This document provides an introduction and overview of mechatronics systems. It defines mechatronics as the synergistic integration of mechanical engineering, electronics, and intelligent computer control in the design of industrial products. Mechatronics aims to produce cost-effective, high performance systems by combining sensors, actuators, signal conditioning, power electronics, decision making algorithms, and computer hardware/software. Examples of various mechatronics applications are also provided.

1. By
GANESH R
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
ELEMENTS OF
MECHATRONICS
UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION
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2. Topics
SL.NO TOPIC
1 Introduction to Mechatronics
systems, Concepts &
Application.
2 Mechatronics System
Components with examples
3 Measurement Systems, Control
systems, Open & Closed Loop
Systems.
4 Sequential Controllers with
examples – Water level
controller.
5 Shaft speed control, Washing
machine control.
6 Automatic camera and
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3. The word mechatronics was originated from Japan (Yasakawa Electric Company) in the
late 1960s, spread through Europe, and is now commonly used round the globe.
“The word, mechatronics, is composed of ‘mecha’ from mechanism and the ‘tronics’
from electronics.
Mechatronics solves technological problems using interdisciplinary knowledge consisting
of mechanical engineering, electronics, and computer technology.
In 1996, Harashima, Tomizuka, and 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.”
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.”
Mechatronics is the field of study concerned with the design, selection, analysis, and
control of systems that combine mechanical elements with electronic components,
including computers and/or microcontrollers.
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Introduction to Mechatronics Systems

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Mechatronics is the synergistic integration of sensors, actuators, signal conditioning, power
electronics, decision and control algorithms, and computer hardware and software to
manage complexity, uncertainty, and communication in engineered systems.
Working definition
Graphical Representation of

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6. Evolution of Mechatronics
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of engineered
Technological advances in design, manufacturing, and operation
products/devices/processes can be traced through:
– Industrial revolution
– Semiconductor revolution
– Information revolution
Industrial Revolution
•Allowed design of products and processes for energy conversion and transmission thus
allowing the use of energy to do useful work.
• Engineering designs of this era were largely mechanical
– e.g., operations of motion transmission, sensing, actuation, and computation were
performed using mechanical components such as cams, gears, levers, and linkages).
• Purely mechanical systems suffer from
– Power amplification inability.
– Energy losses due to tolerances, inertia, and friction.

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8. Semiconductor Revolution
• Led to the creation of integrated circuit (IC) technology.
•Effective, miniaturized, power electronics could amplify and deliver needed amount of
power to actuators.
•Signal conditioning electronics could filter and encode sensory data in analog/digital
format.
•Hard-wired, on-board, discrete analog/digital ICs provided rudimentary computational
and decision-making circuits for control of mechanical devices.
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9. Information Revolution
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• Development of VLSI technology led to the introduction of microprocessor,
microcomputer, and microcontroller.
• Now computing hardware is everywhere, cheap, and small.
•As computing hardware can be effortlessly interfaced with real world electromechanical
systems, it is now routinely embedded in engineered products/processes for decision-
making.
–Microcontrollers are replacing precision mechanical components, e.g., precision machined
camshaft that in many applications functions as a timing device.
–Programmability of microcontrollers is providing a versatile and flexible alternative to the
hard-wired analog/digital computational hardware.
–Integrated computer-electrical-mechanical devices are now capable of converting,
transmitting, and processing both the physical energy and the virtual energy (information).
•Result: Highly efficient products and processes are now being developed by
judicious selection and integration of sensors, actuators, signal conditioning, power
electronics, decision and control algorithms, and computer hardware and software.

10. Mechatronics has evolved through the following stages:
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•Primary Level Mechatronics: Integrates electrical signaling with mechanical action at the
basic control level for e.g.fluid valves and relay switches
•Secondary Level Mechatronics: Integrates microelectronics into electrically controlled
devices for e.g. cassette tape player.
•Tertiary Level Mechantronics: Incorporates advanced control strategy using
microelectronics, microprocessors and other application specific integrated circuits for e.g.
microprocessor based electrical motor used for actuation purpose in robots.
•Quaternary Level Mechatronics: This level attempts to improve smartness a step ahead by
introducing intelligence ( artificial neutral network and fuzzy logic ) and fault detection and
isolation ( F.D.I.) capability into the system.

11. Mechatronics Applications
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•Smart consumer products: home security, camera, microwave oven, toaster, dish washer,
laundry washer-dryer, climate control units, Automatic Digital Cemera etc.
•Computer disk VCR/DVD drives, ATM, etc
• Medical: implant-devices, assisted surgery, haptic, etc.
• Defense: unmanned air, ground, and underwater vehicles, smart weapons, jet engines, etc.
• Manufacturing: NC & CNC machine tools, Rapid Prototyping, robotics, etc.
•Automotive: climate control, antilock brake, active suspension, cruise control, air bags,
engine management, safety, etc.
•Network-centric, distributed systems: distributed robotics, telerobotics, intelligent highways,
etc.

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17. Advantages of Mechatronics
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Cost effective and good quality products
High degree of flexibility to modify or redesign
Very good performance characteristics
Wide are of application
Greater productivity in case of manufacturing organization
Greater extend of machine utilization
Disadvantages of Mechatronics
High Initial cost
Multi-disciplinary engineering background required to design and implementation
Need of highly trained workers
Complexity in identification an correction of problems in the system

18. Elements of Mechatronics System
Actuators & Sensors
Signals & Conditioning
Digital Logic System
Software & Data
acquisition Systems
Computers & Display
devices
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20. Actuators & Sensors
Sensors and actuators come under mechanical systems
Actuators Sensors
The actuators produce The sensors detect the state
motion or cause some action of the system parameters,
inputs and outputs
Various actuators: Pneumatic
an hydraulic actuators,
Electro Mechanical actuators,
Piezoelectric, Electrical
Motors, i.e. D.C, A.C, Stepper,
Servo motors.
Various Sensors: Liner and
rotaional
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sensors,
acceleration sensors, force,
torque, pressure sensor,
temperature, proximity and
light sensors.

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25. Signals & Conditioning
Mechatronic system deals with two types of signals and conditioning , i.e.
Input & Output
Input devices receive input signals from the mechatronics system via
interfacing devices an sensors.
From sensors the signal is send to the control circuits for conditioning or
processing.
Various input signal conditioning devices are amplifiers, A2D, D2D converters .
Output signals from the system are send to the output/display devices through
interfacing devices
Various output signal conditioning devices are D2A, display decoders, power
transistors, op-amps.
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26. Digital Thermometer
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The thermocouple is a transducer that converts temperature to a small voltage; the
amplifier increases the magnitude of the voltage; the A/D (analog-to-digital)
converter is a device that changes the analog signal to a coded digital signal; and the
LEDs (light emitting diodes) display the value of the temperature.

27. Digital Logic System
It will control overall system operation
Various digital logic systems are logic circuits, microcontrollers, PLC, sequencing &
timing controls
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29. Software & Data acquisition Systems
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Data acquisition system acquires the output signals from sensors in the form of
voltage, frequency, resistance etc. an inputting into the microprocessor or
computer.
Software is used to control the acquisition of data through DAC board.
Data acquisition system consists of multiplexer, amplifier, register and control
circuits.
Software Examples: Ladder Logic, Visual C++, Visual Basic, Lab VIEW, MATLAB,
Lab Chart, LOX

30. Using Lab VIEW
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31. Computers and display devices
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Computers are use to store large amount of data and process further through
software.
Display devices are used to give visual feedback to the user.
Display devices are LED, CRT, LCD, Digital displays etc.

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Measurement System
What is a system?
MOTO
R
Input,
Electrical Power
Output,
Rotaion
Not concentrate on what goes on inside
Concentrate only on output & Input device
Measurement system?
Measuring Input quantity
Output
the value of
quantity
Measurement
System
Thermometer
Input Temp.
Output
number on
scale

33. Digital Thermometer
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The thermocouple is a transducer that converts temperature to a small voltage; the
amplifier increases the magnitude of the voltage; the A/D (analog-to-digital)
converter is a device that changes the analog signal to a coded digital signal; and the
LEDs (light emitting diodes) display the value of the temperature.

34. Control System
To control the output to some particular value or particular sequence of values
Central Heating
system
Input, required
temperature
Output, temperature at the set
value
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35. Difference between Open loop and Closed loop system
SI.No. Open loop system Closed loop system
1 Not using feedback
2 Less accurate
3 Simple in construction
4 Optimisation in control is not possible
5 Easy maintenance & cost is less
6 Eg. CD deck, Digital thermometer
Feedback using
More accurate
Complicated in construction
Optimisation in control is possible
Difficult to maintain & cost is more
Eg. Automatic water level, washing
machine

36. Open Loop system

37. Closed loop system

38. Basic Elements of a closed loop system
1. Comparison element
2. Control element
3. Correction element
4. Process elements
5. Measurement elements

39. Various elements for controlling the room
temperature.
Controlled variable
Reference value
Comparison element
Error signal
Control unit
Correction unit
Process unit
Measuring device
- the room temperature
- the required room temperature
- the person comparing the measured value wit required temp.
- difference between measured and required temperatures
- the person
- the switch on the fire
- the heating by the fire
- a thermometer

40. Shaft Speed Control

41. Water Level Controller

42. Washing machine control

43. Cam operated Switch

44. Engine Management system

45. Automatic Camera

46. The Digital Camera