system being controlled
actuator - alters the properties / behavior of the process
amplifier - boosts the output signal for use by the actuator

Question 11

Feedback / closed-loop control

Answer 11

the process output is measured by a sensor and fed back to the digital controller

Question 12

Open-loop control

Answer 12

the process output is not fed back to the digital controller

Question 13

Advantages of the distributed

control approach

Answer 13

• much greater reliability since there is less wiring and also because the failure of one μP is less critical
• improved performance since computing may be done in parallel and the data transmission delays are less
• often less expensive

Question 14

What are the conditions which if met would make a closed loop better then an open loop system

Answer 14

• a disturbance needs to change the output
• the changes in the input need to be small enough that the system can reach steady state
• The hardware needs to work properly
• The software needs to work properly
• the sensor needs to work