Mechatronic Systems – A Short Introduction

Abstract

Many technical processes and products in the area of mechanical and electrical engineering show increasing integration of mechanics with digital electronics and information processing. This integration is between the components (hardware) and the information-driven functions (software), resulting in integrated systems called mechatronic systems. Their development involves finding an optimal balance between the basic mechanical structure, sensor and actuator implementation, and automatic information processing and overall control. Frequently formerly mechanical functions are replaced by electronically controlled functions , resulting in simpler mechanical structures and increased functionality. The development of mechatronic systems opens the door to many innovative solutions and synergetic effects which are not possible with mechanics or electronics alone. This technical progress has a very strong influence on a multitude of products in the areas of mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineering and is increasingly changing the design, for example, of conventional electromechanical components, machines, vehicles, and precision mechanical devices. Mechanical systems generate certain motions or transfer forces or torques. For the oriented command of, e.g., displacements, velocities or forces, feedforward and feedback control systems have been applied for many years. The control systems operate either without auxiliary energy (e.g., a fly-ball governor), or with electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic auxiliary energy , to manipulate the commanded variables directly or with a power amplifier. A realization with added fixed wired (analog) devices turns out to enable only relatively simple and limited control functions. If these analog devices are replaced with digital computers in the form of, e.g., online coupled microcomputers , the information processing can be designed to be considerably more flexible and more comprehensive. Figure 19.1 shows the example of a machine set, consisting of a power-generating machine (DC motor) and a power-consuming machine (circulation pump): (a) a scheme of the components, (b) the resulting sig