Overview of Mechatronics - Coursework Example

Mechatronics Name: Instructor: Course: Institution: Date: Mechatronics Introduction The world is changing courtesy of the growing technology and concepts being used in engineering today. This has been triggered by various technological challenges globally requiring improved systems and tools to meet the new demands and dynamics inherent in the ever-changing industrial processes and manufacturing. There is also an increasing need to use and generate renewable energy, to protect the fragile environment we are living in and to improve human living experience throughout that world; no doubt, the professionals to deliver on this are engineers. Mechatronic concepts has unlimited applications in addressing these global challenges and it is rapidly gaining popularity in higher academic centers of engineering and technology. In essence, Mechatronics is a term coined from “Mechanical-Electronics” and simply reflects the merging of the two disciplines to drive technology through controlled systems (Singh & Joshi 2006). This combination has resulted to expanded technological capacities, giving rise to automated mechanical systems. These concepts have evolved so drastically into universally acclaimed engineering concepts and as a result, mechatronic approach has been adopted to offer solutions to wide variety of design challenges. This essay explores the Mechatronics as rapidly growing engineering field and seeks to explore its applications and range of use in today’s manufacturing and processing. The discussion will also explore future implications of the applications on different fields of science and technology. Brief Overview of Mechatronics Mechatronics involves integration of various engineering disciplines - mechanical, electrical and electronics, control and instrumentation, and computer - to produce functional components. It is therefore, an interdisciplinary engineering field that serves the purpose of designing and controlling advanced hybrid systems. Hedge & Hedge (2010) defines mechatronics as the synergistic integration of both mechanical engineering with electrical, electronic, and intelligent computer control systems during the designing and manufacturing of industrial products, operations and processes. Originally, there was lack of integration in the manufacturing processes as the mechanical systems and machine tools used in 1960s were mainly mechanical systems with limited electronic and electrical systems, and this necessitated the birth of this engineering field. Since then there has been a rapid increase in the electrical machines, microprocessors, integrated circuits, digital control systems and use of computer control systems. This has helped to develop automatic, efficient, and reliable manufacturing systems to produce high quality products. The following diagram represents different engineering systems making up a mechatronic system. Figure 1: Components of a mechatronic system The mechanical systems deal with behavior and matter under action of forces and can be rigid, deformable or fluid in nature. In addition, mechatronic largely makes use of hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, rotational, or transnational systems interfaced with computers through sensors, actuators, and other electronic systems (Singh & Joshi 2006, p. 2). On the other hand, electronic systems are used as transducers of information between the computer components and mechanical elements. In mechatronics, they are used to design analog and digital circuits, while electrical systems are mainly involved in controlling three fundamental parameters; current, charge and voltage. Thus, they form integral components of mechatronic applications and include generators, relays, transformers, circuit breaker, etc. The instrumentation systems include signaling elements, transducers, display devices, recorders, etc, which are used to measure and monitor various process variables controlled at set points. Control systems provide means by which the quantities of interest, the mechanisms, and equipment are maintained or changed in accordance with the desired measurements. Controllers in mechatronics include hydraulics, pneumatics, programmable logic controllers, and electronics used for process controls (Radhakrishnan 2000). The computer systems consist of the hardware and software components, with hardware comprising of computer specific circuits, registers, memories and microprocessors, and software providing means to control mechatronic applications. Computer systems are useful in product design, process planning, flexible manufacturing, and control and other applications depending on the production processes. Applications of Mechatronics Mechatronics entails a system approach to designing, development, and implementation of complex engineering processes in an integrative manner that ensures that different engineering and other technological disciplines are considered from the start of product design. Some of industrial applications relying heavily on mechatronics include design and innovation, healthcare products, and manufacturing (Bradley 2010). Design and Innovation One major application of mechatronics is in design and innovation. Today’s products and systems have become increasingly complex from domestic appliances to motor vehicle systems. Bradley (2010) observes that the combinations of local and distributed processing power allied to the enhanced communication protocols and strategies fully attests to the complexity in production processes. For example, a modern car integrates various systems ranging from engine to environmental control systems that assure driver and passenger comfort and these integrated systems further supports even autonomous navigation. In essence, these developments in design have been made possible through application of embedded processing power of their distributed elements (Singh & Joshi 2006, p. 459). Programmable robots using high technologies are consequence of integration of mechatronics in design and innovation processes in industries. Health Care In healthcare, mechatronics continue to find new areas of use. For example, developments in prosthetics have led to development of artificial limbs to help physically handicapped patients enjoy mobility. The limbs have the potential to be linked to a neural interface to allow decoding of nerve impulse and returning of signals to the user in an effort to achieve realistic control. In addition, the field has led to deployment of robotic systems and telemedicine strategies through enhanced sensors, network, and patient monitoring systems. Mechatronic approach has become instrumental in achieving reliable, robust, and effective systems in hospitals (Mahalik 2003). Manufacturing Of all the applications, mechatronics technology finds wide usage in manufacturing. For example, nowadays there are robotics and factory systems that move and assemble products with high degree of reasoning and agility than that achievable by humans. Technology has evolved from using flipper paddles for counting products at the end of production line to use of virtually unattended automated systems especially in assembling, inspection of functionality of other systems, hazardous material handling, etc (Bradley 2010). There is also increased application of mechatronics in automobile painting, lifting and welding, art all-wheel drive systems, and electronically actuated fuel injection. These are some of the remarkable developments that mechatronics has brought in manufacturing. Furthermore, there is increased need for agility of operations in manufacturing and through mechatronics, multi-faceted manufacturing cells have been developed. For instance, a gripper that moves completed products from assembly to a conveyor can from time to time insert a component into the plant within the same production line (Bradley 2010). Moreover, pharmaceutical and power generation industries today use mechatronic devices to carry out their operations in environments perceived unsafe and inconvenient for humans, such as handling toxic and radioactive materials in highly polluted atmospheric conditions. Scope of Applications The scope of mechatronics in industrial applications is wide and unlimited as it is continuously finding new applications every day. The range of its application manifests heavily in the manufacturing industries that have embraced the technology to reduce defects, enhance design and production processes, etc. For instance, it has led to production of better products since it inherently uses computer systems as a constituent component in production. Computer aided design (CAD) entails the use of computers to assist in designing an individual part of a product, machine tool, products or systems through conceptual, preliminary and final stages (Singh & Joshi 2006). Secondly, mechatronic helps in process planning through use of computer aided process planning (CAAP) that helps in developing more logical and consistent process plans that can lead to lower production costs and higher product quality. A profound design and planning determines the output of a manufacturing process and as such, a good design leads to high quality products and minimal manufacturing costs, as well as effectiveness and efficiency in the production process. In addition, mechatronics enables a reliable and quality-oriented manufacturing through use of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) and as such reliable and high quality oriented products can be manufactured. Furthermore, mechatronics has led to a highly intelligent process control owing to the unparalleled developments in digital computer systems and their applications in process control. For instance, in process and manufacturing industries, and power plants, computer aided process control is used widely for both active and passive applications. Passive applications include acquisition, monitoring and manipulation of data from various processes, while active applications include acquisition and manipulation with additional characteristics such as control, process and machine optimization for better operating performance (Mahalik 2003, pp. 17-18). In modern manufacturing, mechatronic-based artificial neural networks are widely applied for controlling processes and monitoring production performance and increase production efficiency and quality. Therefore, mechatronics is increasingly being used to increase productivity, reliability of production processes, and achieve higher quality through integrating plant components with intelligent self-correcting sensory and feedback systems. In addition, apart from producing high quality products, intelligent designing leads to manufacturing of products that are safe and affordable to consumers due to the reduced costs of production and increased turnover of production. A mechatronic system should therefore possess characteristics such as maintainability, serviceability, and upgradeability (Singh & Joshi 2006). Future Implications There is a compelling need to respond effectively to a range of challenges facing energy systems, healthcare, medicine, transport, and manufacturing. Bradley (2010) argues that the achievement of sustainable systems in these areas will largely depend on the ability to integrate mechatronic approach to system design and development to correspond to developments in engineering areas such as materials. While industries are reluctant to adopt mechatronic technologies, there is a growing popularity and acceptance in production processes and mechatronics is becoming an integral part in creating greener and more sustainable industrial systems. For example, there is a current trend in manufacturing items as phones in a suitable form for disassembly and component reuse. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly concerned with securely fastening units together for safer use. With global warming and environmental changes hitting the world so heavily, there is an increasing need to carefully design products for recycling and reuse. Mechatronics perhaps will play unsurpassed role in revolutionizing manufacturing to create economically feasible and environmentally friendly products that are recyclable while maintaining high quality. In addition, the need to manage waste from electrical and electronic equipment, packaging and packaging wastes, and to control production of pollutants such as greenhouse gases, all these requires adoption of holistic approach in designing of wide range of products and systems, and mechatronics concepts will be more needed than any other engineering concepts (Hedge & Hedge 2010). However, adoption of mechatronics in industries needs to be done carefully because complete automation of industrial processes and other operations may eliminate work for the casual and non-skilled workers in the future. Increased reliance on intelligent systems will imply increased work for the skilled workers and reduced work for the non-skilled, a situation that may give rise to machine-human conflicts in the workplace. Conclusion Even though a new engineering field, mechatronics is revolutionizing mechanical and manufacturing systems. Majority of mechanical systems that required use of much human efforts are now being designed requiring little or no human effort. Today’s products and systems have become increasingly complex from domestic appliances to motor vehicle systems. In essence, these developments in design have been made possible through application of mechatronics. In healthcare, mechatronics has made it possible for development of artificial limbs to help physically handicapped patients enjoy mobility. Among these applications, mechatronics finds wide applications in manufacturing processes, with the scope ranging from product and processes design, manufacturing planning and implementation, to quality control. Mechatronics-based components are being used in automobile industries for painting and welding and in other industries to carry out operations in hazardous and harsh working environments. Now the world is looking for ways to combat global warming and associated climate change, mechatronics may be one the viable solution to achieve this in the future through design and production of recyclable and reusable products. There is also a growing popularity and acceptance in production processes and mechatronics is becoming an integral part in creating greener and more sustainable industrial systems. In addition, mechatronics may see much of manufacturing processes and products becoming entirely automated, requiring no human intervention. However, adoption of mechatronics in industries needs to be done carefully because complete automation of industrial processes and other operations may eliminate work for the casual and non-skilled workers. References Bradley, D 2010, Mechatronics in action: case studies in mechatronics applications and education, Springer, Berlin. Hedge, G & Hedge, GS 2010, Mechatronics, Jones & Bartlett Learning, Sudbury, MA. Mahalik, NP 2003, Mechatronics, Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi. Radhakrishnan, P 2000, Cad/Cam/Cim, 3rd edn, New Age International, New Delhi. Singh, MD & Joshi, JG 2006, Mechatronics, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. Read More

Originally, there was lack of integration in the manufacturing processes as the mechanical systems and machine tools used in 1960s were mainly mechanical systems with limited electronic and electrical systems, and this necessitated the birth of this engineering field. Since then there has been a rapid increase in the electrical machines, microprocessors, integrated circuits, digital control systems and use of computer control systems. This has helped to develop automatic, efficient, and reliable manufacturing systems to produce high quality products.

The following diagram represents different engineering systems making up a mechatronic system. Figure 1: Components of a mechatronic system The mechanical systems deal with behavior and matter under action of forces and can be rigid, deformable or fluid in nature. In addition, mechatronic largely makes use of hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, rotational, or transnational systems interfaced with computers through sensors, actuators, and other electronic systems (Singh & Joshi 2006, p. 2). On the other hand, electronic systems are used as transducers of information between the computer components and mechanical elements.

In mechatronics, they are used to design analog and digital circuits, while electrical systems are mainly involved in controlling three fundamental parameters; current, charge and voltage. Thus, they form integral components of mechatronic applications and include generators, relays, transformers, circuit breaker, etc. The instrumentation systems include signaling elements, transducers, display devices, recorders, etc, which are used to measure and monitor various process variables controlled at set points.

Control systems provide means by which the quantities of interest, the mechanisms, and equipment are maintained or changed in accordance with the desired measurements. Controllers in mechatronics include hydraulics, pneumatics, programmable logic controllers, and electronics used for process controls (Radhakrishnan 2000). The computer systems consist of the hardware and software components, with hardware comprising of computer specific circuits, registers, memories and microprocessors, and software providing means to control mechatronic applications.

Computer systems are useful in product design, process planning, flexible manufacturing, and control and other applications depending on the production processes. Applications of Mechatronics Mechatronics entails a system approach to designing, development, and implementation of complex engineering processes in an integrative manner that ensures that different engineering and other technological disciplines are considered from the start of product design. Some of industrial applications relying heavily on mechatronics include design and innovation, healthcare products, and manufacturing (Bradley 2010).

Design and Innovation One major application of mechatronics is in design and innovation. Today’s products and systems have become increasingly complex from domestic appliances to motor vehicle systems. Bradley (2010) observes that the combinations of local and distributed processing power allied to the enhanced communication protocols and strategies fully attests to the complexity in production processes. For example, a modern car integrates various systems ranging from engine to environmental control systems that assure driver and passenger comfort and these integrated systems further supports even autonomous navigation.

In essence, these developments in design have been made possible through application of embedded processing power of their distributed elements (Singh & Joshi 2006, p. 459). Programmable robots using high technologies are consequence of integration of mechatronics in design and innovation processes in industries. Health Care In healthcare, mechatronics continue to find new areas of use. For example, developments in prosthetics have led to development of artificial limbs to help physically handicapped patients enjoy mobility.

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