University of Delaware, Mechatronics
This page was last modified on Wed 26 Apr 1995
William Harwin
The Syllabus for 1995 may change slightly but these changes will be
documented here. A 1994 syllabus is also given for comparison since
the structure of the course changes from year to year.
I hope to arrange information to be on line as well as via a
mechatronics data book. This is experimental so please let me know
what works and what doesn't
Lectures will be on Wednesdays at 2.30 unless otherwise indicated.
- Week 1,
Intro and the great leap forward
Wednesday 8th of February at 1.30
- Week 2,
Non meeting that covered the micro controller
Wednesday 15th of February at 2.30
- Week3,
Electronics - op amps, and Engineering design
Wednesday 22th of February at 2.30
- Week4,
Introduction to electric motors
- Week5,
Walking wheelchair competition
- Week6,
Product disections
- Week7,
Haptic display project overview
- Week8,
Haptic display project Brainstorming the mechanical
design, identification of the mechanical/electrical and
computing elements, choosing members for each group.
- Week9,
Introduction to control, finalization of the design components.
- Week10,
Student lectures, Head anatomy (aparna), Real time computing
(jon?)
Typically a class day consists of an hour of lectures followed by two
hours laboratory time when I will be available to help in what ever
way possible. Additional time outside this period will also be
required, preferably not all in one night to meet the next deadline.
Mechatronics is the intersection set of computer, electronic and
mechanical engineering. This course will
- introduce students to design principles related to mechatronic
products
- give some basic theory in each of the three disciplines
- show how engineering design links these areas
- and demonstrate how mechatronic skills can be used to solve
practical problems.
Theoretical component:
Theory covered in this course will
include a revision of basic electronics, mechanics and
computing. Additional theory in these areas will be given but due to
the breath of the field it will be primarily intended to assist
students with the project phases of this course. The student will also
be introduced to engineering design principles and shown how design
tools can be used to improve the process of taking an idea for a
mechatronic product to a workable prototype.
Introductory design exercise:
Groups of 3 will be formed to design and build a small walking
robot. The robots will be tested in a number of informal events.
Rules are given in the syllabus.
Product dissection
A commercial mechatronic product will be reverse engineered and
features of its design will be analyses.
Primary design project:
Larger groups will be formed to design and
prototype a more substantial mechatronic device. In 1993 this was a
mobile robot that was able to navigate the corridors of a building. In
1994 the design exercise was a novel computer mouse that could be used
to feel the walls and openings of the virtual world it occupied.
This years design will be a 3 Degree of freedom haptic display using
motors and magnetic particle brakes. It time permits we will use this to
control a wheelchair mounted rehabilitation robot
The following are a guideline rather than strict course prerequisites.
- Computing -
- Ability to program, preferably in C and
Basic. Knowledge of boolean logic.
- Electrical -
- What batteries and resistors are (Ohms law),
- ability to follow a simple electrical circuit.
- Mechanics -
- Basic vector arithmetic applied to forces,
- ability to distinguish between a force and a moment,
- understanding of the basic workings of levers, pulleys etc.
- Personal -
- Enthusiasm, ability to work both independently and in a
team. This is not an easy course and a sense of humor helps.
Recent Instructors:
William Harwin and Richard Foulds
[Spring~93, Spring~94]
Please note, because of the multi-disciplinary nature of this course
it is recommended that you talk to the instructors before signing up.
Also the Applied Science and Engineering Laboratories are an off
campus site. Some work can be done on campus but the class will meet once a
week at the Applied Science and Engineering Laboratories.
This document is
http://www.asel.udel.edu/robotics/mechatronics/mechatronics95.html