Evolution of Mechatronics
"Mechatronics is the synergistic integration of mechanical engineering with electronics and intelligent control algorithms in the design and manufacture of product and process."
Recently technology sectors all over the world have identified the importance of Mechatronics discipline for the product design. The concept was originated by the Japanese technocrats such as control system integrators, consumer electronics manufacturers researches etc. Later Scandinavian, American, European engineers experienced the significance and applicability in the design of electro mechanical system and also in other notable fields of applications. Now the concept of Mechatronics based design exists in areas of consumer products such as washing machines, cameras, automatic cash machines, robots, printing, light and heavy automobile engines, air crafts engines, industrial machines, agricultural equipment etc. The knowledge of Mechatronics is of prime importance to engineers of all fields.
As evolution process exits in all aspects of life; so also in Mechatronics. The technology has evolved through several stages that are termed as levels. The evolution levels of Mechatronics are
a. primary level Mechatronics
b. secondary level Mechatronics
c. tertiary level Mechatronics (third)
d. quaternary level Mechatronics (fourth)
In the early days Mechatronics products were at primary level containing I/O devices such as sensors, and actuators that integrated electrical signals with mechanical action at the basic control level. Electrically controlled fluid valves and relays are examples of primary level Mechatronics.
The secondary level Mechatronics integrates microelectronics into electrically controlled devices. Sometimes these products are stand alone ones. Example cassette player.
Third level Mechatronics incorporates advanced feed back functions into control strategy thereby enhancing the quality is terms of sophistication. Mechatronics system at this level is called smart system. The control strategy includes microelectronics, microprocessor and other 'Application Specific Integrated Circuits' (ASIC), Control of electrical motor used to actuate industrial robots, hard disk, CD drives, automatic washing machines are typical examples of third level Mechatronics.
The fourth level incorporates intelligent control in Mechatronics system. This level attempts to improve smartness a step ahead by introducing intelligence and Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) capability systems. Artificial neural network and Fuzzy logic try to capture some of the intellectual capabilities of the intelligence