Ministry of Education

Test Blueprint for Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions’ Exit

Examination

Program: - Mechatronics Engineering in BSc.

Prepared By:
Mr. Aleligne Yohannes, MSc, Wollo University (KOIT)
Mr. Aleme Addisie, MSc, Wollo University (KOIT)
Mr. Tariku Bewketu, MSc, Wollo University (KOIT)

July 2022
Kombolcha Institute of Technology
Ethiopia
 Contents
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3

1.1. Objectives of the Exit Examination ......................................................................................... 4

1.2. Significance of the Document .................................................................................................. 4
2. Expected Profiles of Graduates’ ...................................................................................................... 5

3. Competencies and Learning Outcomes ........................................................................................... 6

3.1. Competencies ........................................................................................................................... 6

3.2. Learning Outcomes ................................................................................................................ 13
4. Selected course for Exit Exam of Mechatronics Engineering ....................................................... 16

5. Leaning out come codes and Test Blueprint ................................................................................. 17

5.1. Leaning out come codes ......................................................................................................... 17

5.2. Test blue print......................................................................................................................... 20
6. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 25

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 1. Introduction

In this 21st century, the global economy demands more and more polymaths. Research has shown
that people with multiple interests and cross-disciplinary expertise are more likely to be successful.
Even employers prefer techies with cross-disciplinary skills. It is hard to find a product in today’s
world which is entirely electronic, electrical or mechanical in nature. This means that today’s
product is a blend of different engineering subjects. Mechatronics Engineering is a blend of
different engineering disciplines and so the demand for Mechatronics Engineers is growing day by
day.
Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field of science that integrates the principles of mechanical
engineering, electronics, computer engineering (software & hardware engineering),
telecommunications engineering, systems engineering and control engineering into a unified
discipline while keeping the core mechanical engineering education.
The program allows engineers to design, construct and run industrial production lines and
automated processes, where they use their skills in computers, micro-controller, program logic
controller-based programming, industrial sensors, hydraulic, pneumatic and electric drives, in
combination the domain knowledge in design of mechanical structures & mechanisms and
knowledge of manufacturing process. There is immense scope for this course in the present
scenario for various automated industrial application main advantage after the completion of this
course is that it is not constrained to work in the field o Mechatronics alone, but also equal
opportunities in the other areas such as Mechanical Electrical, Systems, Computer engineering etc.
Mechatronics engineers have distinct personalities. They tend to be an investigative individual,
which means they are intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical,
rational, analytical, and logical. Some of them are also realistic, meaning they are independent,
stable, persistent, genuine, practical, and thrifty.
Mechatronics engineers should be:
 Enjoy technical and engineering activities
 Strong communication and interpersonal skills
 Able to work independently as well as part of a team
 Able to think creatively and analytically to solve problems and work with abstract ideas.
 Interested in mathematics, physics and mechanical equipment, such as robotic and
production equipment.

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  Be attentive to detail.
 Willing to continue to learn throughout your career.
 Good project management skills.
To assure those professionals, an exit exam may help a university make pertinent decisions to
improve the quality of institution-wide education and, in some cases, can help assess the standard
of education in specific courses. Exit exams are also regarded as helpful in instituting a system of
accountability and transparency through which students, instructors, higher education
institutions, and academic leaders can be measured for their success or failure, based on student
outcomes.

1.1. Objectives of the Exit Examination

The national public administration exit exam shall have the following objectives
 To produce skilled and competent manpower to national and international market
 Assessing students’ educational achievement in major areas of Mechatronics
Engineering.
 Ensuring whether the graduation profile of the Mechatronics Engineering curriculum has
achieved at least common standards of knowledge and practical skills.
 Improving stakeholders’ trust and confidence in Mechatronics Engineering activities of
professionals.
 Facilitating the efforts of students to revise the core learning outcomes of the courses
covered by the exit examination.
 Ensuring all graduates from HEIs satisfy the requirements of the labor market and
employability through the national wide implementation of competency-based exit
exam.
 Creating competitive spirit among Mechatronics Engineering departments in Ethiopia
with the vies to encouraging them to give due attention to the national standards.
1.2. Significance of the Document

It is important to set competency areas of the subject matter (program) in order to measure how
much graduates have acquired skills, knowledge, and attitudes. The following shows us the
significance of setting competencies and identifying core courses of the program;

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  To set competencies that help to assess the basic skills, knowledge, and attitude of
graduating students;
 To systematically identify the core courses which will be included in the exit exam;

2. Expected Profiles of Graduates’

Due to his/her strong background, a B.Sc. mechatronics engineering graduate can accomplish the
following tasks after a brief period of on-job training:
 Represent machine and parts drawing manually and/or with CAD software.
 Understand operating principles of machinery and systems and prepare the specification.
 Develop new solutions to industrial problems using mechanical and electronic processes
and computer technology.
 Design and build completely new products by integrating various technologies, for
example, developing robotic vehicles for underwater exploration.
 Build and test factory production lines introducing automation to improve existing
processes.
 Maintain and improve previous industrial and manufacturing processes and designs, for
example, robotic lawn mowers and robot floor cleaners.
 Design, develop, maintain and manage high technology engineering systems for the
automation of industrial tasks.
 Apply Mechatronics or automated solutions to the transfer of material, components or
finished goods.
 Apply advanced control systems, which are usually computer-driven.
 Apply electronic and mechanical processes and computers to tasks where the use of human
labour may be dangerous (like underwater exploration, mining or forestry).
 Study the feasibility, cost implications and performance benefits of new Mechatronics
equipment.
 Carry out the modelling, simulation, and analysis of complex mechanical, electronic or
other engineering systems using computers.

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 3. Competencies and Learning Outcomes

3.1. Competencies

Mechatronics Engineering is concerned with designing, analyzing, troubleshooting, as well as

modifying, maintaining, and repairing Mechatronic equipment, components, systems, and subsystems
ranging from micro-machines to powerful industrial robots through developed knowledge, skills, and
attitude in industrial automation, robotics, control systems, sensor transducers and measurement
systems, various actuators, modelling and designing physical and systems and safety in mechatronics,
machine elements and their respective design, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), the data
acquisition system (DAQ), digital signal processing and filter design, design of mechanical drive
systems and computer aided manufacturing (CAM), digital image processing and artificial intelligence
(AI), microprocessors and microcontrollers, computer architectures and networking, digital electronics
and embedded systems, CNC (computer numerical control) technology, pneumatic and hydraulic
systems as well as electrical machines and drives.

Table 1: competencies and learning outcomes

Competencies Learning outcomes

 Knowing the different types of linkage mechanisms used in mechanical

design;
 Explain the stress-strain characteristics of different materials.
 Explain the different types of transducers and their response, active and passive
transducers;
 Knowing the basic techniques of Signal conditioning;
 Represent different control systems (CSs) using TFs, block diagrams and state space
functions (using both time variable and Laplace variable) ;
Engineering
 Knowing the Control system components; Techniques to improve the
Knowledge
general performance of servomechanism; PID control; Phase Lead-Lag
network control.
 Explain the Dynamic system properties (in time domain and frequency
domain); Control systems (Open loop, Feedback, Digital control).

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  Knowing and explaining the working principle of various Sensors and Actuators:
Linear/Rotational sensors; Acceleration sensors; Force sensors; Torque and power sensors;
Flow sensors; Temperature sensors; Electromechanical actuators; Electrical machines;
Piezoelectric actuators; Hydraulic and Pneumatic Actuators; MEMS.
 Evolving schematic circuit diagrams for the electronic circuitry,
Components selection, H-bridge circuit design for servo motor control,
Development of computer hardware using modern microcontrollers, digital
signal processors, pulse encoder interface circuit.
 Knowing the basics of robotics: basic structure, classification of robot and
robotic systems, laws of robotics, robot motions work space, precision of
movement, power transmission systems, gear transmission, belt drives,
cables, roller chains, link, rotary to linear motion conversion, rack and
pinion drives, belt bearing screws, speed reducers, hydraulic systems,
stepper motors, servo motors.
 Knowing the working principle of Robot End effectors types of End
effectors- Mechanical gripper- types of gripper mechanism- gripper force
analysis- other types of grippers- special purpose grippers. Robot Sensors:
Position Sensors, potentiometers, encoders, Linear variable differential
transducer, velocity sensors, acceleration sensors, force sensor, pressure
sensors, torque sensors, touch sensors, proximity and range sensors.
 Knowing the techniques of feature extraction: Geometry of curves, texture
and texture analysis, image resolution, depth and volume, color processing,
object recognition by features, depth measurement, specialized lighting
techniques, image data compression, real time image processing,
application of vision systems.
 Knowing the basics of AI, level of the model, criteria for success, problem defining,
characteristics, production systems, characteristics, issues in the design of search
programs. Searching Techniques; Depth-first, Breadth-first, Heuristics search techniques,
generate and test, hill climping, best first search problem reduction.
 Knowing Inference Techniques; Forward Chaining, Backward Chaining.
Natural Language Processing. Machine Translation. Speech Synthesis and
Speech Recognition. Various types of Parsers; Top-down parsing, Bottom-

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 up Parsing. ATN Parsers, Chart Parsers. Handling Uncertainty and
Ambiguity.
 Knowing the Miscellaneous applications of AI in Mechatronics. Robotics,
path planning using AI algorithms, intelligent agents, intelligent machines,
automated testing systems, computer vision for real time systems, face
recognition, fingerprint recognition. Game Playing / Problem Solving.
Introduction to Learning Algorithms; Neural Networks and Genetic
Algorithm.
 Knowing the Principles of Hydraulic and Pneumatic systems; Symbols;
Mechanics and dynamics of fluids; Properties of fluids; Flow in pipes.
 Describing the dynamic equations and control aspect of D.C machines.
 Explaining salient pole synchronous machine features, reference frame
transformation, dq axis theory, power/load angle relationship and carry out
transient analysis.
 Explaining the principle of operation and construction of fractional
horsepower motors.
 Know control system classification, motion and process control, feed forward control,
interfacing Devices, Operational Amplifier, thyristor, SCR, TRIAC, Phototransistor, basic
characteristics and working of power diodes, Power Transistor, MOSFETs, IGBT and
GTO.
 Explain Single phase rectifiers: Working principles of half wave rectifier
with resistive load, full wave rectifier with resistive - capacitive load, with
resistive – inductive load, with large inductive load and transformer leakage
inductance. Three phase rectifiers: Working principles of half wave rectifier
with resistive load, full wave rectifier, double Y type rectifier with interface
transformer. Voltage and current driven inverters, analysis of controlled and
fully controlled converters, Dual converters, Analysis of voltage source and
current source, current source and series converters.
 Knowledge about operation of stepper motors and their types.
 Knowledge about the principle of relays, electromechanical relay, solid
state relays, Latching relays timing relays, resistance welding, resistance
heating control, induction heating control and dielectric heating control.

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  Describe the elements of process control, temperature control, Flow control,
Level control, Methods of motion control, feedback control, Direct digital
control.
 Knowing Structural units in most advanced processor, ARM Processor
architecture, instruction set, SHARC processor, memory organization,
instruction level parallelism, pipelined and superscalar units, performance
metrics, shared memory, DMA, memory management, cache mapping
techniques, dynamic allocation, fragmentation.
 Know the different kinds of input / output devices, synchronous, iso-
synchronous and asynchronous serial communication devices, wireless
devices, timer and counting devices, watch dog timer. Serial
communication network.
 Explain the types of interrupts.
 Knowledge about minimization techniques in digital systems and Boolean
algebra and basic logic gates.
 Knowledge on types of Signals: Analog and Digital Signals, Modulation and
Demodulation: Principles of Amplitude and Frequency Modulations. Communication
Systems: Radio, TV, Fax, Microwave, Satellite and Optical Fibre (Block Diagram
Approach only).
 Describe the basics of data communications and network: types of Networks, network
devices, data transmission, and Reference Model.
 Compare microprocessor and microcontroller.
 Explain 8085 and 8051 Architecture, function block diagram, instruction
set, addressing modes, timing diagrams, assembly language programming,
interrupts, memory interfacing.
 Explain the PIC 16F88 Block diagram, PIC memory organization, PIC
instructions, addressing modes, interrupts in PIC Microcontrollers.
 Applying the computer method for kinematic and kinetic analysis of
mechanisms;
 Design and analysis of cams, universal joints, governors, gear trains,
flywheels and gyroscopes;

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  Clarify the basic parameters and designing procedures for permanent and
non-permanent joints.
 Make dimensional and material decisions for pressure vessels.
 Understanding typical characteristics and design of principal machine
elements (Shafts, gears, belts, bearings, and friction elements.
 Understanding measurement error analysis.
Problem analysis
 Model common physical systems such as spring-mass-damper systems,
and design of
resistor- inductor-capacitor networks, first and second order fluid systems,
solutions (skills)
and first and second order thermal systems design different machine
components & drive mechanisms.
 Analyze common control systems in time domain and frequency domain.
 Identify important characteristics like settling time, rise time, maximum overshoot, phase
shift, peak resonance, resonance frequency and bandwidth.
 Explain and understand the Data Acquisition System (DAQ): Analog to
digital converter; Digital to analog converter; Filters.
 IIR filter design: Knowing and understanding the Structure of IIR – System
Design of Discrete time IIR filter from continuous time filter–IIR filter
design by Impulse Invariance. Bilinear transformation – Approximation
derivatives.
 Designing mechanical systems, Mathematical Modelling, General equation of motion for a
mechatronic system, designing for low friction and high-rigidity systems.
 Designing mechanical drive systems, ball screw design, design of linear
motion guides, preparing workshop drawings of various mechanical
components using CAD.
 Designing Hydraulic systems; Hydraulic circuits; Hydraulic control
systems.
 Designing Pneumatic systems; Pneumatic circuits; Pneumatic control systems.
 Know the need and methods of triggering mechanisms in sequential circuits as well as
design and implement the synchronous and asynchronous up/down counter with the help of
sequential circuits.

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  Understanding the balancing in mechanisms.
 Understanding of basic terms and definitions in mechanical design.
 Understand stress concentration and failure causes and types.
 Comprehend and compare the various failure theories that suit the failure conditions.
 Understand the major principles behind the function of mechanical springs
and design different types of springs.
 Knowing the practical implication of transducers and measurement
Attitude systems: Current and voltage measurement; Displacement; Stain
measurement; Pressure measurement; Temperature measurement; Flow
measurement; Rotational speed measurement; Velocity and acceleration
measurement.
 Understanding the basics of Data transmission and processing: display and recording;
 Understanding and analyzing the accuracy of a control system as well as the
stability/unstability of a control system using different criteria such as Routh-
Hurwitz, Root-Locus, Nyquist, Bode Plot, and Nichols Charts.
 Understanding the basics of Mechatronics.
 Understanding physical system modeling
 Understanding the basics of Electronics: Diodes; Transistors; Operational
amplifier; LED; Bridge circuit.
 Understanding the different types of Logic systems: Combinational logic; Sequential logic;
Flip-flops; counters/timers; PLC (components, programming, memory organization, setup,
communications); System Interfaces.
 Understanding the Basic elements of Digital Signal Processing - Concept of
frequency in Continuous time and Discrete time signals - Sampling theorem
– Discrete time signals. Discrete time systems – Analysis of Linear time
invariant systems – Z transform – Convolution and Correlation.
 Fourier transforms: understanding Radix 2 FFT ‘s – Decimation in time FFT
algorithm - Decimation in frequency FFT algorithm – Computing inverse
DFT using FFT – Mixed radix FFT algorithm – Periodogram technique.
 Understanding and comparing Symmetric & Antisymmetric FIR filters –
Linear phase filter – Windowing technique – Rectangular, Kaiser Windows –
Frequency sampling techniques – Structure for FIR systems.

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  Understanding the Periodogram Estimator. MA, AR and ARMA models.
Parameter estimation using Yule- Walker method, linear estimation and
prediction, maximum likelihood criterion, Efficiency of estimator, review of
least mean squared error criterion – Wiener filter – Discrete Wiener Hopf
equations. General-purpose digital signal processors - Fixed point and
floating-point DSP.
 Debugging and Preparing part program files for CNC machine using G & M
Codes, Simple programs for milling, lathe machine, drilling operations
and APT Programming, drawings and CNC codes of machine components
for the final design and documentation.
 Implementation of PID control algorithm, interfacing other sensors with the
microcontroller, Path planning algorithm, trajectory generation, Front-end design, Data
communication with other devices.
 Understand the robot kinematics: Matrix representation- rigid motion & homogeneous
transformation- forward & inverse kinematics- trajectory planning. Robot Dynamics:
Manipulator dynamics – Lagrange - Euler formulation- Newton - Euler formulation.
 Understand the real-life application and procedures for Digital Image
Processing; image acquisition, image enhancement, thresholding, edge
detection, objects recognition, and scene understanding. Image processing
techniques for computer vision; FFT, Histogram Analysis and Histogram
Equalization, Hough Transform. Pattern matching techniques; Euclidian
Distance technique.
 Understand and know the generation of Robot programming Languages - Classification of
robot programming languages - Computer control and robot software - Val system and
Languages - application of robots.
 Understand the Knowledge Representation Techniques; First Order Logic, Predicate Logic,
Temporal Logic, Production Rules, Semantic nets, Frames, OAV triplets. Programming
examples of Prolog. Major Parts of a Prolog program. Backtracking ability of Prolog. Search,
input and output handling in Prolog. XML as AI programming language. Programming
examples of XML. Knowledge management capability of XML.
 Understanding the application and working principles of components of
hydraulic systems: Pumps; Actuators; Valves; Miscellaneous components.

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  Understanding the application and working principles of components of pneumatic systems:
Compressors; Motors; Valves; Miscellaneous components.
 Recognizing the different types of transformers with their connection.
 Understanding how to develop D.C. armature winding & A.C. windings with
their design aspect.
 Understand the fundamental concept of speed control of electrical drives and
speed control of drives in an energy efficient manner using power electronics.
 Understanding the basic concept of embedded system.
 Understand the basics of designing and/or choosing hardware and software
for simple and advanced real-time embedded systems.
 Ability to implement simple logical operations using combinational logic circuits as well
as design and development of serial and parallel binary arithmetic circuits.
 Acquaintance with basic concepts, need, types and applications of memory devices and
understanding the principle and types of programmable logic devices.
 Demonstrate cable crimping, establishing, setup and troubleshooting Networks
 Understand network addressing, sub netting, network security and data integrity.
 Develop a practical skill on Interfacing of ADC, DAC and stepper motor, speed control of
DC motor, traffic light control and washing machine control interfacing.

3.2. Learning Outcomes

The main program outcomes of B.Sc. degree in Mechatronics engineering are the following:
 Knowledge of machine elements and their respective design procedures and operate relevant
computer software for design/ analysis/ optimization.
 Knowledge of engineering graphics and CAD at the same time machine elements and their
respective design procedures with the ability to analyze the needs and requirements when
designing products and interpret written directions, specifications, plans, and drawings.
 To identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems and understand measurement error
analysis;
 To know transducers and their response, active and passive transducers as well as understand
signal conditioning.

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  To know the practical implication of transducers and measurement systems understand data
transmission, processing, display and recording and more over understand how to model
common physical systems.
 To know how to represent control systems (CSs) using TFs, block diagrams and state space
functions and in addition analyze control systems in time domain and frequency domain.
 Knowledge of important characteristics of control systems like: settling time, rise time,
maximum overshoot, phase shift, peak resonance, resonance frequency and bandwidth and
furthermore applying Routh-Hurwitz, Root-Locus, Nyquist, Bode Plot, and Nichols Charts to
analyze the stability/unstability of a control system.
 Knowledge of the control system components; techniques to improve the general performance
of PID control; phase lead-lag network control.
 Knowledge of the basics of mechatronics along with knowledge on how to model physical
systems.
 Knowledge of dynamic system properties (in time domain and frequency domain); control
systems (open loop, feedback, digital control) and likewise understand the basics of electronics:
diodes; transistors; operational amplifier; LED; bridge circuit.
 Knowledge of the working principle of various sensors and actuators:
 Knowledge of the different types of logic systems on top of that knowledge of the data
acquisition system (DAQ): analog to digital converter; digital to analog converter; filters.
 Knowledge of the basic elements of digital signal processing; concept of frequency in
continuous time and discrete time signals.
 Knowledge of Fourier transforms moreover knowledge of the IIR filter design and the FIR filter
design.
 Knowledge of estimation tools and spectrum estimation.
 Knowledge of mechanical design, mathematical modelling, equation of motion for mechatronic
systems along with that knowledge of the design of mechanical drive systems and computer
aided manufacturing (CAM).
 Knowledge of instrumentation and electronics along with interfacing software systems,
algorithms, path planning and trajectory generation, data communication.
 Knowledge of the basics and laws of robotics including robot end effectors and sensors.
 Knowledge of robot mechanics: kinematics and dynamics, trajectory and path planning.

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  Knowledge to interpret digital image processing techniques sequentially in conjunction with
implementing feature extraction techniques and even knowledge of robot programming
languages.
 Knowledge of the fundamentals of artificial intelligence together with implementing artificial
intelligence techniques, expert system methods and advanced intelligence algorithms.
 Knowledge on the principles of hydraulic and pneumatic systems, components of hydraulic
systems coupled with capability to design hydraulic systems.
 Knowledge on the components of pneumatic systems and capability to design pneumatic
systems.
 Knowledge of the different types of transformers with their connection with the ability to
develop D.C. armature winding & A.C. windings with their design aspect.
 Knowledge of the dynamic equations and control aspect of D.C machines along with the ability
to explain salient pole synchronous machine features, reference frame transformation, dq axis
theory, power/load angle relationship and carry out transient analysis.
 Knowledge on principle of operation and construction of fractional horsepower motors.
 Knowledge on the basics of industrial control and also about the types and working principle of
rectifiers, converters and inverters including the methods of industrial motor speed control.
 Understanding regarding the functioning of stepper motors and their types together with the
types of relays, heating & welding control along with process and motion control.
 Clear understanding of embedded systems furthermore capability to specify, design and develop
embedded systems for a specific purpose together with the ability to program, test and verify
software for embedded systems.
 Understand how mechanical system is integrated with computer control and electronics
meanwhile knowledge about the design microprocessor and microcontroller / PLC based
mechatronics engineering system.
 Knowledge of digital circuits and design of digital systems including the design of arithmetic
circuits, shift registers and counters.
 Understand networking concepts, technologies and terminologies likewise the basic’s computer
communication and networking and the underlying principles of data communication and
computer networking.

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  Knowledge on the architecture of 8085 microprocessor, 8051 & PIC microcontrollers in
particular the addressing modes & instruction sets of 8085, 8051 & PIC along with the need &
use of interrupt structure.
 Able to discuss commonly used peripheral / interfacing ICs and its application

4. Selected course for Exit Exam of Mechatronics Engineering

Based on the graduation profile, competency, and skills, sixteen courses are selected. The exam will
focus on the main key of the courses. This document has been compiled with five modules for exit
examination for achieving the competencies level of graduates that are expected to acquire. According to
the direction suggested by the head of quality and competency improvement desk (at MOE), during the
preparation of this document, there was a general consensus that a specific program should consider a total
of 10-16 lists of courses. Accordingly, Mechatronics Engineering exit examination document has
identified 16 courses delivered at different semesters and academic calendars.
Table 2: selected themes and courses for exit exam
No. List of Modules No. List of Courses Course Code Cr.hr ECTS
1 Mechanisms 1 Mechanics of Machinery McEng 3071 3 5
2 Machine Elements McEng 2122 3 5
2 Mechatronics 3 Instrumentation & 3 5
McEng 3171
Measurement
4 Regulation and Control McEng 3174 3 5
5 Intro. to Mechatronics Systems McEng 3172 3 5
6 Digital Signal Processing and McEng 4173 3 5
Filter Design
7 Mechatronics System Design McEng 5175 3 5
8 Pneumatics and Hydraulics McEng 5191 3 5
3 Robotics 9 Robotics & Machine Vision McEng 5183 3 5
System
10 Artificial Intelligence McEng 5185 3 5
4 Basic Electronics & 11 Electrical Machines and Drives 3 5
EcEng 3362
Electrical Machine
12 Industrial Electronics & McEng 3272 3 5
Applications
12 Embedded System McEng 4271 3 5
14 Digital Electronics McEng 3274 3 5
5 15 Computer Networks McEng 2282 3 5

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 Computer & hardware 16 Microprocessors & McEng 4281 3 5
Implementation Microcontrollers

5. Leaning out come codes and Test Blueprint

5.1. Leaning out come codes

Table 3: Learning outcome codes

Learni
ng
Outco Learning outcomes
me
Code
LO1 Knowing the different types of linkage mechanisms used in mechanical design;
LO2 Understanding the kinematic and kinetic analysis and design of machinery;
LO3 Applying the computer method for kinematic and kinetic analysis of mechanisms;
LO4 Design and analysis of cams, universal joints, governors, gear trains, flywheels and gyroscopes; and
LO5 Understanding the balancing.
LO6 Understanding of basic terms and definitions in mechanical design.
LO7 Explain the stress-strain characteristics of different materials.
LO8 Understand stress concentration and failure causes and types.
LO9 Comprehend and compare the various failure theories that suit the failure conditions.
LO10 Clarify the basic parameters and designing procedures for permanent and non-permanent joints.
LO11 Understand the major principles behind the function of mechanical springs and design different types of springs.
LO12 Make dimensional and material decisions for pressure vessels.
Understanding typical characteristics and design of principal machine elements (Shafts, gears, belts, bearings, and friction
LO13
elements.
LO14 Understanding measurement error analysis.
LO15 Explain the different types of transducers and their response, active and passive transducers;
Knowing the basic techniques of Signal conditioning;
LO16
Knowing the practical implication of transducers and measurement systems: Current and voltage measurement;
LO17 Displacement; Stain measurement; Pressure measurement; Temperature measurement; Flow measurement; Rotational speed
measurement; Velocity and acceleration measurement.
LO18 Understanding the basics of Data transmission and processing: display and recording;
Model common physical systems such as spring-mass-damper systems, resistor- inductor-capacitor networks, first and second
LO19
order fluid systems, and first and second order thermal systems
Represent different control systems (CSs) using TFs, block diagrams and state space functions (using both time variable and
LO20
Laplace variable)
LO21 Analyze common control systems in time domain and frequency domain
Identify important characteristics like settling time, rise time, maximum overshoot, phase shift, peak resonance, resonance
LO22
frequency and bandwidth.
Understanding and analyzing the accuracy of a control system as well as the stability/unstability of a control system using different
LO23
criteria such as Routh-Hurwitz, Root-Locus, Nyquist, Bode Plot, and Nichols Charts.
Knowing the Control system components; Techniques to improve the general performance of servomechanism; PID control; Phase
LO24
Lead-Lag network control
Understanding the basics of Mechatronics.
LO25
Understanding physical system modeling
LO26
Explain the Dynamic system properties (in time domain and frequency domain); Control systems (Open loop, Feedback, Digital
LO27
control).
LO28 Understanding the basics of Electronics: Diodes; Transistors; Operational amplifier; LED; Bridge circuit.

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1
7
 Knowing and explaining the working principle of various Sensors and Actuators: Linear/Rotational sensors; Acceleration sensors;
Force sensors; Torque and power sensors; Flow sensors; Temperature sensors; Electromechanical actuators; Electrical machines;
LO29
Piezoelectric actuators; Hydraulic and Pneumatic Actuators; MEMS.

Understanding the different types of Logic systems: Combinational logic; Sequential logic; Flip-flops; counters/timers; PLC
LO30
(components, programming, memory organization, setup, communications); System Interfaces.
LO31 Explain and understand the Data Acquisition System (DAQ): Analog to digital converter; Digital to analog converter; Filters.
Understanding the Basic elements of Digital Signal Processing - Concept of frequency in Continuous time and Discrete time signals
- Sampling theorem – Discrete time signals. Discrete time systems – Analysis of Linear time invariant systems – Z transform –
LO32
Convolution and Correlation.

Fourier transforms: understanding Radix 2 FFT ‘s – Decimation in time FFT algorithm - Decimation in frequency FFT algorithm
LO33
– Computing inverse DFT using FFT – Mixed radix FFT algorithm – Periodogram technique.
IIR filter design: Knowing and understanding the Structure of IIR – System Design of Discrete time IIR filter from continuous
LO34 time filter–IIR filter design by Impulse Invariance. Bilinear transformation – Approximation derivatives.

Understanding and comparing Symmetric & Antisymmetric FIR filters – Linear phase filter – Windowing technique – Rectangular,
LO35
Kaiser Windows – Frequency sampling techniques – Structure for FIR systems.
Understanding the Periodogram Estimator. MA, AR and ARMA models. Parameter estimation using Yule- Walker method, linear
LO36 estimation and prediction, maximum likelihood criterion, Efficiency of estimator, review of least mean squared error criterion –
Wiener filter – Discrete Wiener Hopf equations. General-purpose digital signal processors - Fixed point and floating-point DSP.
Designing mechanical systems, Mathematical Modelling, General equation of motion for a mechatronic system, designing for low
LO37
friction and high-rigidity systems.
Designing mechanical drive systems, ball screw design, design of linear motion guides, preparing workshop drawings of various
LO38
mechanical components using CAD.
Debugging and Preparing part program files for CNC machine using G & M Codes, Simple programs for milling, lathe
LO39 machine, drilling operations and APT Programming, drawings and CNC codes of machine components for the final design and
documentation.
Evolving schematic circuit diagrams for the electronic circuitry, Components selection, H-bridge circuit design for servo motor
LO40 control, Development of computer hardware using modern microcontrollers, digital signal processors, pulse encoder interface
circuit.
Implementation of PID control algorithm, interfacing other sensors with the microcontroller, Path planning algorithm,
LO41
trajectory generation, Front-end design, Data communication with other devices.
Knowing the Principles of Hydraulic and Pneumatic systems; Symbols; Mechanics and dynamics of fluids; Properties of fluids;
LO42 Flow in pipes.

Understanding the application and working principles of components of hydraulic systems: Pumps; Actuators; Valves;
LO43
Miscellaneous components.
Designing Hydraulic systems; Hydraulic circuits; Hydraulic control systems.
LO44
Understanding the application and working principles of components of pneumatic systems: Compressors; Motors; Valves;
LO45
Miscellaneous components.
LO46 Designing Pneumatic systems; Pneumatic circuits; Pneumatic control systems.
Knowing the basics of robotics: basic structure, classification of robot and robotic systems, laws of robotics, robot motions work
space, precision of movement, power transmission systems, gear transmission, belt drives, cables, roller chains, link, rotary to
LO47 linear motion conversion, rack and pinion drives, belt bearing screws, speed reducers, hydraulic systems, stepper motors, servo
motors.

Knowing the working principle of Robot End effectors types of End effectors- Mechanical gripper- types of gripper mechanism-
gripper force analysis- other types of grippers- special purpose grippers. Robot Sensors: Position Sensors, potentiometers,
LO48 encoders, Linear variable differential transducer, velocity sensors, acceleration sensors, force sensor, pressure sensors, torque
sensors, touch sensors, proximity and range sensors.

Understand the robot kinematics: Matrix representation- rigid motion & homogeneous transformation- forward & inverse
LO49 kinematics- trajectory planning. Robot Dynamics: Manipulator dynamics – Lagrange - Euler formulation- Newton - Euler
formulation.
Understand the real-life application and procedures for Digital Image Processing; image acquisition, image enhancement,
thresholding, edge detection, objects recognition, and scene understanding. Image processing techniques for computer vision; FFT,
LO50
Histogram Analysis and Histogram Equalization, Hough Transform. Pattern matching techniques; Euclidian Distance technique.

Knowing the techniques of feature extraction: Geometry of curves, texture and texture analysis, image resolution, depth and
LO51
volume, color processing, object recognition by features, depth measurement, specialized lighting techniques, image data

Exit Exam Competency Selection and identifying core

course for Undergraduate Mechatronics Engineering
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 compression, real time image processing, application of vision systems.

Understand and know the generation of Robot programming Languages - Classification of robot programming languages -
LO52
Computer control and robot software - Val system and Languages - application of robots.
Knowing the basics of AI, level of the model, criteria for success, problem defining, characteristics, production systems,
LO53 characteristics, issues in the design of search programs. Searching Techniques; Depth-first, Breadth-first, Heuristics search
techniques, generate and test, hill climping, best first search problem reduction.
Understand the Knowledge Representation Techniques; First Order Logic, Predicate Logic, Temporal Logic, Production Rules,
Semantic nets, Frames, OAV triplets. Programming examples of Prolog. Major Parts of a Prolog program. Backtracking ability of
LO54
Prolog. Search, input and output handling in Prolog. XML as AI programming language. Programming examples of XML.
Knowledge management capability of XML.
Knowing Inference Techniques; Forward Chaining, Backward Chaining. Natural Language Processing. Machine Translation.
Speech Synthesis and Speech Recognition. Various types of Parsers; Top-down parsing, Bottom-up Parsing. ATN Parsers, Chart
LO55
Parsers. Handling Uncertainty and Ambiguity.

Knowing the Miscellaneous applications of AI in Mechatronics. Robotics, path planning using AI algorithms, intelligent agents,
LO56 intelligent machines, automated testing systems, computer vision for real time systems, face recognition, fingerprint recognition.
Game Playing / Problem Solving. Introduction to Learning Algorithms; Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithm.
LO57 Recognizing the different types of transformers with their connection
LO58 Understanding how to develop D.C. armature winding & A.C. windings with their design aspect.
LO59 Describing the dynamic equations and control aspect of D.C machines
Explaining salient pole synchronous machine features, reference frame transformation, dq axis theory, power/load angle
LO60
relationship and carry out transient analysis.
LO61 Explaining the principle of operation and construction of fractional horsepower motors.
Know control system classification, motion and process control, feed forward control, interfacing Devices, Operational Amplifier,
LO62 thyristor, SCR, TRIAC, Phototransistor, basic characteristics and working of power diodes, Power Transistor, MOSFETs, IGBT
and GTO.
Explain Single phase rectifiers: Working principles of half wave rectifier with resistive load, full wave rectifier with resistive -
capacitive load, with resistive – inductive load, with large inductive load and transformer leakage inductance. Three phase
rectifiers: Working principles of half wave rectifier with resistive load, full wave rectifier, double Y type rectifier with interface
LO63
transformer. Voltage and current driven inverters, analysis of controlled and fully controlled converters, Dual converters, Analysis
of voltage source and current source, current source and series converters.

Understand the fundamental concept of speed control of electrical drives and speed control of drives in an energy efficient manner
LO64 using power electronics.

LO65 Knowledge about operation of stepper motors and their types.

Knowledge about the principle of relays, electromechanical relay, solid state relays, Latching relays timing relays, resistance
LO66
welding, resistance heating control, induction heating control and dielectric heating control.
Describe the elements of process control, temperature control, Flow control, Level control, Methods of motion control, feedback
LO67
control, Direct digital control.
LO68 Understanding the basic concept of embedded system.
Knowing Structural units in most advanced processor, ARM Processor architecture, instruction set, SHARC processor, memory
organization, instruction level parallelism, pipelined and superscalar units, performance metrics, shared memory, DMA, memory
LO69
management, cache mapping techniques, dynamic allocation, fragmentation.

Know the different kinds of input / output devices, synchronous, iso-synchronous and asynchronous serial communication devices,
LO70
wireless devices, timer and counting devices, watch dog timer. Serial communication network.
LO71 Explain the Types of interrupts.
LO72 Understand the basics of designing and/or choosing hardware and software for simple and advanced real-time embedded systems.
LO73 Knowledge about minimization techniques in digital systems and Boolean algebra and basic logic gates.
Ability to implement simple logical operations using combinational logic circuits as well as design and development of serial and
LO74
parallel binary arithmetic circuits.
Know the need and methods of triggering mechanisms in sequential circuits as well as design and implement the synchronous and
LO75
asynchronous up/down counter with the help of sequential circuits.
Acquaintance with basic concepts, need, types and applications of memory devices and understanding the principle and types of
LO76
programmable logic devices.
Knowledge on types of Signals: Analog and Digital Signals, Modulation and Demodulation: Principles of Amplitude and
LO77 Frequency Modulations. Communication Systems: Radio, TV, Fax, Microwave, Satellite and Optical Fibre (Block Diagram
Approach only).
LO78 Describe the basics of data communications and network: types of Networks, network devices, data transmission, and Reference

Exit Exam Competency Selection and identifying core

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 Model.
LO79 Demonstrate cable crimping, establishing, setup and troubleshooting Networks.
LO80 Understand network addressing, sub netting, network security and data integrity.
LO81 Compare microprocessor and microcontroller.
Explain 8085 and 8051 Architecture, function block diagram, instruction set, addressing modes, timing diagrams, assembly
LO82
language programming, interrupts, memory interfacing.
Explain the PIC 16F88 Block diagram, PIC memory organization, PIC instructions, addressing modes, interrupts in PIC
LO83
Microcontrollers.
Develop a practical skill on Interfacing of ADC, DAC and stepper motor, speed control of DC motor, traffic light control and
LO84
washing machine control interfacing.

5.2. Test blue print

Table 4: Test blue print table

Learning outcomes

Psychomotor
Affective
Learning Outcome Code

Cognitive

Creation/Synthesis
Understanding
Remembering

No. of items
Application

Evaluation
Cr.Hrs.
Course

Analysis
Theme

General objective/Competency
 Knowledge of machine
elements and their
Mechanism of Machinery

respective design
procedures. LO1 1
Theme 1: Mechanisms

 To operate relevant
computer software for
6
5

design/ analysis/
optimization. LO2 1
 To identify, formulate, and
solve engineering problems. LO3 1
LO4 1 1
LO5 1
 Knowledge of engineering
Elements
Machine

graphics and cad. LO6 1

6
 Knowledge of machine
elements and their LO7 1
5

Exit Exam Competency Selection and identifying core

course for Undergraduate Mechatronics Engineering
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0
 respective design
procedures.
 To analyze needs and
requirements when
designing products LO8 1
 To interpret written
directions, specifications,
plans, and drawings LO9 1
LO10 1
LO11
LO12
LO13 1
 To understand
measurement error
Instrumentation & Measurement

analysis; LO14 1
 To know transducers and
their response, active and
passive transducers; LO15 1
 To understand signal
conditioning. LO16 1 6
5

 To know the practical

implication of transducers
and measurement systems LO17 2
 To understand data
transmission, processing,
display and recording;
LO18 1
 Understand how to model
common physical systems. LO19 1
 To know how to represent
control systems (CSs) using
TFs, block diagrams and
Theme 2: Mechatronics

state space functions. LO20 1

 Analyze control systems in
time domain and frequency
domain. LO21 1
 Knowledge of important
Regulation & Control

characteristics of control
systems like: settling time,
rise time, maximum
overshoot, phase shift, peak
5

resonance, resonance
frequency and bandwidth. LO22 1
 Applying Routh-Hurwitz,
Root-Locus, Nyquist, Bode
Plot, and Nichols Charts to
analyze the 7
stability/unstability of a  1
control system. LO23   1   
 Knowledge of the control
system components;
techniques to improve the
general performance of PID
control; phase lead-lag
network control. LO24 1
 Knowledge of the basics of
Introducti

Mechatro

Systems

mechatronics. LO25 1
on to

nics

 Knowledge on how to model 7

physical systems. LO26 1
5

 Knowledge of dynamic LO27 1

Exit Exam Competency Selection and identifying core

course for Undergraduate Mechatronics Engineering
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1
 system properties (in time
domain and frequency
domain); control systems
(open loop, feedback, digital
control).

 Understanding the basics of

electronics: diodes;
transistors; operational
amplifier; LED; bridge
circuit.
LO28 1
 Knowledge of the working
principle of various sensors
and actuators: LO29 1
 Knowledge of the different
types of logic systems. LO30 1
 Knowledge of the data
acquisition system (DAQ):
analog to digital converter;
digital to analog converter;
filters.
LO31 1
Filter

 Knowledge of the basic

elements of digital signal
processing; concept of
frequency in continuous
time and discrete time
signals. LO32 1
Digital Signal Processing and

 Knowledge of Fourier
Design

transforms. LO33 1 1
6
 Knowledge of the IIR filter
design. LO34 1
 Knowledge of the FIR filter
5

design. LO35 1
 Knowledge of estimation
tools and spectrum
estimation.
LO36 1
 Knowledge of mechanical
design, mathematical
modelling, equation of
motion for mechatronic
Mechatronics System Design

systems. LO37 1
 Knowledge of the design of
mechanical drive systems. LO38 1
 Knowledge of computer
aided manufacturing
7
5

(CAM). LO39 1 1
 Knowledge of
instrumentation and
electronics. LO40 1
 Knowledge of interfacing
software systems,
algorithms, path planning
and trajectory generation,
data communication. LO41 1 1

Pneumatic

Hydraulic

Knowledge on the
s and

principles of hydraulic and 7

5
s

pneumatic systems. LO42 1

 Knowledge on the LO43 1

Exit Exam Competency Selection and identifying core

course for Undergraduate Mechatronics Engineering
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 components of hydraulic
systems.
 Capability to design
hydraulic systems. LO44 1 1
 Knowledge on the
components of pneumatic
systems. LO45 1
Capability to design
pneumatic systems. LO46 1 1
 Knowledge of the basics
and laws of robotics. LO47 1
 Knowledge of robot end
Robotics & Machine Vision

effectors and sensors. LO48 1

 Knowledge of robot
mechanics: kinematics and
dynamics, trajectory and
System

path planning. LO49 1

 Knowledge to interpret
Digital image processing
techniques sequentially. LO50 1 6
 Implementing feature
5
Theme 3: Robotics

extraction techniques. LO51 1

 Knowledge of Robot
LO52
programming languages.
1
 Knowledge of the
fundamentals of artificial
intelligence. LO53 1

Artificial Intelligence

Knowledge on how to
implement artificial
intelligence techniques.
5

LO54 1
 Knowledge of expert system
methods.
LO55 1 1 6
 Knowledge of advanced
intelligence algorithms.

LO56 1 1
 Knowledge of the different
types of transformers with
their connection. LO57 1
 Ability to develop D.C.
Theme 4: Basic Electronics & Electrical

armature winding & A.C.

windings with their design
Electrical Machines and Drives

aspect. LO58 1
 Knowledge of the dynamic
equations and control
aspect of D.C machines. LO59 1
Machine

 To explain salient pole

6
5

synchronous machine
features, reference frame
transformation, dq axis
theory, power/load angle
relationship and carry out
transient
analysis. LO60 1 1
 Knowledge on principle of
operation and construction
of fractional horsepower
motors. LO61 1

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course for Undergraduate Mechatronics Engineering
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  Knowledge on the basics of
industrial control. LO62 1
 Knowledge on the types and
working principle of
rectifiers, converters and
Industrial Electronics &

inverters. LO63 1
 Explain the methods of
Applications

industrial motor speed

control. LO64 1
6
5

 knowledge about operation

of stepper motors and their
types. LO65 1
 Knowledge on the types of
relays, heating & welding
control. LO66 1
 Explain process and motion
control.
LO67 1
 Clear understanding of
embedded systems. LO68 1
 Capability to specify, design
and develop embedded
Embedded System

systems for a specific

purpose capability to
program, test and verify
6
5

software for embedded

systems. LO69 1

LO70 1

LO71 1

LO72 1 1
 Understand how
mechanical system is
integrated with computer
control and electronics. LO73 1
 Knowledge about the
Digital Electronics

design microprocessor and

microcontroller / PLC
based mechatronics
engineering system. LO74 1 6
5

 Knowledge of digital
circuits and design of digital
systems. LO75 1
 Knowledge on design of
arithmetic circuits, shift
registers and counters. LO76 1

LO77 1 1
 Understand networking
concepts, technologies and
Theme 5: Computer &

Computer Networks

terminologies. LO78 1 1
Implementation

 Knowledge about the

hardware

basic’s computer
communication and 6
5

networking. LO79 1 1 1
 Understand the underlying
principles of data
communication and
computer networking. LO80 1

Exit Exam Competency Selection and identifying core

course for Undergraduate Mechatronics Engineering
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  Knowledge on the
architecture of 8085
microprocessor, 8051 &
PIC microcontrollers. LO81 1
 Able to explain the
Microprocessors &
Microcontrollers
addressing modes &
instruction sets of 8085,
5 8051 & PIC as well as the
need & use of interrupt
structure. LO82 1 1 6
 Able to discuss commonly
used peripheral /
interfacing ICs and its
applications. LO83 1

LO84 1 1
Total

80

100

6. Conclusion

Having a competency-based exit examination guide Mechatronics Engineering program enables HEIs
in producing high-level and qualified competent Mechatronics Engineering graduates in Ethiopia.
This exit examination guide constitutes of graduate profiles, core competencies, major learning
outcomes, modules/courses categorized into domains/themes and selected modules/courses to include
in the examination.
Therefore, the academia, students, and concerned higher officials are expected to be responsible for the
success of the new intervention coup up mechanism the so-called National Exit Examination.

Exit Exam Competency Selection and identifying core

course for Undergraduate Mechatronics Engineering
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5