Mechanical Engineering 333, Introduction to Mechatronics

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Catalog description

Introduction to microprocessor controlled electromechanical systems. Interfacing sensors and actuators to computers, electrical and mechanical prototyping, dissection of commercial product. Final term project.

Prerequisite: GEN ENG 205-3 or consent of instructor.

Who takes it

This course is taken by engineering and computer science students interested in the design of microprocessor-controlled electromechanical systems.

What it's about

Introduction to the design of microprocessor-controlled electromechanical systems. Interfacing sensors and actuators to a personal computer and a single-board computer. Electrical and mechanical design, prototyping, and construction. Dissection of a commercial mechatronic product. Students work in teams to produce final computer-controlled electromechanical projects of their own design.

Link to Mechatronics lab pages; Link to Northwestern Mechatronics wiki

Minisyllabus:

  • What is mechatronics?
  • Example systems and architecture.
  • Basic circuits review: current and voltage sources, resistance, capacitance, inductance, constitutive laws, Kirchoffs current and voltage laws.
  • Basic nonlinear elements: diodes and transistors.
  • Nonlinear circuit elements, The Furby (motor control).
  • Review of C programming.
  • Number systems: binary, hexadecimal.
  • Handyboard single-board computer.
  • Introduction to digital design and integrated circuits.
  • Sensors. Stepper motors. Actuators. Motor sizing.
  • Power transmission: gears (rack and pinion, spur, planetary, worm, bevel, crown, harmonic) and belt drives; torque, speed, and power equations, efficiency, inertia, reflected inertia, inertia matching.
  • Final project.

Labs:

There are five scheduled three-hour labs, and the lab will be open around-the-clock to allow students to work on their projects at any time.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Labs, Quizzes, Homework and Final Project.

Textbook:

Introduction to Mechatronics and Measurement Systems, Second Eidition, D. G. Alciatore and M. B. Histand, McGraw-Hill, 2003, ISBN 0-07-240241-5.

Other Sources:

  • The Art of Electronics, second edition, P. Horowitz and W. Hill, Cambridge University Press, 1989, ISBN 0-521-37095-7.
  • Mechatronics: Electronic Control Systems in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, second edition, W. Bolton, Addison Wesley Longman, 1999, ISBN 0-582-35705-5.
  • Mobile Robots: Inspiration to Implementation, second edition, J. Jones, A. Flynn, and B. Seiger, AK Peters, 1999, ISBN 1-56881-097-0.
  • Mechanical Devices for the Electronics Experimenter, B. Rorabaugh, TAB Books (Division of Mc-Graw Hill), 1995, ISBN 0-07-053547-7.

Contact:

Professor: Kevin Lynch

[ Detailed syllabus | Course web site ]