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UNIT 5. MECHATRONICS

Text 1. What is Mechatronics?

1. Read the text and do the tasks below.

Mechatronics is the combination of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, and software engineering. Mechatronics means the synergistic use of precision engineering, control theory, computer science, sensor and actuator technology to design improved products and processes.

The word Mechatronics was first coined in Japan over 40 years ago. Since then, mechatronics has been used to represent a synergistic blend of mechanics and electronics. It’s a significant design trend that has a great influence on the product-development process, international competition in manufactured goods, and the nature of mechanical engineering education in coming years.

Mechatronics is a methodology for designing products with better, more precise characteristics. These characteristics can be achieved by considering not only the mechanical design but also the use of servo controls, sensors, and electronics. It is also very important to make the design robust. Computer disk drives, for example, are a prime example of the successful application of mechatronics.

Mechatronics is the combination of traditional design methods with sensors and instrumentation technology, actuator technology, embedded real-time microprocessor systems, and real-time software. Mechatronic products exhibit certain distinguishing (=unique) features, including the replacement of many mechanical functions with electronic ones, which results in much greater flexibility and easy redesign or reprogramming.

The basic idea is to apply new controls to extract new levels of performance from a mechanical device. It means using modern, cost-effective technology to improve product performance and flexibility. In many cases, the application of computer and controls technology provides a design solution that is more elegant than the purely mechanical approach.

2. Match the following English terms and words with their Russian equivalents and definitions:

A: 1) an actuator; 2) controls; 3) electronic engineering; 4) performance; 5) сost-effective; 6) instrumentation technology; 7) mechanical engineering; 8) flexibility; 9) software engineering; 10) a sensor 11) precision engineering; 12) synergistic; 13) to embed; 14) robust; 15) an approach (n)

B: a) средства управления; b) привод; c) измерительная техника; d) экономически выгодный; e) производительность; эффективность; f) разработка программного обеспечения, программная инженерия g) гибкость, приспособляемость; h) электроника; i) синергический, синергетический, действующий совместно; j) точное (прецизионное) машиностроение; k) датчик; l) машиностроение; m) крепкий, прочный; n)вставлять, вмонтировать, встраивать o) подход

C: a) a detailed study of engineering to the design, development and maintenance of software; b) a form of engineering associated with electronic circuits, devices and the equipment and systems that use them; c) a method of doing something or dealing with a problem; d) devices that measure or control pressure, flow, currents and speed for gas, electrical, chemical and other systems; e) how effective something or someone is at doing a good job; f) a switch or other device by which a device or vehicle is regulated; g) bringing the best possible profits or advantages for the lowest possible costs; h) the discipline that applies the principles of engineering to the design and construction of machines and their parts; i) the design and building of machines, tools, etc. that need to be very accurate and exact; j) a piece of equipment used for discovering the presence of light, heat, movement etc.; k) causing or involving synergy (= the combined power of working together that is greater than the power achieved by working separately); l) the ability to change or be changed easily to suit a different situation; m) about an object: strong and not likely to break; n) (usually passive), to put something firmly and deeply into something else ; o) a device that causes a machine or other device to operate.

3. Match the highlighted verbs with the suitable words and phrases. Translate. Use them in the sentences of your own:

a) to design greater flexibility; improved products and processes; the replacement of many mechanical functions

b) to achieve new controls; products and processes; better characteristics

c) to make cost-effective technology; the design robust; flexibility

d) to exhibit a synergistic blend of mechanics and electronics; certain distinguishing features

e) to result in new controls; much greater flexibility; the mechanical design

f) to apply greater flexibility; new controls

g) to use modern, cost-effective technology; a synergistic blend of mechanics and electronics; much greater flexibility

h) to provide a design solution; the product-development process; the successful application of mechatronics.

4. Answer the questions.

1. What branches of engineering does Mechatronics include? 2. What does Mechatronics mean? 3. Where did the term Mechatronics appear? 4. What does mechatronics affect? 5. Is mechatronics a specific methodology? 6. What distinguishing features do mechatronic products exhibit? 7. What does the replacement of many mechanical functions with electronic functions result in? 8. Can you give any examples of the successful application of mechatronics in manufacturing consumer goods?

5. Read the texts. Fill in the blanks with the proper words from the box.

TEXT A

For some engineers, mechatronics is nothing new, and, for others, it is a philosophical 1) ___ to design that serves as a guide for their activity. Certainly, mechatronics is an evolutionary process, not a revolutionary one. It is clear that an all-compassing definition of mechatronics doesn’t 2) ____, but in reality, it is not needed. We can understand that mechatronics is about 3) ____ integration of mechanical, electrical, and computer systems. One can understand the extent that mechatronics reaches into various disciplines by characterizing the 4) ____components comprising mechatronics, which include physical systems modelling, sensors and 5) _____, signals and systems, computers and logic systems, and software and 6) ____.Engineers and scientists from all walks of life and fields of study can 7) ____ to mechatronics. As engineering and 8) _____ boundaries become less well defined, more students will seek a multi-disciplinary education with a strong design component. Academia should be moving towards a curriculum, which includes the coverage of mechatronics systems.

TEXT B

In the future growth in mechatronic systems will 1) ___ fueled by the growth in the constituent areas. Advancements in traditional disciplines fuel the growth of mechatronics systems 2) ___ providing “enabling technologies”. We should expect continued advancements in cost-effective microprocessors 3) ___ microcontrollers, sensor and actuator development enabled by advancements in applications of MEMS, adaptive control methodologies and real-time programming methods, networking and wireless technologies, mature CAE technologies 4) __ advanced system modeling, virtual prototyping, and testing. The continued rapid developments in these areas 5) ___ only accelerate the pace of smart product development. The Internet is a technology that, when utilized in combination with wireless technology, may also lead 6) ___ new mechatronic products. While developments in automotive provide vivid examples 7) ___ mechatronics development, there are numerous examples of intelligent systems in all walks of life, including smart home appliances 8) ___ as dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, microwaves, and wireless network enabled devices. In the area of “human-friendly machines”, we can expect advances in robot-assisted surgery, and implantable sensors and actuators.9) ___ areas that will benefit from mechatronic advances 10) ___ include robotics, manufacturing, space technology, and transportation. The future of mechatronics is wide open.

6. Explain in your own words what is meant by:

A sensor , an actuator, an intelligent system, design, integration, MEMS, CAE, enabling technologies, mechanical systems, data acquisition, virtual prototyping, wireless technology, logic systems, mechatronics systems automotive, surgery, implantable sensors, to utilize.

7. Summarize the information from the unit and speak about mechatronics as a multidisciplinary branch of engineering.