A mechatronics control engineering class at Beihang University, China: Practicing and exploring

Short informative title: Towards a new tendency in embedded systems in mechatronics for the engineering curricula

“…Both K and ϕ 1 are computed experimentally from equations (4) and (5). In this stage, the student feeds the system with a set of different frequencies like those of Table 3, and logs the gain K and the phase ϕ 1 of the output with respect with the input; if the student records enough data, an empirical Bode diagram can be attempted using a logarithmic scale, which is quite enlightening.…”

“…There are three subtasks to be carried out as laboratory practices, namely, mechanical design, electronics design, and control and software development. In a similar way, the project proposed in this document relies on the same approach, i.e., one single main project which applies the knowledge that students acquire from other specific courses; however, in contrast with the project described by Chen et al this new proposal focuses the electronic design on the FPGA technology, because of its remarkable advantages …”

“…There are three subtasks to be carried out as laboratory practices, namely, mechanical design, electronics design, and control and software development. In a similar way, the project proposed in this document relies on the same approach, i.e., one single main project which applies the knowledge that students acquire from other specific courses; however, in contrast with the project described by Chen et al [5] this new proposal focuses the electronic design on the FPGA technology, because of its remarkable advantages. [15] Taking into account all the tasks involved in the development of a low-cost robot, the design and implementation of a digital motion controller system is highlighted because the selection of the technology is crucial, i.e., the choice of a micro-controller or reconfigurable logic determines not only the system performance, flexibility, and cost, but also the implementation difficulty degree.…”

“…Chen et al detail an integral project consisting of the design and implementation of a numerical controller for an X‐Y table, which is a mainline project, being two links the theoretical and practical knowledge that students require to become acquainted with the basic theory. There are three subtasks to be carried out as laboratory practices, namely, mechanical design, electronics design, and control and software development.…”

Design and implementation of modular test equipment for process measurements in mechatronics education

“…The authors emphasize that the practical approach is important in mechatronics education and at the same time that the development of a low‐cost robot reinforces the knowledge gained from topics such as CAD, mechanical design, and control theory and power electronics. Chen et al [9] describes the design and application of a digital controller for the X – Y plane and link the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for students to get acquainted with the basic theory. As laboratory applications, mechanical design, electronic design, and control and software development are defined in three titles.…”