mechatronics
Chapter one
Introducing Mechatronics
Objectives
The objectives of this chapter are that, after studying it, the reader should be able to:
Explain what is meant by mechatronics and appreciate its relevance in engineering design.
Explain what is meant by a system and define the elements of measurement systems.
Describe the various forms and elements of open-loop and closed-loop control systems.
Recognise the need for models of systems in order to predict their behaviour.
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1.1
What is mechatronics? The term mechatronics was ‘invented’ by a Japanese engineer in 1969, as a combination of ‘mecha’ from mechanisms and ‘tronics’ from electronics.
The word now has a wider meaning, being used to describe a philosophy in engineering technology in which there is a co-ordinated, and concurrently developed, integration of mechanical engineering with electronics and intelligent computer control in the design and manufacture of products and processes. As a result, mechatronic products have many mechanical functions replaced with electronic ones. This results in much greater flexibility, easy redesign and reprogramming, and the ability to carry out automated data collection and reporting.
A mechatronic system is not just a marriage of electrical and mechanical systems and is more than just a control system; it is a complete integration of all of them in which there is a concurrent approach to the design. In the design of cars, robots, machine tools, washing machines, cameras, and very many other machines, such an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to engineering design is increasingly being adopted. The integration across the traditional boundaries of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics and control engineering has to occur at the earliest stages of the design process if cheaper, more reliable, more flexible systems are to be developed. Mechatronics has to involve a concurrent approach to these disciplines rather than a sequential approach
Introducing Mechatronics
Objectives
The objectives of this chapter are that, after studying it, the reader should be able to:
Explain what is meant by mechatronics and appreciate its relevance in engineering design.
Explain what is meant by a system and define the elements of measurement systems.
Describe the various forms and elements of open-loop and closed-loop control systems.
Recognise the need for models of systems in order to predict their behaviour.
●
●
●
●
1.1
What is mechatronics? The term mechatronics was ‘invented’ by a Japanese engineer in 1969, as a combination of ‘mecha’ from mechanisms and ‘tronics’ from electronics.
The word now has a wider meaning, being used to describe a philosophy in engineering technology in which there is a co-ordinated, and concurrently developed, integration of mechanical engineering with electronics and intelligent computer control in the design and manufacture of products and processes. As a result, mechatronic products have many mechanical functions replaced with electronic ones. This results in much greater flexibility, easy redesign and reprogramming, and the ability to carry out automated data collection and reporting.
A mechatronic system is not just a marriage of electrical and mechanical systems and is more than just a control system; it is a complete integration of all of them in which there is a concurrent approach to the design. In the design of cars, robots, machine tools, washing machines, cameras, and very many other machines, such an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to engineering design is increasingly being adopted. The integration across the traditional boundaries of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics and control engineering has to occur at the earliest stages of the design process if cheaper, more reliable, more flexible systems are to be developed. Mechatronics has to involve a concurrent approach to these disciplines rather than a sequential approach