Intorduction to Mechatronics

Dr. Abhishek Kumar Ghosh

RME 1201, RMEDU
Course outline
• Introduction: Definition and Components of Mechatronics, Applications of Mechatronics, Relationship amongst
Different Disciplines.
• System Models: Building Blocks of Electrical, Mechanical, Fluid and Thermal Systems, Electromechanical Systems.
• Control Systems: Open and Closed Loop Systems, Analogue and Digital Control Systems.
• Sensors and Transducers: Sensors for Displacement, Proximity, Motion, Sound, Light, Temperature, Force, Pressure,
Fluid Level, Fluid Flow, etc.
• Signal Conditioning and Data Acquisition: Filtering, Pulse Modulation, A/D and D/A Converters, Multiplexers, and
Data Acquisition Systems.
• Actuation Systems: Basics of Pneumatic and Hydraulic Actuation Systems, Mechanical Actuation Systems, Electrical
Actuation Systems.
• Controllers: Control Modes, PID and Digital Controllers, Velocity Control, Adaptive Control, Microprocessor and
Microcontrollers, Programmable Logic Controllers, etc.
• Design of Mechatronics Systems: Steps of Mechatronics System Design, Possible Design Solutions.
• Case Studies on Application of Mechatronics Systems.

Abhishek K Ghosh, RME 1201, RMEDU 2

Reference books
1. Introduction to Mechatronics and Measurement Systems, McGraw-Hill,
Michael B. Histand, and David G. Alciatore.
2. Mechatronics: Electronic Control Systems in Mechanical and Electrical
Engineering, Prentice Hall, W. Bolton.

Abhishek K Ghosh, RME 1201, RMEDU 3

Marks distribution

• Attendance =5
• Assignment =5
• Incourse exam = 10 x 2 = 20
• Final exam = 70
Total = 100

Abhishek K Ghosh, RME 1201, RMEDU 4

Mechatronics
• The word mechatronics was coined in Japan in the late 1960s.
• Mechatronics is a design philosophy that recognizes that virtually every
‘machine’ is a smart, integrated fusion of mechanical engineering,
electrical technology, electronics, and software. If a system like this was
designed by passing it along from one specialist to another, it would not be
optimized.
• The primary disciplines important in the design of mechatronic systems
include mechanics, electronics, controls, and computer engineering.
• Examples:
• aircraft flight control and navigation systems (including those on consumer
drones),
• automobile air-bag safety systems and antilock brake systems,
• automated manufacturing equipment such as robots and numerically
controlled (NC) machine tools,
• smart kitchen and home appliances, such as bread machines, clothes washing
machines, and even toys.

Abhishek K Ghosh, RME 1201, RMEDU 5

Traditional design vs. mechatronic design
1. Consider the design of bathroom scales:
• The traditional system will be made of the compression of springs and a
mechanism used to convert the motion into rotation of a shaft and hence the
movement of a pointer across a scale.
• In the case of mechatronic design, the springs might be replaced by load cells
with strain gauges, and the output from them is used with a microprocessor
to provide a digital readout of the weight on a light-emitting diode (LED)
display.
• The resulting scales might be mechanically simpler, involving fewer
components and moving parts. The complexity has, however, been
transferred to the software.

Abhishek K Ghosh, RME 1201, RMEDU 6

Traditional design vs. mechatronic design
2. The temperature control for a domestic central heating system:
• Traditionally the bimetallic thermostat-based closed-loop control system is
used. The bending of the bimetallic strip changes as the temperature changes
and is used to operate an on/off switch for the heating system.
• A mechatronic solution to the problem might be to use a microprocessor-
controlled system employing perhaps a thermistor as the sensor.
• The bimetallic thermostat is comparatively crude and the temperature is not
accurately controlled; also, devising a method for having different
temperatures at different times of the day is complex and not easily achieved.
• The microprocessor-controlled system can, however, cope easily with giving
precision and programmed control. The system is much more flexible.

Abhishek K Ghosh, RME 1201, RMEDU 7

Mechatronics system components

Abhishek K Ghosh, RME 1201, RMEDU 8

Mechatronic System—Copy Machine
• Analog circuits control the lamp, heater, and other power circuits
in the machine.
• Digital circuits control the digital displays, indicator lights,
buttons, and switches forming the user interface.
• Logic circuits and microprocessors coordinate all of the functions
in the machine.
• Optical sensors and microswitches detect the presence or
absence of paper, its proper positioning, and whether or not
doors and latches are in their correct positions.
• Encoders are used to track motor rotation.
• Actuators include servo and stepper motors that load and
transport the paper, turn the drum, and index the sorter.

Abhishek K Ghosh, RME 1201, RMEDU 9

THE END

Abhishek K Ghosh, RME 1201, RMEDU 10