Mechatronics

• Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary engineering field, the

combination of mechanical engineering, electrical
engineering, and software engineering
• Modern devices are being used in advanced mechanical, electrical, and
computer systems for industrial applications, and to assist in research.
• For instance, a modern textile machine utilizing electronics and sensory
control systems performs more efficiently than a machine using
complicated mechanisms.
• Another example is the modern automotive industry in which
automobiles now integrate mechanical functions with electronic
controls in order to provide more advantages such as higher
performance and lower fuel consumption.
Mechatronic Systems
• The word, mechatronics, is composed of ‘mecha’ from mechanism and
the ‘tronics’ from electronics.
• That is to say technologies and developed products will now incorporate
electronics more intimately and organically into mechanisms
• Fukuda defined mechatronics as being “the synergistic integration of
mechanical engineering, with electronics and intelligent computer control
in the design and manufacturing of industrial products and processes.
• Kempf suggested another definition of mechatronics as being “the
application of complex decision making to the operation of physical
systems”
Definations of Mechatronics
• Kolk defined mechatronics as “a methodology used for the optimal
design of electromechanical products.”
• Bolton presented yet another definition by saying “a mechatronic
system is not just a marriage of electrical and mechanical systems and
is more than just a control system; the mechatronic system is a
complete integration of them all.
• This means that mechatronics is a multidisciplinary engineering field
which consists of mechanical engineering, electronics and electrical
engineering, software engineering used in manufacturing, medicine,
and the service industries.
The main disciplines of
mechatronics

The components of a mechatronic system are shown in Figure

The components of a mechatronic
system
• A typical mechatronic system consists of sensors, transducers,
actuators, mechanisms, mechanical components, data acquisition
devices, processing and control systems, software and expert system.
• The components of a mechatronic system are shown in Figure.
• Examples of mechatronic systems include, space technology,
transportation, optical telecommunications, automobiles,
microwaves, automated manufacturing plants, wireless network
enabled devices, micro electro mechanical systems(MEMS),
automated diagnostic systems, biomedical devices, surgical devices,
robots, and artificial organs.
Components of a mechatronic
system.
Four main classes of mechatronic
systems
• The Japanese Society for the Promotion of Machine Industry (JSPMI), categorized
mechatronic systems and products into four main classes as follows:
• Class I: Primarily mechanical products incorporated with electronics to have enhanced
functionality. Two examples of this are numerically controlled machine tools and variable
speed drives in manufacturing machines.
• Class II: Classical mechanical systems with significantly updated internal devices including
electronics but with an unchanged external user interface. Two examples are the modern
sewing machine and automated manufacturing systems.
• Class III: Systems whose functionality is similar to the classical mechanical system, but their
internal mechanisms are replaced by electronics. An example of this is the digital watch.
• Class IV: Products designed with synergistic integration of mechanical and electronic
technologies. Examples are photocopiers, intelligent washers and dryers, and automatic
ovens.
• The above mechatronics product classes are based on development in various
technologies.
Four main classes of mechatronic
systems
• Class I products were generated by using servo technology, power
electronics, and control theory.
• Class II products were generated by using early computational and memory
devices and custom circuit design capabilities.
• Class III products were based on the microprocessor and integrated circuits
to replace mechanical systems.
• Class IV products relied on the beginning of true mechatronic systems
which were the combination of mechanical systems and electronics.
• Data acquisition, processors, control system ,Software , expert system
Mechanisms and mechanical components like Sensors and transducers
Actuators.
Advantages Of Mechatronics system
• In the classical development of an electromechanical system, the mechanical and
electrical components are first designed or selected separately and then integrated
with other hardware and software components.
• However, in the mechatronics approach, the whole electromechanical system is
designed simultaneously in an integrated manner by a multidisciplinary team of
professionals.
• A system produced by interconnecting a set of separately designed and constructed
components will not provide the same level of performance as a mechatronic system
that employs an integrated approach for design, development, and execution.
• The main reason is that the best operation can only be achieved through an
integrated approach to design, development, and execution by ensuring that
optimum compatibility exists between each discrete entity in the system.
• In general, a mechatronics product is more efficient, cost effective, compact, accurate,
reliable, flexible and practical, and mechanically simpler than an alternative product.
• Although by using a complex control system the performance of such an alternative
system can be improved, it would require the additional cost of sensors,
instrumentation, control hardware and software
Mechatronics Design Concept and
Framework
• Mechatronics design is a combination of physical modeling systems
and simulation techniques.
• It is used to design complex machines by combining mechanical and
physical characteristics with electronics and software to achieve a
real-time prototype.
• In designing a mechatronic system, various factors such as quality,
performance, cost, safety, speed, etc., must be considered and
optimized.
Mechatronics Design Concept and
Framework
• One example of mechatronic systems is robot manipulation.
• The robotics industry came to the fore in the late 1970s and early
1980s due to the increasing availability of low-cost digital signal
processors (DSPs) and microprocessors that possessed high
computational power.
• Robotic manipulators are used in many applications, such as
manufacturing processes and robotic assisted surgery.
• A robotic manipulator has four major subsystems, and every modern
mechatronic system has the same subsystem functionalities
A robotic manipulator major subsystems

A robotic manipulator has four major subsystems, and every modern

mechatronic system has the same subsystem functionalities
• 1. A mechanism to transfer motion from an actuator to the
instrument.
• 2. An actuator (a motor and power amplifier, a hydraulic cylinder and
valve) and power source (DC power supply, internal combustion
engine and pump).
• 3. Sensors to measure the motion variables.
• 4. A controller (data acquisition, microcontroller, microprocessor and
DSPs) together with operator user interface devices and
communication capabilities to other intelligent devices.
Problems
• The following problems can occur when independently designed
components are interconnected
• 1. The original characteristics and operating conditions of the
components tend to change as a result of loading or dynamic
interactions.
• 2. Perfect compatibility of two independently designed components
will be practically impossible and a component is likely to become
either underutilized or overloaded.
• 3. Some of the external variables in the components will become
internal and hidden as a result of interconnection, which causes
potential problems that cannot be explicitly monitored through sensing
and, therefore, cannot be directly controlled.
The limitations of mechanical-
electronic systems
• The limitations inherent within most classical mechanical-electronic
systems include: the lack of appropriate sensors and actuators,
inadequate lifetime under rough operating conditions (acceleration,
temperature, and contamination), large space requirements, bulky
cabling, and relatively slow data processing.
• In the design of a mechatronic system, with the advent of
miniaturization, robustness, and computing power of microelectronic
components, electronics can be improved and more autonomous
systems can be visualized, such as capsuled units with touchless signal
transfer or bus connections, and robust microelectronics
Types of integrations
• There are two types of integrations in a mechatronic system: the
integration of components (hardware integration) and the integration
of information processing (software integration
• Hardware integration results from designing the mechatronic system
as an overall system and inserting sensors, actuators, and
microcomputers into the mechanical system.
• Integrated sensors and microcomputers form smart sensors, and
integrated actuators and microcomputers form smart actuators.
• For larger systems, bus connections will replace cables and so there
are several possibilities to generate an integrated overall system by
proper integration of the hardware.
•
Software integration

• Software integration, or the integration of information processing, is

generally based on advanced control functions.
• Besides a basic control, an additional influence may be caused by
processing available signals at higher levels, including the solution of
tasks such as fault diagnosis, optimization, and general process
management.
• Therefore, a knowledge base that comprises methods for design and
information gathering, process models, and performance criteria is
required
Importance of Mechatronics in
Medical Applications
• Due to the high sensitivity of medical equipment, for which the hygienic
aspect must be considered, rapid developments in facilitating and
observing high standards of hygiene and treatment are always observed.
• These developments naturally require different specialties in order to
design accurate, intelligent, and efficient systems.
• Medical instruments were always designed to fulfill a specific function and,
in the right hands, were invariably used to good purpose.
• Introduction of modern devices and fields such as the artificial heart,
robotic surgery, and intelligent probes shows that the efficiency of
conventional tools depends as much on the appropriate combination of
mechanics, electronics, and computer science as it does on the skilful use
Importance of Mechatronics in
Medical Applications
• Within the field of medicine, tele robotics is a complicated mechatronic
system that can be used in minimally invasive surgeries to perform
surgical procedures with a very high degree of precision.
• The design and development of tele robotic systems, therefore, plays an
important role in improving the quality of surgical procedures and
reducing potential problems.
• Using mechatronic systems, researchers are also investigating
implantation techniques in the human body, using micro- and
nanotechnology to repair or replace damaged physiological functions.