Mechatronics
Mechatronics can be defined as a rapidly developing interdisciplinary field of engineering dealing with the design of products whose function relies on the integration of mechanical and electronic components coordinated by a control architecture.
The primary disciplines that are important in the design of mechatronic system include mechanics, electronics, controls and computer engineering. A mechatronic system engineer must be able to design and select analog and digital circuits, microprocessor-based components, mechanical devices, sensors, actuators, and controls so that the final product achieve a desired goal.
Mechatronic systems are sometimes referred to as smart devices, meaning that, they include elements such as logic, feedback and computation that in a complex design may appear to simulate human thinking process.
Presently, most mechanical devices include electronic components and some means of computer monitoring and control. Increasingly, microcontrollers are embedded in electromechanical devices creating much more flexibility and control possibilities in system design.
Examples of mechatronic systems include:
- Automated manufacturing equipment e.g. robots and numerically controlled (NC) machine tools.
- Aircraft flight control and navigation system.
- Smart kitchen and home appliances like clothes washing machines.
- Automobile airbag safety system and antilock brake systems.
Components in a typical Mechatronic System
Let’s consider the figure below:
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The actuators produce motion or cause some action, the sensors detect the state of the system parameters, Inputs and, outputs; digital devices control the system; conditioning and interfacing circuits provide connections between the control circuits and the input/output devices; and graphical display provide visual feedback to users.
You can also read: What is Motion Control?
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