Mechatronics

at Virginia Tech

An overview of the new course and future curriculum in Mechatronics

Prof. Lynn Abbott, abbott@vt.edu

Mecha -- what ?

The synergistic combination of mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering
- emphasis on integrated design for products
- optimal combination of appropriate technologies
- EXAMPLES:
  - robots
  - anti-lock brakes
  - photocopiers
  - consumer products (e.g., clothes dryers)

International Perspective

“Emerging core technology for next century”
- UK Engineering & Physical Science Research Council
“Current area of major skills shortage”
- Japanese industrial consortium
Emerging in USA
- U.C. Berkeley, Rensselaer, Stanford, N.C. State, VT
- IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics

EE/ME Joint Course

First offered Fall 1996
- team taught (Saunders, Bay, Reinholtz)
International Partners
- Scoula Superiore Sant’ Anna (U. Pisa, Italy)
- Fachhochschule Bochum (Germany)

Syllabus

Dynamic modeling of electromechanical systems	5%
Microcontroller operation, interfacing, and programming	25%
Sensors	15%
Actuators and drive systems	20%
Signal acquisition and conditioning	15%
Control theory	10%
Programmable logic controllers	5%
Data communications	5%

Prerequisites
- Signals and Systems
- Introduction to Computer Engineering
Current class make-up
- ~33% EE/CpE
- ~67% ME & other engineering

Laboratory

Interdiscplinary student teams
1200 sq. ft. facility, new HP equipment, PCs, and ethernet hub
Students solder, test, and program microcontrolled digital PID motor controller
- PIC16C84 microcontroller
- LMD 18200 motor driver
- ADC 0838 Serial SA A/D converter

VT84

WWW-Enhanced Course

Course notes transcribed
Product data sheets/documentation on-line
Software & simulators on-line
Step-by-step laboratory instructions & on-line help
On-line assessment surveys & communications

Impact on ME, EE, CpE Curricula

Mechatronics to become regular tech elective
Mechatronics “Tracks” being considered:

Mechanical Engineering	Electrical/Comp. Engineering
EE 2504: Intro to Computers	EE 2704, 3704: Signals & Systems
CS : Real Time Programming	EE 2504, EE 4535: Computers
ME4505: Control Systems I or Vibs	ESM : Statics/Dynamics
ME/EE 4714: Mechatronics	EE 4405, 4406: Control Systems
ME4514: Control Systems II (or)	EE/ME 4714: Mechatronics
ME4984: Smart Material Systems	EE 4704: Robotics

Future Plans

Implement tracks/degree options in both departments.
Refine laboratory content - more transducer design/integration, eye on industry interests, launch mechatronics research.
Identify industrial partner/sponsor.
Provide distance learning opportunities.
Provide short courses for industry.
Textbook

1999-07-19 webmaster@mechatronics-net.de