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The mechatronics design reference page provides a comprehensive list of theory and applications of electronics, sensors, actuators, etc. that can be used for mechatronics-related research and projects.

Electronics

• Analog
  • Basic Linear Circuits Review
    • Resistors (Ohm's Law), Capacitors, and Inductors
    • Kirchhoff's Current and Voltage Laws
    • Voltage and Current Dividers
    • RC and RL Exponential Responses
    • Passive Filters
  • Semiconductors
    • Diodes and Transistors
    • Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps)
  • Instrumentation Amps
    • NU printed circuit board for instrumentation amps
• Digital
• Power Supplies, Voltage Regulation, and Batteries
• Shielding, Grounding, Noise Suppression, etc.
• Conductors: stranded, solid, ribbon cable, coax, twisted pairs, wire gauge (thickness)
• Drawing Schematics and Ordering Printed Circuit Boards (Eagle, Circuit Maker, Trax Maker)

Sensors

• Angle, Linear Position: Potentiometers
• Beam Breaker: Laser + Photodiode/Phototransistor
• Beam Breaker: Optointerrupter
• Proximity: Optoreflector
• Proximity: Reed Switch
• Proximity, Angle: Hall Effect Sensor
• Angle: Rotary Encoder
• Angular Velocity: Tachometer
• Ambient Light: Photocell
• Temperature: Thermotransistor IC
• Audio: Microphone
• Tilt, Acceleration: Accelerometer
• Force: Strain Gauge
• Current: Current Sense Resistor
• Contact: Microswitch (Limit Switch)

Actuators

• Brushed DC Motors
  • Driving Using a Linear Amplifier
  • Driving Using Pulse Width Modulation
• Brushless DC Motors
• Stepper Motors
  • Practice: Driving Your Stepper
• RC Servos
  • Driving Your Servo Using a 555 Timer
• Solenoids
  • Practice: Driving Your Solenoid
• AC Motors
• Actuators Available in the Mechatronics Lab

Mechanical Design

• Power Transmission
  • Gears (spur, bevel, worm, planetary, harmonic drive, rack and pinion, ball and lead screws, inertia matching)
  • Belt drives
• Bearings
• Linkages
• Attaching to a Shaft (flexible couplers, keyways, set screws, compression fit, split clamp)
• Other: springs/dampers, cams, etc.

The PC/104 Stack

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The PC104 Stack

• Overview
• The PC/104 Lab Kit
• Hardware:
  • Advantech CPU Card
  • Sensoray 526 Data Aquisition Card
  • Break-Out-Board (a.k.a. BoB)
  • Power Components
  • I/O Electronics: Analog I/O, Digital I/O, Encoder Connections
• Advanced: Creating a Working Stack from Parts
  • Building the Breakout Board
  • Breakout Board Ribbon Cables
  • Assembling the PC104 Stack
  • Creating an xPC Flash Boot Disk
• Custom Boards
  • Dual PWM Motor Controller
  • Dual Linear Amplifier Motor Controller

xPC Target Real-Time Operating System

• Overview of Real-Time Programming with Simulink and xPC Target
• Configuring xPC Host/Target PC
• Quickstart:Creating a simple xPC Program
• Commonly Used Blocks
• Advanced
  • Model Properties
  • M-file communication
  • Using outside of the lab
  • Standalone Mode
  • Stateflow
• Code Examples
  • Controlling a DC Motor with an Encoder
  • Something With State Machine
  • Using RS-232 and Printing to LCD
  • UDP Communications between Target and Host PC
  • M-functions and S-functions
  • xPC Code From Student Projects

QNX Real-Time Operating System

• QNX Control Program with Interrupts

Lab Supplies and Data Sheets

• Lab Inventory

Other Software

• Circuit Schematics and PCB Layout
• LaTex Document Preparation
  • Mathematical Formulae
  • Document Formatting
  • Software Setup
  • IEEE Styles

Other Lab Equipment

• Prototyping Tools
  • Oscilloscope
  • Function Generator
  • Mastech Power Supply
  • Fluke III Multimeter
  • Benchtop Multimeter
  • Powered Breadboard
  • Soldering Iron
• High Performance Neuromechatronics Benches
• The Sensoray 626 DAQ Card
• The Handyboard Single-Board Computer