Mechatronics, which is also called mechatronic
engineering, is a multidisciplinary branch
of engineering that focuses on the engineering
of both electrical and mechanical systems,
and also includes a combination of robotics,
electronics, computer, telecommunications,
systems, control, and product engineering.
As technology advances over time, various
subfields of engineering have succeeded in
both adapting and multiplying.
The intention of mechatronics is to produce
a design solution that unifies each of these
various subfields.
Originally, the field of mechatronics was
intended to be nothing more than a combination
of mechanics and electronics, hence the name
being a portmanteau of mechanics and electronics;
however, as the complexity of technical systems
continued to evolve, the definition had been
broadened to include more technical areas.
The word mechatronics originated in Japanese-English
and was created by Tetsuro Mori, an engineer
of Yaskawa Electric Corporation.
The word mechatronics was registered as trademark
by the company in Japan with the registration
number of "46-32714" in 1971.
However, afterward the company released the
right of using the word to public, the word
begun being used across the world.
Nowadays, the word is translated into many
languages and the word is considered as an
essential term for industry.
French standard NF E 01-010 gives the following
definition: "approach aiming at the synergistic
integration of mechanics, electronics, control
theory, and computer science within product
design and manufacturing, in order to improve
and/or optimize its functionality".
Many people treat mechatronics as a modern
buzzword synonymous with robotics and electromechanical
engineering.
== Description ==
A mechatronics engineer unites the principles
of mechanics, electronics, and computing to
generate a simpler, more economical and reliable
system.
The term "mechatronics" was coined by Tetsuro
Mori, the senior engineer of the Japanese
company Yaskawa in 1969.
An industrial robot is a prime example of
a mechatronics system; it includes aspects
of electronics, mechanics, and computing to
do its day-to-day jobs.
Engineering cybernetics deals with the question
of control engineering of mechatronic systems.
It is used to control or regulate such a system
(see control theory).
Through collaboration, the mechatronic modules
perform the production goals and inherit flexible
and agile manufacturing properties in the
production scheme.
Modern production equipment consists of mechatronic
modules that are integrated according to a
control architecture.
The most known architectures involve hierarchy,
polyarchy, heterarchy, and hybrid.
The methods for achieving a technical effect
are described by control algorithms, which
might or might not utilize formal methods
in their design.
Hybrid systems important to mechatronics include
production systems, synergy drives,
planetary exploration rovers, automotive subsystems
such as anti-lock braking systems and spin-assist,
and everyday equipment such as autofocus cameras,
video, hard disks, and CD players.
== Course structure ==
Mechatronics students take courses in various
fields:
Mechanical engineering and materials science
and engineering
Electronics engineering
Electrical engineering
Computer engineering (software & hardware
engineering)
Computer science
Systems engineering
Control engineering
Optical engineering
Telecommunications
== 
Applications ==
Machine vision
Automation and robotics
Servo-mechanics
Sensing and control systems
Automotive engineering, automotive equipment
in the design of subsystems such as anti-lock
braking systems
Computer-machine controls, such as computer
driven machines like CNC milling machines,
CNC waterjets, and CNC plasma cutters
Expert systems
Industrial goods
Consumer products
Mechatronics systems
Medical mechatronics, medical imaging systems
Structural dynamic systems
Transportation and vehicular systems
Mechatronics as the new language of the automobile
Computer aided and integrated manufacturing
systems
Computer-aided design
Engineering and manufacturing systems
Packaging
Microcontrollers / PLCs
== Physical implementations ==
Mechanical modeling calls for modeling and
simulating physical complex phenomena in the
scope of a multi-scale and multi-physical
approach.
This implies to implement and to manage modeling
and optimization methods and tools, which
are integrated in a systemic approach.
The specialty is aimed for students in mechanics
who want to open their mind to systems engineering,
and able to integrate different physics or
technologies, as well as students in mechatronics
who want to increase their knowledge in optimization
and multidisciplinary simulation techniques.
The speciality educates students in robust
and/or optimized conception methods for structures
or many technological systems, and to the
main modeling and simulation tools used in
R&D.
Special courses are also proposed for original
applications (multi-materials composites,
innovating transducers and actuators, integrated
systems, …) to prepare the students to the
coming breakthrough in the domains covering
the materials and the systems.
For some mechatronic systems, the main issue
is no longer how to implement a control system,
but how to implement actuators.
Within the mechatronic field, mainly two technologies
are used to produce movement/motion.
== Variant of the field ==
An emerging variant of this field is biomechatronics,
whose purpose is to integrate mechanical parts
with a human being, usually in the form of
removable gadgets such as an exoskeleton.
This is the "real-life" version of cyberware.
Another variant that we can consider is Motion
control for Advanced Mechatronics, which presently
is recognized as a key technology in mechatronics.
The robustness of motion control will be represented
as a function of stiffness and a basis for
practical realization.
Target of motion is parameterized by control
stiffness which could be variable according
to the task reference.
However, the system robustness of motion always
requires very high stiffness in the controller.Avionics
is also considered a variant of mechatronics
as it combines several fields such as electronics
and telecom with Aerospace engineering.
== Internet of things ==
The Internet of things (IoT) is the inter-networking
of physical devices, embedded with electronics,
software, sensors, actuators, and network
connectivity which enable these objects to
collect and exchange data.
IoT and mechatronics are complementary.
Many of the smart components associated with
the Internet of Things will be essentially
mechatronic.
The development of the IoT is forcing mechatronics
engineers, designers, practitioners and educators
to research the ways in which mechatronic
systems and components are perceived, designed
and manufactured.
This allows them to face up to new issues
such as data security, machine ethics and
the human-machine interface.
== See also ==
Cybernetics
Control theory
Ecomechatronics
Electromechanics
Materials engineering
Mechanical engineering technology
Robotics
Systems engineering
