ECT418 - MECHATRONICS

MODULE I
Introduction to Mechatronics: Structure of Mechatronics
system. Comparison between traditional and
mechatronics approach. Sensors - Characteristics
-Temperature, flow, pressure sensors.
Displacement, position and proximity sensing by
magnetic, optical, ultrasonic, inductive, capacitive and
eddy current methods.
Encoders: incremental and absolute.
Resolvers and synchros.
Piezoelectric sensors. Acoustic Emission sensors.
vibration sensors. Force and tactile sensors. Range
finders: ultrasonic and light based range finders
 What is mechatronics?
• The term mechatronics was ‘invented’ by a Japanese
engineer in 1969, as a combination of ‘mecha’ from
mechanisms and ‘tronics’ from electronics.
• Technology co-ordinated, and concurrently developed,
integration of mechanical engineering with electronics
and intelligent computer control in the design and
manufacture of products and processes.
• As a result, mechatronic products have many
mechanical functions replaced with electronic ones.
• This results in much greater flexibility, easy redesign and
reprogramming, and the ability to carry out automated
data collection and reporting.
• a marriage between electronics, control systems and
mechanical engineering
The basic elements of a mechatronic
system.
 Examples of Mechatronics Systems
1. modern autofocus, auto-exposure camera
2. a truck smart suspension (suspension adjusts to
uneven loading to maintain a level platform, adjusts
to cornering, moving across rough ground, etc., to
maintain a smooth ride)
3. Automated production line (production processes
which are all automatically carried out in the correct
sequence and in the correct way with a reporting of
the outcomes at each stage in the process)
 The design process of any system
1. The need
2. Analysis of the problem
3. Preparation of a specification
4. Generation of possible solutions
5. Selections of a suitable solution
6. Production of a detailed design
7. Production of working drawings
 Traditional and mechatronics designs
• Traditional design the approach was for the
mechanical engineer to design the mechanical
elements, then the control engineer to come
along and design the control system sequential
approach to the design
• Mechatronics approach is considered to lie in
the concurrent inclusion of the disciplines of
mechanical engineering, electronics, computer
technology and control engineering in the
approach to design concurrency system
modelling and then simulation
Traditional and mechatronics designs - Illustration
• Illustration, the traditional design of the
temperature control for a domestic central
heating system has been the bimetallic
thermostat in a closed-loop control system.
• The bending of the bimetallic strip changes as
the temperature changes and is used to operate
an on/off switch for the heating system.
Traditional and mechatronics designs - Illustration
• A multidisciplinary solution to the problem might
be to use a microprocessor-controlled system
employing perhaps a thermodiode as the sensor.
• Precision and programmed control The system
is much more flexible.
Sensors - Characteristics
 Sensor
• The term sensor is used for an element which
produces a signal relating to the quantity being
measured.
• Ex :an electrical resistance temperature element,
the quantity being measured is temperature and
the sensor transforms an input of temperature
into a change in resistance.
• The term transducer is often used in place of the
term sensor. Transducers are defined as elements
that when subject to some physical change
experience a related change
 Smart sensors
• It is possible to have the sensor and signal
conditioning combined with a microprocessor all
in the same package. Such an arrangement is
termed a smart sensor.
• A smart sensor is able to have such functions as
the ability to compensate for random errors, to
adapt to changes in the environment, give an
automatic calculation of measurement accuracy,
adjust for non-linearities to give a linear output,
self-calibrate and give self-diagnosis of faults.
Performance terminology of Sensors
Performance terminology of Sensors
Performance terminology of Sensors
Performance terminology of Sensors
 Performance terminology of Sensors
6 Non-linearity error
• For many transducers a linear relationship
between the input and output is assumed over
the working range, i.e. a graph of output plotted
against input is assumed to give a straight line.
Few transducers, however, have a truly linear
relationship and thus errors occur as a result of
the assumption of linearity. The error is defined as
the maximum difference from the straight line.
 Performance terminology of Sensors
7 Repeatability/reproducibility
• The terms repeatability and reproducibility of a
transducer are used to describe its ability to
give the same output for repeated applications
of the same input value.
8 Stability
• The stability of a transducer is its ability to give
the same output when used to measure a
constant input over a period of time.
 Performance terminology of Sensors
9 Dead band/time
• The dead band or dead space of a transducer is
the range of input values for which there is no
output.

10 Resolution
• The resolution is the smallest change in the
input value that will produce an observable
change in the output.
Static and dynamic characteristics of Sensors/transducer

• The static characteristics are the values given

when steady-state conditions occur, i.e. the
values given when the transducer has settled
down after having received some input.
• The dynamic characteristics refer to the
behaviour between the time that the input
value changes and the time that the value
given by the transducer settles down to the
steady-state value.
Static and dynamic characteristics of Sensors

Response to a
step input
Static and dynamic characteristics of Sensors
Static and dynamic characteristics of Sensors