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Topics
a

Mechatronics?
Design process
Systems
Measurement systems
Control Systems
PLC

Topics
a

Mechatronics:
Electronic control systems in
mechanical
and
electrical
engineering (5th Edition)
by W. Bolton (Author)
ISBN-13:
978-0273742869
ISBN-10: 0273742868
RM92
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Mechatronics
The name [mechatronics] was coined by Ko Kikuchi, now president of
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 mechanism

(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, Yasakawa Internal Trademark Application Memo,
21.131.01, July 12, 1969.

Mechanics

mecha
Mechatronics

Eletronics

tronics

Mechatronics
Mechatronics is a design philosophy, an integrating approach to
engineering
Brings together areas of technology involving sensors &
measurement system, drive & actuation, and microprocessor
systems

Mechatronics
Examples of mechatronics systems
Autofocus, auto-exposure camera ~ the camera will adjust such that the
object is in focus, further will set the correct aperture and shutter speed for
correct exposure
Suspension ~ adjusting the uneven loading to maintain a level platform

Design process
Design process
The need ~ customer / clients, market research
Analysis of the problem ~ find out the problem (problem statement)
Preparation of a spec ~ desirable features etc
Generation of possible solutions ~ conceptual stage (sizes, shapes, materials
& costs)
Selection of possible solution ~ model and simulate
Production of a detailed design ~ prototypes or mock-ups to determine
optimum design
Production of working drawings ~ working drawings, circuit diagrams

Traditional design vs mechatronics design

Systems
Systems
Create a model of the system such that predictions can be made
A box or block diagram with an input & an output
Modelling ~ represents the behaviour of a real system by mathematical
functions (F = kx)

Systems
System Modelling
Spring ~ F = kx

kettle

Systems
Connected systems
CD player

Measurement systems
In general, can be made up of three elements:
Sensor ~ responds to quantity being measured by giving as its
output a signal which related to its quantity
Signal conditioner ~ signal from sensor and manipulates it into a
condition which is suitable for display, or to exercise control
Display ~ display the output from signal conditioner

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Control systems
Can be thought of s a system which can be used to:
Control some variables to some particular value ~ aircond unit,
temperature is controlled to a particular value
Control a sequence of events ~ washing machine
Control whether an event occurs or not ~ safety lock on a
machine

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Control systems
Feedback
Signals are fed back from the output

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Control systems
Open- & closed-loop systems
Toaster, fire heating system
Motor, loaded or unloaded

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Control systems
Basic elements of a closed-loop system
Comparison element ~ Error signal = reference value signal measured
value signal

Control element ~ To decide what action to be taken next

Correction element ~ produces a change in the process to correct or change
the controlled condition
Process element ~ what being control
Measurement element ~ produces a signal related to the variable condition
of the process being controlled

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Control systems
Room temperature control
Controlled variable ~ the room temp
Reference value ~ required room temp
comparison element ~ the person who does the comparison between
required & measured temp
Error signal ~ diff between required & measured temp
Control unit ~ the person
Correction unit ~ the switch
Process ~ the blower
Measuring device ~ a thermometer

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Control systems
Water level control
Controlled variable ~ water level in the tank
Reference value ~ initial setting of the float
comparison element ~ the lever
Error signal ~ diff between actual & initial
Control unit ~ the pivoted lever
Correction unit ~ the flap opening or closing the water supply
Process ~ the water level in the tank
Measuring device ~ the floating ball and lever

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Control systems
Water level control
Control unit ~ the pivoted lever
Correction unit ~ the flap opening or closing the water supply
Process ~ the water level in the tank
Measuring device ~ the floating ball and lever

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Control systems
Shaft speed control
Controlled variable ~ speed of rotation of the shaft
Reference value ~ setting of slider on potentiometer
comparison element ~ differential amplifier
Error signal ~ diff between o/p from potentiometer & from tachogenerator

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Control systems
Shaft speed control
Control unit ~ the diff amp
Correction unit ~ the motor
Process ~ rotating shaft
Measuring device ~ tachometer

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Control systems
Analogue systems are ones where all the signals are continuous
function of time..
Digital signals can be considered to be sequence of on/off signals,
the value of the variable represented by on/off pulses...

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Control systems
(a) The basic elements of a digital closed-loop control system, (b) a microcontroller control
system

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Control systems
Measurement devices are often required to measure the following
variables for data-acquisition and control purposes:
Position, velocity, acceleration.
Force, torque, strain, pressure.
Temperature.
Flow rate.
Humidity

A sensor is placed in an environment where a variable is to be

measured, and works according to the following basic concepts:
The change or absolute value in the measured physical variable (eg.
pressure, temperature,displacement) is translated into a change in the
property of the sensor (ex. Resistance, capacitance, magnetic coupling).
This is called transduction.
The change in the property of the sensor is translated into a low-powerlevel electrical signal in the form of voltage or current.
This low-power-signal is amplified, conditioned, and transmitted to an
intelligent device for processing.
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Control systems
Digitising Shaft speed control

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Control systems
Sequential controllers
After step1 is complete, then step2 starts. When step2 is complete then step3
starts, etc
Is used when actions are strictly ordered in a time- or event-driven
By using sets of relays, or cam-operated switches

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Control systems
Sequential controllers
Hard wired are now been replaced by microprocessor-controlled system

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Examples
Autofocus

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Examples
Engine management system
Four-stroke sequence

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Examples
Engine management system
Elements of an engine management system

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