Mechatronics

Mechatronics engineering also called mechatronics, is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering that focuses on the integration of mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering systems, and also includes a combination of robotics, electronics, computer science, 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, electrical and electronics, hence the name being a portmanteau of the words "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

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PolyMPC: An Efficient Tool for Embedded Model Predictive Control for Fast Mechatronic Systems

Colin Neil Jones, Petr Listov, Michael Spieler

2019

Optimal Thrust Vector Control of an Electric Small-Scale Rocket Prototype

Colin Neil Jones, Petr Listov, Roland Schwan

Recent advances in Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithms and methodologies, combined with the surge of computational power of available embedded platforms, allows the use of real-time optimization-based control of fast mechatronic systems. This paper presents an implementation of an optimal guidance, navigation and control (GNC) system for the motion control of a small-scale electric prototype of a thrust-vectored rocket. The aim of this prototype is to provide an inexpensive platform to explore GNC algorithms for automatic landing of sounding rockets. The guidance and trajectory tracking are formulated as continuous-time optimal control problems and are solved in real-time on embedded hardware using the PolyMPC library. An Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is designed to estimate external disturbances and actuators offsets. Finally, indoor and outdoor flight experiments are performed to validate the architecture.

2021

Actuator With Angle-Dependent Elasticity for Biomimetic Transfemoral Prostheses

Serge Pfeifer

Despite tremendous improvements in recent years, lower-limb prostheses are still inferior to their biological counterparts. Most powered knee joints use impedance control, but it is unknown which impedance profiles are needed to replicate physiological behavior. Recently, we have developed a method to quantify such profiles from conventional gait data. Based on this method, we derive stiffness requirements for knee prostheses, and we propose an actuation concept where physical actuator stiffness changes in function of joint angle. The idea is to express stiffness and moment requirements as functions of angle, and then to combine a series elastic actuator (SEA) with an optimized nonlinear transmission and parallel springs to reproduce the profiles. By considering the angle-dependent stiffness requirement, the upper bound for the impedance in zero-force control could be reduced by a factor of two. We realize this ANGle-dependent ELAstic Actuator (ANGELAA) in a leg, with rubber cords as series elastic elements. Hysteresis in the rubber is accounted for, and knee moment is estimated with a mean error of 0.7 Nm. The nonlinear parallel elasticity creates equilibria near 0◦ as well as 90◦ knee flexion, frequent postures in daily life. Experimental evaluation in a test setup shows force control bandwidth around 5–9 Hz, and a pilot experiment with an amputee subject shows the feasibility of the approach. While weight and power consumption are not optimized in this prototype, the incorporated mechatronic principles may pave the way for cheaper and lighter actuators in artificial legs and in other applications where stiffness requirements depend on kinematic configuration.

2015

Engineering

Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to solve problems, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve systems. Modern engineering

Electrical engineering

Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It em

Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials sc

EE-715: Optimal control

This doctoral course provides an introduction to optimal control covering fundamental theory, numerical implementation and problem formulation for applications.

ME-424: Mecatronics

Mécatronique, Systèmes dynamiques, Commande, Electronique, Informatique temps réel.

ME-410: Mechanical product design and development

Study and explore design principles of the different mechatronic components and systems. We will cover in-depth especially on meso-scale actuators, sensors and body construction methods.