Mechatronics: Sensors and Machine Automation - 2019 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 sessions 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.

Pre-requisites: ECM1102; ECM1106; ECM2111; ECM2105, or equivalent

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.

This is a constituent module of one or more degree programmes which are accredited by a professional engineering institution under licence from the Engineering Council. The learning outcomes for this module have been mapped to the output standards required for an accredited programme, as listed in the current version of the Engineering Council’s ‘Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’ document (AHEP-V3).

This module contributes to learning outcomes: SM2m – SM5m, D4m, D6m-D8m, EA1m-EA6m, EP2m, EP3m

A full list of the referenced outcomes is provided online: https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/studentinfo/subjects/engineering/accreditation/

The AHEP document can be viewed in full on the Engineering Council’s website, at: http://www.engc.org.uk/

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge: SM2m – SM5m, D4m, D6m, EA1m, EA2m, EA4m, EA5m, EP2m, EP3m

1 Analyse system response of amplitude linearity, bandwidth and phase linearity;

2 Design analogue signal conditioning circuits through passive and active methods;

3 Understand general sensor and actuator specifications: sensitivity, dynamic range, resolution, accuracy, and others;

4 Have knowledge of sensing and actuation principles: resistive, inductive, capacitive, magnetic, thermal, optical, piezoelectric, and others;

5 Design of sensor and instrumentation systems using different sensors such as resistive temperature detectors (RTDs), strain gauges, thermocouples, LVDT and acceleration sensors to meet design requirements;

6 Understand DC motor torque production and back electromotive force generation;

7 Understand DC and AC motors’ speed, torque and power characteristics, and select motors for your designs;

8 Understand the concept of energy harvesting, power management, wireless sensors, and their integration and applications;

9 Build integrated mechatronic systems with sensors and actuators using microcontrollers and programming in C;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge: D4m, D8m, EA1m, EA2m, EA3m, EA4m, EA6m

10 Understand the core mechanical/electronic and electrical engineering concepts covered in the module;

11 Incorporate systems analysis into the design process;

12 Understand basic programming in C;

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge: D6m, D7m, D8m

13 Write concise technical reports;

14 Monitor your own progress;

15 Set realistic targets;

16 Modify your targets and learning strategies appropriately;

17 Be able to design new and innovative systems to solve real engineering problems.

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

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

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

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

- 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;

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

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

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

All referred/deferred assessments will be by Written Exam.

If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 50% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

Basic Reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Bishop, R.H., (2005), Mechatronics: An Introduction, CRC Press

De Silva, C.W. (2010), Mechatronics: A Foundation Course, CRC Press

Alciatore, D.G. and Histand, M.B.,(2011) Introduction to Mechatronics and Measurement Systems, McGraw-Hill

Reading list for this module: