ABE15 – Mechatronics for AB Engineers In the figure 1.

0 illustrates a common breadboard

layout consisting of a rectangular matrix of insertion
Module1
points with a spacing of 0.1 inches. Shown in the
Smart devices are another name for mechatronic figure, each column a through e, and f through j, is
systems. Although a specific definition of the word & internally connected, as illustrated by the arrows in
“smart” is elusive, in the context of engineering, we the diagram. The + and - rows that lie along the top
refer to the incorporation of aspects like logic, and bottom edges of the breadboard are also
feedback, and computing that, when combined in a internally connected to provide convenient DC voltage
complex design, may appear to emulate human and ground busses.
thought processes.

Designing mechatronic systems requires knowledge

from numerous domains, making it difficult to
compartmentalize within a traditional engineering
field. The designer of mechatronic systems needs to
be a generalist who is eager to learn from a variety of
sources and apply it to their work. The student may
initially feel intimidated by this, yet it has many
advantages for originality and lifelong learning.

Below is a set of basic guidelines you should follow

Digital Agriculture (Introduction of Computer
when using breadboards to prototype circuit involving
Programming and Engineering in Agriculture)
integrated circuits. Generally, if you carefully follow
Examples; this protocol, you will save lot of time and avoid a lot
of frustration:
• Digital farming. Agronomist using mobile
phone outdoors, analyzing crop growth a) Start by constructing a clearly drawn
conditions with agricultural application. schematic with all components, inputs,
• Drones. Drones have become incredibly outputs, and connections.
common in the agricultural industry. In China, b) Utilize the datasheets’; information on device
they are being used to survey 20 million pin-outs to create a thorough wiring
hectares of cotton crops, observing things that schematic. Each IC pins should be labeled and
humans on the ground may not be able to numbered, and each component should be
see. Drones can provide insights about properly described. This will serve as your
harvest timing, irrigation, pest protection, and wiring manual.
much more. c) Double-check the functions you want to
• Swine Live Weight Estimator of Smartlink. perform with each device and test them
individually.
d) Insert the ICs into your breadboard.
INTRODUCTION TO LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS 1 e) Carefully connect every wire, marking or
crossing off each line on your schematic as
The Breadboard - A breadboard is a useful tool for you go. Use proper lengths (1/4 in) for
developing circuits in a way that allows for easy exposed wire ends and choose wire colors in a
testing and safe modification. logical and consistent manner (e.g., red for 5V,
black for ground, various colors for signaling).
f) Treat the breadboards with extreme care.
Wires shouldn’t be forced into or out of holes.
You risk damaging the breadboard if you do
this, and you won’t be able to make secure
connections in the broken holes or rows. To
avoid bent or broken pins, remove ICs from
the breadboard using a “chip puller,” a little
tool..
 g) Make sure your wiring is very neat (i.e., not a The unit of resistance is the ohm ( Ω). Resistance is a
“rat’s nest”), and keep all of your wires as material characteristic with a value equal to the slope
short as possible to minimize electrical of the voltage-current curve of the resistor. (see F
magnetic interference (EMI) and added igure 1.3) . The voltage-current relationship and
resistance, inductance, and capacitance. resistance are both linear for a perfect resistor. Real
h) Make sure all components and wires are resistors, however, are frequently nonlinear because
firmly seated in the breadboard, establishing of temperature effects. Higher resistance results from
good connections. This is especially important a rise in temperature as the current increases. Real
with large ICs like PIC microcontrollers. resistors can only dissipate a certain amount of
i) Double check the 5V and ground connections electricity, measured in watts, before they start to
to each IC. malfunction. If a resistor’s material is homogeneous
j) Before connecting the power supply, set the and has a constant cross-sectional area, such as the
output to 5V and turn it off. cylindrical wire illustrated in Figure 1.3, then the
k) Connect the power supply to your breadboard resistance is given by:
and then turn it on.
l) Measure signals at inputs and outputs to
verify proper functionality.
m) If your circuit is not functioning properly, go
back through the above steps in reverse order
checking everything carefully. If you are still
having difficulty, use the beep continuity-
check feature on a multimeter to verify all
connections and to check for shorts.
n) When prototyping with a soldered protoboard
or PCB, use IC sockets to allow easy
installation and removal of ICs.

Resistors

As a dissipative component, a resistor transforms FIXED RESISTOR

electrical energy into heat. The voltage current
characteristic of an ideal resistor is described by • Ceramic type or metal film
Ohm's law: • Colors brown, red, green, blue, and violet are
used as tolerance codes on 5-band resistors
only.
• All 5-band resistors use a color tolerance
band.
 Module2 Actuators, Components and C++ Language
Actuators - A device that transforms energy into
motion is called an actuator. In the context of Arduino,
actuators are used to control physical systems, such as
motors, lights, and sensors.
Here are some common types of actuators that can be
used with Arduino:
1. Servo motors: These are small motors that can be
programmed to move to specific positions based on
input from Arduino. Servo motors are commonly used
in robotics and automation projects.
2. DC motors: These are simple motors that can be
used to power wheels or other mechanical devices. DC
motors can be controlled with an H-bridge circuit or a
motor driver shield.
3. Stepper motors: These are motors that move in
precise increments, making them ideal for applications
that require accurate positioning. Stepper motors can
be controlled with a stepper motor driver board.
4. Solenoids: These are electromechanical devices that
convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.
Solenoids can be used to control valves, switches, or
other mechanical systems.

QUIZ 1 5. Relays: These are switches that are controlled by an

electromagnet. Relays can be used to control high-
1. voltage or high-current devices, such as lights or
motors.
6. LEDs: These are simple light-emitting diodes that
can be used to indicate the status of a system or
provide visual feedback.
Components

Answer: 260 Ω ± 5% Arduino is a popular open-source electronics platform

used to create a wide range of projects, from simple
2. LED blinking to complex robots. To build an Arduino
project, you will need some basic components,
including:
1. Arduino Board: An Arduino board is the brain of
your project. It is a microcontroller-based board that
receives input from sensors and outputs data to
actuators. The most common Arduino board is the
Arduino Uno, Mega and Nano.
Answer: 20 Ω ± 5%
2. Breadboard: A breadboard is a tool used for
3.
prototyping electronic circuits. It allows you to quickly
connect and disconnect components without soldering.
3. Jumper Wires: Jumper wires are used to connect
components to the breadboard or the Arduino board.

Answer: 110 Ω ± 1%
4. LED (Light Emitting Diode): LEDs are used to Standard Library: C++ provides a standard library
indicate the status of a circuit or to provide visual of functions and classes that can be used to perform
feedback. They require a resistor to limit the current. common tasks, such as working with strings and files.
5. Resistor: A resistor is used to limit the current Templates: C++ supports templates, which allow
flowing through a component, such as an LED. developers to write generic functions and classes that
can work with any data type.
6. Pushbutton Switch: A pushbutton switch is used to
input a signal into the Arduino. It can be used as a Memory Management: C++ provides manual
simple on/off switch or as a more complex input memory management through the use of pointers and
device. the new and delete operators.
7. Potentiometer: A potentiometer is a variable Overall, C++ is a powerful and flexible language that
resistor that can be used to adjust the voltage or current is widely used in a variety of industries and
in a circuit. applications. However, it can also be more complex
and difficult to learn than some other programming
8. Servo Motor: A servo motor is a small motor that
languages, particularly for beginners
can rotate to a specific angle. It is often used in
robotics projects. C++ is the primary programming language used for
Arduino boards. The Arduino Integrated Development
9. DC Motor: A DC motor is a simple motor that can
Environment (IDE) is based on C++, and it provides a
be used to power a variety of projects, such as robots
simplified version of C++ to make it easier for
or vehicles.
beginners to program the Arduino.
10. Ultrasonic Sensor: An ultrasonic sensor can be
The Arduino programming language is essentially C++
used to measure distance. It emits high- frequency
with some added libraries and functions specific to the
sound waves and measures the time it takes for them to
Arduino hardware. These libraries make it easy to
bounce back.
interact with the various inputs and outputs of the
11. Boost Converter: Use for adjusting voltage Arduino board, such as the digital and analog pins,
serial communication, and other built- in features.
12. Switch: Use to open and close a circuit.
13. Fuse: Use in case there is a shorted circuit and to
protect the device and components for certain damage. Module3 Mechatronics and Basic Circuit

C++ language 1. Introduction: An automatic irrigation system is a

solution to water plants without human intervention.
C++ is a high-level programming language that is The use of an Arduino Nano and a distance sensor
widely used for developing a variety of applications, makes the system smart enough to detect the presence
including desktop software, video games, web of plants and water them automatically.
applications, and system software. It was developed by
Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs in 1983 as an extension 2. Components: The following components are
of the C programming language. required to build the automatic irrigation system:

C++ is an object-oriented language that supports Arduino Nano board

features such as classes, encapsulation, inheritance,
Distance sensor (Ultrasonic)
and polymorphism. It also provides support for low-
level programming, including direct memory access Water pump 12V
and pointer manipulation.
Relay module
Some key features of C++ include:
Power supply (12V, 1A)
Efficiency: C++ is a compiled language, which
Breadboard and jumper wires
means that it is generally faster and more efficient than
interpreted languages like Python or Ruby. Tubing and fittings
Portability: C++ code can be compiled and run on 3. Circuit Diagram: The circuit diagram consists of
a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Linux, the following components:
macOS, and embedded systems.
Arduino Nano board
Distance sensor
 Relay module Multimeter
Water pump ∆ Multimeter is an electrical instrument use to
measure three basic electrical properties such as
Power supply
voltage, current and resistance.
4. Working: The distance sensor is placed at a certain
∆ Use to test continuity.
height from the water source. It sends ultrasonic or
infrared waves and receives their reflections. The ∆ Multi-tasking instrument. It can be a ammeter,
distance between the sensor and the water is calculated voltmeter, and ohmmeter
by measuring the time taken for the waves to travel
Analog Multimeter
and come back.
∆ Electrical Instrument that is used to measure
If the distance sensor detects the presence of water
electrical quantities such as voltage, current,
with agiven volume required by the plants, it sends a
resistance, frequency and signal power.
signal to the Arduino Nano. The Arduino Nano, in
turn, activates the water pump using a transistor or ∆ Reading the result manually.
relay module. The water pump pumps water through
the tubing and fittings to the plants. ∆ Do not require power source.

5. Programming: The program for the automatic ∆ Can measure fluctuations in the readings.
irrigation system can be written using the Arduino DIGITAL MULTIMETER
IDE. The following steps are involved:
∆ Digital multimeters combine the testing capabilities
Initialize the pins for the distance sensor, water of single-task meters—the voltmeter (for measuring
pump, and transistor or relay module. volts), ammeter (amps) and ohmmeter (ohms).
Use the distance sensor to detect the presence of ∆ More Accurate compared to analog multimeter.
water.
Measuring Voltage
Setting the time when to activate the water pump.
∆ Voltage (V ).
Wait for a certain period of time before deactivating
the water pump. ∆ Voltmeters read both positive and negative voltage.

Repeat the process. ∆ Voltmeters reads Positive charges when the positive
probe is placed in positive wire or positive pole of the
6. Calibration: The distance sensor needs to be power source.
calibrated before using it in the automatic irrigation
system. The following steps can be followed for Measuring Current
calibration:
∆ Measure Ampere (A)
Place the distance sensor at a certain height from the
∆ Connecting the probe in series in a close loop circuit.
water level.
∆ Cutting the circuit into open or gap then
Measure the distance between the sensor and the
reconnecting the circuit using a tester to measure the
and water level.
current.
Record the value as the baseline distance.
Measuring Resistance
Apply the formula for volume.
∆ Measures ohm (Ω)
Measure the distance between the sensor and the
∆ Ohmmeter works by placing a small voltage across
water leve;.
the circuit element. The current that flows through the
Record the value as the distance at which the water parts in response to that voltage determines the
level is detected. ohmmeter reading.

Adjust the program to activate the water pump when ∆ You cannot measure resistance in a close circuit.
the distance is below the detected distance.
SWITCH AND FUSE
Module4 Circuits of basic electronic parts and
1. Switch is used to open and close a circuit
components
2. Fuse is being use incase there is a shorted wire and P = 220^2 / 9.5
protects the other parts of a circuit. Surge Current
P = 5116.84 watts
AMPERE
PA = P * (1 + surge)
∆ Measure Ampere (A)
PA= 5116.84 * (1 + 0.27)
∆ Connecting the probe in series in a close loop circuit
PA = 6504.93 watts
∆ Cutting the circuit into open or gap then
I = PA / V
reconnecting the circuit using a tester to measure the
current. I = 6504.93 / 220
Ohms Law I = 29.57 amps
8.) Two resistances of 2 ohms each is connected in
series to a parallel connection of two 5-ohm
resistances and a 10-ohm resistance. What is the
equivalent resistance?
Answer:
Rseries = R1 + R2
Rseries = 2 + 2
Rseries = 4 ohms
1/Rparallel = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
1/Rparallel = 1/5 + 1/5 + 1/10
1/Rparallel = 2/10 + 2/10 + 1/10
1/Rparallel = 5/10
Rparallel = 10/5
Rparallel = 2 ohms
Kirchhoffs voltage law Rtotal = R_series + R_parallel
”The algebraic sum of all voltages in a loop must equal Rtotal = 4 + 2
zero”
Rtotal = 6 ohms
Kirchhoffs Current Law
9.) A circuit has a resistance of 20 ohms and the
”The algebraic sum of all currents entering and exiting current flows at 12 amperes. Determine the voltage.
a node must equal zero”
Answer: 0
Seatwork 2
Q2
1-3.) Identify basic electronic parts, components and
1. Wire wrap is a process that involves wrapping wires
Laboratory Instruments.
around conductive posts attached to a ??????.
4-6.) Reading of resistor
Answer: substrate
7.) An electric pump has total resistance of 9.5 ohms.
2. is an electrical instrument use to measure three basic
If its power source is from a 220-volt outlet, what
electrical properties such as voltage, current and
should be the amperage of its safety fuse? Assume 27
resistance
% surge current.
Answer: Multimeter
Answer:
3. Electrical Instrument that is used to measure
I = P/V
electrical quantities such as voltage, current,
P = V^2 / R resistance, frequency and signal power, reading the
result manually, do not require power source, can 1. Always wear appropriate personal protective
measure fluctuations in the readings? equipment (PPE) when working with electrical
equipment. This includes safety glasses, gloves, and
Answer: Analog Multimeter
non-conductive footwear.
4. it is being use incase there is a shorted wire and
2. Ensure that all electrical equipment is properly
protects the other parts of a circuit.
grounded and that all wiring is in good condition.
Answer: Fuse Inspect all electrical cords and plugs before use, and
avoid using damaged or frayed cords.
5. Potentiometer is an example of what type of
resistor? 3. Before working on electrical equipment, make sure
to turn off the power and unplug the device. Always
Answer: variable resistor. lock out and tag out the equipment to prevent
6. Getting the current using multimeter, connecting the accidental power-up.
probe in? Connection in a close loop circuit. 4. Never touch electrical equipment with wet hands or
Answer: Series when standing in water. Water is a good conductor of
electricity and can increase the risk of electrical shock.
7. Getting the Voltage using multimeter, connecting the
probe in? Connection? 5. When working with electrical equipment, always
work with a partner or have someone nearby who can
Answer: Parallel assist you in case of an emergency.
8. is used to open and close a circuit 6. Never attempt to repair or modify electrical
equipment unless you are properly trained and
Answer: Switch
qualified to do so. Always follow manufacturer's
instructions and safety guidelines.

Module5 Electrical Safety 7. Do not overload electrical outlets or circuits. Use

surge protectors and circuit breakers to prevent
Electrical safety overloading.
Electrical safety refers to the practice of ensuring that Not just in components that may cause damages, but
electrical devices and systems are used and maintained also to us humans. There are various electrical
in a manner that minimizes the risk of electrical damages that may harm humans, including:
hazards. Electrical hazards can result in electric shock,
burns, fires, explosions, and other dangerous 1. Electric shock: This occurs when the body comes
situations. Here are some general tips for electrical into contact with an electrical current. Electric shocks
safety: can range from mild to severe and can cause burns,
muscle spasms, and even cardiac arrest.
1. Never touch electrical devices or outlets with wet
hands or while standing in water. 2. Electrical burns: These occur when electrical
energy flows through the body and heats up the tissues,
2. Avoid using damaged actuators and components. causing burns. Electrical burns can cause damage to
3. Don’t use Components, actuators or devices in damp the skin, muscles, and internal organs, and can even
or wet areas, such as near a swimming pool or bathtub. lead to death.

4. Keep flammable materials away from electrical 3. Arc flash: This is an explosion that occurs when
Components, actuators and devices. electricity jumps between two conductors or between a
conductor and a ground. Arc flashes can cause burns,
5. Double Check your Circuit Before Plugging it in to hearing loss, and eye injuries.
power source.
4. Electrocution: This is a fatal electric shock that can
Electrical safety is a critical consideration in occur when the current passing through the body is too
mechatronics, as this field involves the integration of high. Electrocution can cause cardiac arrest,
mechanical, electrical, and software systems. As a respiratory failure, and other serious injuries.
student, it is important to understand the basic
principles of electrical safety in mechatronics to ensure 5. Electrical fires: These can be caused by faulty
that you work safely and avoid accidents. Here are wiring, overloaded circuits, or other electrical hazards.
some tips for electrical safety in mechatronics: Electrical fires can cause burns, smoke inhalation, and
death.
 Module6 Arduino IDE popular choice for projects such as robotics, wearable
devices, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
Arduino IDE
Arduino Due: This board is based on the
Arduino is a powerful tool for agricultural engineering
SAM3X8E ARM Cortex-M3 CPU and has 54 digital
students, as it allows them to design and build custom
input/output pins, 12 analog inputs, and a USB
electronic systems for monitoring and controlling
connection. It is designed for projects that require
various aspects of agricultural operations. Here are a
higher processing power and faster data transfer rates.
few ways that Arduino can be used in the context of
agricultural engineering: Arduino Leonardo: This board is based on the
ATmega32U4 microcontroller and has 20 digital
1. Environmental monitoring: Arduino can be used
input/output pins, 12 analog inputs, and a USB
to monitor environmental conditions such as
connection. It has built-in USB communication
temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and light levels
capabilities, which makes it suitable for projects that
in agricultural settings. This data can be used to
require USB connectivity.
optimize growing conditions and ensure that plants are
receiving the right amount of water and nutrients. Arduino Pro Mini: This is a smaller and more
lightweight version of the Arduino Uno. It is based on
2. Automated irrigation systems: Arduino can be
the ATmega328 microcontroller and has 14 digital
used to automate irrigation systems, allowing for
input/output pins, 8 analog inputs, and can be powered
precise control over watering schedules and the
with a variety of sources, including batteries.
amount of water delivered to plants.
Arduino IDE
3. Livestock monitoring: Arduino can be used to
monitor the health and well-being of livestock by Arduino IDE (Integrated Development
tracking vital signs such as heart rate, temperature, and Environment) is a software platform that allows users
activity level. to write, compile, and upload code to Arduino boards.
It is the primary tool used by Arduino developers to
4. Crop monitoring: Arduino can be used to monitor
create, test, and deploy their projects.
crop growth and health by tracking factors such as
plant height, leaf area, and chlorophyll content. The Arduino IDE provides a user-friendly interface for
programming and debugging Arduino boards. It
5. Precision agriculture: Arduino can be used to
supports multiple programming languages, including C
create precision agriculture systems that use data
and C++, and provides a wide range of libraries that
analytics and machine learning to optimize farming
make it easy to control various hardware components
practices and maximize crop yields.
and sensors.
Types of Aduino Board
To use the Arduino IDE, you first need to download
Arduino Uno: This is the most popular and widely and install it on your computer. The software is
used Arduino board. It is based on the ATmega328P available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux
microcontroller and has 14 digital input/output pins, 6 operating systems. Once you have installed the IDE,
analog inputs, and a USB connection for programming you can connect your Arduino board to your computer
and power. via a USB cable and begin writing code.

Arduino Mega: This board has more digital and The Arduino IDE includes a text editor that allows you
analog input/output pins than the Uno, making it to write code and view its syntax highlighting. It also
suitable for larger and more complex projects. It is includes a serial monitor that allows you to
based on the ATmega2560 microcontroller and has 54 communicate with the Arduino board and view output
digital input/output pins, 16 analog inputs, and a USB from the board.
connection.
To write code for an Arduino board, you need to define
Arduino Nano: This is a smaller and more compact the pins and interfaces that will be used to control
version of the Arduino Uno, making it suitable for hardware components. This is done by including
projects with limited space. It is based on the libraries that provide pre-written code for specific
ATmega328 microcontroller and has similar features hardware modules. For example, if you want to control
and capabilities as the Arduino Uno, including digital an LED, you can include the “LED” library and use its
and analog I/O pins, serial communication, and functions to turn the LED on and off.
support for various sensors and shields. The Arduino
Once you have written your code, you can compile it
Nano is designed for low power consumption and is a
and upload it to the Arduino board. The IDE will
automatically compile the code into machine language
that can be executed by the board& microcontroller.
Overall, the Arduino IDE is an essential tool for
anyone working with Arduino boards. It provides a
user-friendly interface for programming and
debugging Arduino projects and supports a wide range
of hardware components and sensors.
Parts of Arduino IDE

Toolbar: The icons displayed on the toolbar

are New, Open, Save, Upload, and Verify.
Text editor: The text editor is the main part of the
Arduino IDE where you write and edit code. It
includes features like syntax highlighting, code
completion, and error highlighting to make
programming easier.
Serial monitor: The serial monitor is a built-in tool
that allows you to communicate with an Arduino board
via a serial port. It is used to send commands to the
board and view data sent back from the board.
Sketch: A sketch is a program written in the
Arduino programming language that runs on an
Arduino board. The Arduino IDE provides a template
for creating sketches and includes a library of pre-
written code for common functions like controlling
LEDs and reading sensors.
Library manager: The library manager is a tool
that allows you to browse and install libraries from a
central repository. These libraries contain pre-written
code that can be used to control a wide range of
hardware components and sensors.
Compiler: The compiler is the part of the Arduino
IDE that converts the code you write into machine
language that can be executed by the microcontroller
on the Arduino board.