Mechatronics - 2021 entry

This module takes you into an interdisciplinary field of engineering dealing with the integration of mechanical, electric and electronic components coordinated by a controller. You will have the chance to learn a broad range of mechatronic systems and components, including analogue and digital circuits, sensors, actuators, energy harvesting and system integration to gradually build your capability to design mechatronic systems. You will also have practical hands-on session to learn how to build real-world mechatronic systems, ranging from simple LED light flashing and DC motor control circuits, to complex robot arm control and ultrasonic range detection.

Aimed at both electronic and mechanical engineers, this modules combines major components of mechanical, electric and electronic engineering to explore how mechatronic systems are designed and built, right from learning the fundamental knowledge and concepts of major components in the systems, through to building mechatronic systems for real-world applications.

This module aims to introduce you to fundamental knowledge and concepts of design of mechatronic systems. Through both lectures and laboratory sessions, you will be able to design and build mechatronic systems using sensors, actuators, instrumentation electronics and microcontroller systems. The module aims to further advance your capability through a small group project where these skills are put into practice to build a mechatronic system for real-world applications.

1: Introduction to mechatronic systems: what are mechatronic systems, applications and examples, and introduction of the course structure

2: Analogue electronic systems: passive circuits, active circuits, analogue interfacing using operational-amp (op-amp)

3: Digital circuits, data acquisition, and microcontroller: A/D and D/A, Digital circuits and microcontrollers

4: System response: how output of the system respond to inputs and signal analyses

5: General sensor and actuator characteristics and working principles: sensitivity, dynamic range, resolution, accuracy, and others; resistive, inductive, capacitive, magnetic, thermal, optical, and piezoelectric sensors and actuators

6: Sensors: displacement, stress/strain, thermocouple sensors, accelerometers and others

7: Actuators: DC motor torque production and back electromotive force generation;DC, AC and stepper motors and other types

8: Energy harvesting systems: energy harvesting, power management, wireless sensor and their integration

As the module is assessed by the examination and coursework, the ref/def assessment will be by examination. The candidates will be awarded the ref/def examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

Reading list for this module: