Tutorial - What is Mechatronics?

Mechatronics is the genuine combination of different field of engineering such as mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and computing. The word MECHATRONICS originates from the combination of the word Mechanics (MECHA) and Electronics (TRONICS). This name was first introduced by Yaskawa Electric Corporation in 1971. What is Mechatronics? "Mechatronics is one of the developing fields of technology and science". Its main aim is to improve the manufacturing of machinery and equipments and the performance of technical systems. And in addition to this it plays a vital role in the creation of apparatus with built in “Artificial Intelligence”.

What is Mechatronics? - Mechatronics Block Diagram

Mechatronics Applications

Now after knowing What is Mechatronics? The next question is about mechatronics applications. Mechatronics applications consist of certain variety of applications in the area of manufacturing automation. Some mechatronics applications related with this area are:

CNC(Computer Numeric Control) Machine

Tool Monitoring Systems.

Industrial robots

Automatic Inspection Systems

Automatic Packaging Systems etc…

According to MIT’s magazines innovation mechatronics is identified as one of the ten emerging technologies that will change the world. In mechatronics it uses electromechanical system for embedded and programmable electronic devices and the distributed structure of the sensors, actuators, processing signals and communication. One of the important features of mechatronics is the ability to process and communicate information accurately in the form of variety of signals such as with high level automation.Mechatronics has important role in a medical field. The main aim of mechatronics in medical field is to design an innovative, accurate and intelligent medical devices (or) medical instruments. According to the conclusion of pioneering guide discussing mechatronics applications presenting certain medical issues such as feedback sensors, artificial intelligence, medical image including MRI, CT scan.

What is Mechatronics? Mechatronics Applications in Medical Field

By integrating the best design practices with the most advanced technologies, mechatronics aims at realizing high-quality products, guaranteeing at the same time a substantial reduction of time and costs of manufacturing. Mechatronics applications make rapid changes and an improvement in various fields of electronics, computer and control systems last year because of this control system field achieves a greater role in every field. Mechatronically controlled machines/ manufacturing systems can be considered as a mechanical frame directed by an electronic brain. The benefits accumulated are reduction in rejection, rework, modification, warranty cost, assembly cost thus improving overall efficiency of manufacturing systems. The mechatronic modules achieve the manufacture goals and inherit stretchy and agile manufacturing properties in the production scheme. Hybrid systems significant to mechatronics include planetary exploration rovers, production systems and synergy drives, automotive subsystems such as anti-lock braking systems and spin-assist, and every-day equipment such as hard disk, video, autofocus cameras, and CD players.

What does Mechatronics include?

The field of mechatronics offers engineers the expertise needed to face the changes. Mechatronics respond to industry’s increasing demand for engineers who are able to work across the boundaries of narrow engineering disciplines to identify and use the proper combination of technologies for optimum solutions to today’s increasingly challenging engineering problems. In this field depending on the integration mechanical, control and computer systems in order to meet offering specifications, familiarize intelligence in mechanical components, add versatility and maintainability and decrease cost. Mechatronic design results in improvements both to existing product such as in micro controlled drilling machines as well as to new products and systems. A key requirement in building successful mechatronics system is the ultimate understanding of the main three basic elements (they are mechanic, control and computers) and the synergistic application of these in designing advanced products and process. Although all these three building blocks are very significant, mechatronics focuses explicitly on their communication, integration and synergy that can lead to better-quality and cost effective systems.

Mechatronics System

In mechatronics the design, integration and control are performed with the help of some elements. Some of the certain elements used in mechatronics are:

Dynamic system modeling and analysis : Biological, thermo-fluid, electrical, hydraulic, chemical, structural, etc. ,Decision & control theory, Signal Conditioning and sensors, Power electronics and actuators, Data acquisition (A2D, D2A, digital I/O, counters, timers, etc…), Hardware interfacing, Rapid control prototyping.

In the late 1970’s the Japan society for the promotion of machine industry classified mechatronics into four categories.

Class 1: Mechanical products with electronics incorporated to enhance functionality.

Class 2: Mechanical systems with significantly updated internal device incorporating electronics. The external user interfaces are unaltered.

Class 3: System that retains the functionality of the traditional mechanical system, but the internal mechanisms is replaced by electronics.

Class 4: Products designed with mechanical and electronic technologies through synergistic integration.

Mechatronics With Optical Technology

The enabling technologies for each mechatronic class illustrate the progression of electro mechanical products in stride with developments in control theory, computation technologies and microprocessors. In recent years mechatronics is incorporated with optical technology. Because in some cases mechatronics components alone cannot fulfill a desired function or achieve a desired performance as specified for a system. In some other cases the measurement data obtained by conventional sensors are not accurate or reliable enough to be used for further processing. The difficulties listed here may limit the enhancement of the functionality and performance of the mechatronics system. This necessitates the integration of the mechatronic technology with others.

So the optical technology has been incorporated into mechatronic systems at an accelerated rate and as a result a great number of mechatronics products machines or systems with smart optical components have been introduced. The presence of optical technology is increasing this enhances system value and performance because optical elements incorporating mechatronic elements embedded in the system provide some solutions to difficult technical problems. Thus the incorporation of optical technology with mechatronic components shows that the optically integrated technology provides enhanced characteristics such that it creates new functionality that are not achievable with conventional technology alone, exhibits higher functionalities because it makes product or systems function in an entirely different way or in a more efficient manner and produces high precision and reliability because it can facilitate or enable in process monitoring and control of the system state.