Mechatronics

Mechatronics, also called mechatronics engineering, is an

interdisciplinary branch of engineering that focuses on the
integration of mechanical, electronic and electrical engineering
systems, and also includes a combination of robotics, electronics,
computer science, telecommunications, systems, control, and
product engineering.[1][2]

As technology advances over time, various subfields of engineering

have succeeded in both adapting and multiplying. The intention of
mechatronics is to produce a design solution that unifies each of Mechatronic system
these various subfields. Originally, the field of mechatronics was
intended to be nothing more than a combination of mechanics and
electronics, hence the name being a portmanteau of mechanics and electronics; however, as the complexity
of technical systems continued to evolve, the definition had been broadened to include more technical
areas.

The word mechatronics originated in Japanese-English and was created by Tetsuro Mori, an engineer of
Yaskawa Electric Corporation. The word mechatronics was registered as trademark by the company in
Japan with the registration number of "46-32714" in 1971. The company later released the right to use the
word to the public, and the word began being used globally. Currently the word is translated into many
languages and is considered an essential term for advanced automated industry.[3]

Many people treat mechatronics as a modern buzzword synonymous with automation, robotics and
electromechanical engineering.[4]

French standard NF E 01-010 gives the following definition: "approach aiming at the synergistic
integration of mechanics, electronics, control theory, and computer science within product design and
manufacturing, in order to improve and/or optimize its functionality".[5]

Contents
Description
Course structure
Applications
Physical implementations
Variant of the field
Internet of things
See also
References
Sources
Further reading
External links
Description
A mechatronics engineer unites the principles
of mechanics, electronics, and computing to
generate a simpler, more economical and
reliable system.
The term "mechatronics" was
coined by Tetsuro Mori, the senior engineer of
the Japanese company Yaskawa in 1969. An
industrial robot is a prime example of a
mechatronics system; it includes aspects of
electronics, mechanics, and computing to do
its day-to-day jobs.

Engineering cybernetics deals with the

question of control engineering of mechatronic
systems. It is used to control or regulate such a
system (see control theory). Through
collaboration, the mechatronic modules
perform the production goals and inherit
flexible and agile manufacturing properties in
the production scheme. Modern production
Aerial Euler diagram from RPI's website describes the
equipment consists of mechatronic modules
fields that make up mechatronics
that are integrated according to a control
architecture. The most known architectures
involve hierarchy, polyarchy, heterarchy, and hybrid. The methods for achieving a technical effect are
described by control algorithms, which might or might not utilize formal methods in their design. Hybrid
systems important to mechatronics include production systems, synergy drives,
planetary exploration
rovers, automotive subsystems such as anti-lock braking systems and spin-assist, and everyday equipment
such as autofocus cameras, video, hard disks, CD players and phones.

Course structure
Mechatronics students take courses in various fields:

Engineering Mathematics
Mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering
Electronics engineering
Electrical engineering
Computer engineering (software & hardware engineering)
Computer science
Systems engineering
Control engineering
Robotics
Project Management

Applications
 Machine vision
Automation and robotics
Servo-mechanics
Sensing and control systems
Automotive engineering, automotive equipment in the
design of subsystems such as anti-lock braking systems
Building automation / Home automation
Computer-machine controls, such as computer driven
Applied mechatronics
machines like CNC milling machines, CNC waterjets,
and CNC plasma cutters
Expert systems
Industrial goods
Consumer products
Mechatronics systems
Medical mechatronics, medical imaging systems
Structural dynamic systems
Transportation and vehicular systems
Mechatronics as the new language of the automobile
Computer aided and integrated manufacturing systems
Computer-aided design
Engineering and manufacturing systems
Packaging
Microcontrollers / PLCs
Microprocessors
Biomechatronics

Physical implementations
Mechanical modeling calls for modeling and simulating physical complex phenomena in the scope of a
multi-scale and multi-physical approach. This implies to implement and to manage modeling and
optimization methods and tools, which are integrated in a systemic approach.
The specialty is aimed for
students in mechanics who want to open their mind to systems engineering, and able to integrate different
physics or technologies, as well as students in mechatronics who want to increase their knowledge in
optimization and multidisciplinary simulation techniques.
The specialty educates students in robust and/or
optimized conception methods for structures or many technological systems, and to the main modeling and
simulation tools used in R&D. Special courses are also proposed for original applications (multi-materials
composites, innovating transducers and actuators, integrated systems, …) to prepare the students to the
coming breakthrough in the domains covering the materials and the systems.
For some mechatronic
systems, the main issue is no longer how to implement a control system, but how to implement actuators.
Within the mechatronic field, mainly two technologies are used to produce movement/motion.

Variant of the field

An emerging variant of this field is biomechatronics, whose purpose is to integrate mechanical parts with a
human being, usually in the form of removable gadgets such as an exoskeleton. This is the "real-life"
version of cyberware.
Another variant is Motion control for Advanced Mechatronics, presently recognized as a key technology in
mechatronics. The robustness of motion control will be represented as a function of stiffness and a basis for
practical realization. Target of motion is parameterized by control stiffness which could be variable
according to the task reference. The system robustness of motion always requires very high stiffness in the
controller.[6]

Avionics is also considered a variant of mechatronics as it combines several fields such as electronics and
telecom with Aerospace engineering.

Internet of things
The Internet of things (IoT) is the inter-networking of physical devices, embedded with electronics,
software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity which enable these objects to collect and exchange
data.

IoT and mechatronics are complementary. Many of the smart components associated with the Internet of
Things will be essentially mechatronic. The development of the IoT is forcing mechatronics engineers,
designers, practitioners and educators to research the ways in which mechatronic systems and components
are perceived, designed and manufactured. This allows them to face up to new issues such as data security,
machine ethics and the human-machine interface.[7]

See also
Cybernetics
Control theory
Ecomechatronics
Electromechanics
Materials engineering
Mechanical engineering technology
Robotics
Systems engineering
Biomechatronics

References
1. Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. "Mechatronics Engineering" (https://uwaterloo.c
a/mechanical-mechatronics-engineering/future-undergraduate-students/mechatronics-engin
eering). Future undergraduate students. University of Waterloo. Retrieved 21 November
2019.
2. Faculty of Mechatronics, Informatics and Interdisciplinary Studies TUL. "Mechatronics (Bc.,
Ing., PhD.)" (http://mechatronics.tul.cz). Retrieved 15 April 2011.
3. Msc. Mechatronics and Automation Engineering, University of Strathclyde Glasgow,
Institution of Engineering and Technology, United Kingdom. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
4. Lawrence J. Kamm (1996). Understanding Electro-Mechanical Engineering: An Introduction
to Mechatronics. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-7803-1031-5.
5. Bolton, W. Mechatronics. Pearson, 6th edition, 2015. ISBN 9781292076683
6. ″Motion Control and Advanced Mechatronics″ (http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?ar
number=491410).
 7. Bradley, David; Russell, David; Ferguson, Ian (March 2015). "The Internet of Things-The
future or the end of mechatronics". Mechatronics. 27: 57–74.
doi:10.1016/j.mechatronics.2015.02.005 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.mechatronics.2015.0
2.005). hdl:10059/1355 (https://hdl.handle.net/10059%2F1355).

Sources
Bradley, Dawson et al., Mechatronics, Electronics in products and processes, Chapman and
Hall Verlag, London, 1991.
Karnopp, Dean C., Donald L. Margolis, Ronald C. Rosenberg, System Dynamics: Modeling
and Simulation of Mechatronic Systems, 4th Edition, Wiley, 2006. ISBN 0-471-70965-4
Bestselling system dynamics book using bond graph approach.
Cetinkunt, Sabri, Mechatronics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2007 ISBN 9780471479871
James J. Nutaro (2010). Building software for simulation: theory and algorithms, with
applications in C++. Wiley.
Zhang, Jianhua . Mechatronics and Automation Engineering. Proceedings of the
International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation Engineering (ICMAE2016).
Xiamen, China, 2016.

Further reading
Bishop, Robert H., Mechatronics: an introduction (https://books.google.com/books?id=CTfQ
PQRooMgC). CRC Press, 2006.
De Silva, Clarence W., Mechatronics: an integrated approach (https://books.google.com/boo
ks?id=CjB2ygeR95cC). CRC Press, 2005
Onwubolu, Godfrey C., Mechatronics: principles and applications (https://books.google.com/
books?id=bgK8kCMpD_YC). Butterworth-Heinemann, 2005.
Rankers, Adrian M., Machine Dynamics in Mechatronic Systems (http://www.mechatronics-a
cademy.nl/Machine%20Dynamics%20in%20Mechatronic%20Systems%20-%20Adrian%20
M.%20Rankers.pdf). University Twente, 1997

External links
IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics. (http://www.ieee-asme-mechatronics.org/)
Mechatronics Journal (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/933/d
escription) – Elsevier
mechatronic applications and realisation (http://www.cedrat.com/en/publications/categories/
device-systems/systems/mechatronics.html) List of publications concerning examples
Institution of Mechanical Engineers - Mechatronics, Informatics and Control Group (MICG) (h
ttp://www.imeche.org/get-involved/special-interest-groups/mechatronics-informatics-and-con
trol-group)
NF E 01-010 2008 – AFNOR (French standard NF E 01-010 (http://www.thesame-innovatio
n.com/Publi/Fichier/NF%20E%2001-010_draft_translation.pdf))
XP E 01-013 2009 – AFNOR (French standard NF E 01-013)

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This page was last edited on 19 January 2022, at 19:32 (UTC).