Mechatronics, an approach that transcends the discipline of engineering

Mechatronics, an approach that transcends the discipline of engineering

Mechatronics engineer as a solution provider

A quick search on the Internet explains that mechatronics is a combination of mechanical, electrical, and control engineering, often used in connection with robotics and industrial engineering for very clear reasons. .. This is an academic definition, so its general meaning is somewhat different. In short, mechatronics is all about learning and practicing the skills needed to get the job done. Without detailed analysis, you can see that a typical mechatronics project contains all three of the above elements. The idea here is that mechatronics is focused on the application, which can be in the robot field or another field.

The essence of engineering is to work with your hands black, but if you're dealing with circuit boards, is it better to stop? No, it's not necessary. Mechanical engineers use CAD to design and create models long before the manufacturing process, and software is at the heart of everything. There is also a remarkable effort to bring all three design disciplines together in one environment.

In the 20th century, control systems started with purely mechanical systems and evolved to be mostly electrical systems. In fact, it is difficult to find out the significance of a control system that does not include any mechanical or electrical elements. The governor was conceived to take advantage of simple mechanical rotation to provide proportional control in a steam engine, but today ECUs are used to manage all internal combustion engines. Understanding mechanical engineering was essential for the development of control systems, but in recent years, knowledge of electrical engineering has also become necessary. With the times, the electrical and mechanical fields are becoming increasingly interdependent. That's why cross-disciplinary approaches to engineering are more important than ever.

Just as the governor eventually replaced a more complex system, and proportional control could be applied in a more reliable and reproducible way, the control system itself was almost intangible from its complete physical existence. The state has changed. Algorithms running on powerful engines have replaced carefully weighted rotating metal devices. Software now controls most systems, and for years, engineering has simply been defined by what we see and touch. Coding has changed engineering and is now reinventing mechatronics.

The software alone cannot open the valve or detect the pressure in the fuel pipe. As such, it relies heavily on interfaces with the external environment that only physical devices can provide. The eyes, ears, and hands are sensors, actuators, motors, and other transducers. These need to be carefully integrated into the overall system, which is the most important point for modern system engineering. It is properly defined by the term mechatronics.

Who is a Mechatronics Engineer ?

It makes sense even if the manufacturer or system integrator engineer renames mechatronics engineer. When creating a system that controls the opening and closing of doors with the touch screen of a smartphone, the boundaries of technology do not matter. Many people don't even know the difference in the underlying discipline, but companies see the difference and prefer to distinguish. Mechatronic engineers are essentially solution providers, so demand for them is growing.

While the need for highly skilled experts in advanced electrical and mechanical design is not diminishing, there is a growing demand for engineers who can receive what specialists in various fields produce and immediately apply it to the real world. It is in Underpinning this positive "try it" attitude is a pervasive configurable solution that supports a hands-on approach to results-oriented engineering.

Highest level of engineering

Employees are not the only ones who understand the benefits of eliminating the boundaries of the discipline. Many companies are working to bring all engineering elements together in a faster and more productive way. Low-cost computing projects such as the Micro processor and Arduino are tied to single-board computers aimed at mechatronics. The semiconductor industry has been in this direction for years, offering board support packages, reference designs, and platforms that allow engineers to create solutions without having to learn the details. This flow is most prominent in motor control and seems to apply. Motor control is difficult to approach from a clean slate, but it's very easy to do with a pre-approved motor control platform from a microcontroller supplier.

By grouping different disciplines into a single design team, engineers can work together while complementing each other's skills. Each will also be able to help each other in the design process, thanks to the skills of the other members.

Key IoT

The reason why mechatronics are in the limelight again (this word was coined about 50 years ago) lies in the IoT. The “Internet of Things” is nothing but the “Internet of data”. Because data, or, more generally, "information," is driving the world today. It is the control system that runs on the data that provides full automation. In a steam engine, the "data" is the load on the engine, and the higher the load, the harder the engine moves, and it is controlled by the governor. The data that powers this process is no longer limited to engine load, but arrives far away. For example, inventory on shelves, cars on the street, or even the sun in the sky could be the subject of the data. Mechatronics enables the aggregation and exploitation of data and defines the overall closed loop system.

Even vocational schools and universities are aware of the increasing importance of cross-disciplinary approaches to learning, and the educational community is increasingly introducing courses that include complementary skills. The number of mechatronics degree courses is increasing, and UK vocational schools are developing “T-level” programs that are academically equivalent to the A-level, but with a special emphasis on design and technology.

This situation is likely to continue for a while due to the creation of the mechatronics engineer occupation. This is also a great opportunity for those who are somewhat less interested in engineering. Because you can leverage your unique skills to become proficient in many disciplines instead of spending years trying to master one discipline.