6.8 Introductory Mechatronic Course

At Purdue University Indianapolis, in the Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engi-neering departments, an Electrical/Mechanical Engineering senior-level undergraduate–junior graduate mechatronic course was developed and offered. The topics covered are given in Table 6.1.

This course is developed to bridge the engineering–science–technology gap by bonding innovative multi-disciplinary developments, focusing on state-of-the-art hardware, and centering on high-perfor-mance software. The developed course dramatically reduces the time students need to establish basic skills for high-technology employability. The objective of this course is twofold: to bring recent developments of modern electromechanics and to integrate an interactive studio-based method of instruction and delivery. During the past decade, there has been a shift in engineering education from an instructor-centered lectures environment to a student-centered learning environment. We have developed a mecha-tronics studio that combines lectures, simulation exercises, and experiments in a single classroom in order to implement new teaching and delivery methods through an active learning environment, activity-based strategies, interactive multimedia, networked computer-based learning, multisynchronous delivery of supporting materials, and effective demonstration. Simulation-based assignments can be used to illustrate problems that cannot be easily studied and assessed using classical paper-and-pencil analytic solutions.

The assessment performed demonstrates that this course guarantees comprehensive, balanced cover-age, satisfies the program objectives, and fulfills the goals. While students are familiar with some topics of advanced engineering and science (calculus and physics), it is clear that they do not have sufficient background in nonlinear dynamics and control, electric machinery, power electronics, solid-state devices, ICs, microprocessors, and DSPs. Therefore, the material is presented in sufficient details, and basic theory needed to fully understand, appreciate, and apply mechatronics is covered. In this course, most efficient and straightforward analysis, modeling, simulation, and synthesis methods are presented and demon-strated with ultimate objectives to address and solve the analysis, design, control, optimization, and virtual prototyping problems. A wide range of worked-out examples and qualitative illustrations, which are treated in-depth, bridge the gap between the theory, practical problems, and engineering practice. Step-by-step, the mechatronic course guides students from rigorous theoretical foundation to advanced applications and implementation. In addition to achieving a good balance between theory and applica-tion, state-of-the-art hardware and software are emphasized and demonstrated. In this course, mecha-tronic systems are thoroughly covered, and students can easily apply the results to attack real engineering problems.

6.9 Books in Mechatronics

The demand for educational books in mechatronics far exceeds what was previously anticipated by academia and industry. Excellent textbooks in electric machinery [1–8], power electronics [9–11], micro-electronics and ICs [12], and sensors [13,14] were published. Educational examples in analysis and design of linear electromechanical systems are available from control books [15–21]. Control Systems Theory With Engineering Applications [18], shown in Fig. 6.4, has a number of illustrative examples in modeling, simulation, and control of complex nonlinear electromechanical systems. In particular, analysis and control of nonlinear transducers, permanent-magnet DC and synchronous motors, squirrel-cage induc-tion motors, servomechanisms, and power converters are thoroughly covered.

The need for a comprehensive treatment of nonlinear electromechanical systems using the mechatronic paradigm is evident. Excellent books in conventional electromechanical motion devices [3,4,22], and textbooks for mechanical engineering students in mechatronics [23–27] have been used in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering departments, respectively. However, there is a critical need for modern books in mechatronics that are comprehensive in their coverage and global in their perspective for engineering departments. The time has come to target new frontiers using the developed engineering enterprise,

emerging technologies, advanced hardware, and state-of-the-art software. The book Electromechanical Systems, Electric Machines, and Applied Mechatronics [28] was written by taking advantage of the modern engineering curriculum, see Fig. 6.5. In this book, the fundamental theory of electromechanics, new enabling technologies, basic engineering principles, system integration, modeling, analysis, simulation, control, as well as a spectrum of emerging engineering problems, were comprehensively covered. For NEMS and MEMS, the book Nano- and Micro-Electromechanical Systems: Fundamentals of Nano- and Micro-Engineering [29] can be effectively used. A wide number of demonstrations and examples of electromechanical systems are covered.