ORIGIN OF MECHATRONICS
The word mechatronics was invented by the
japanese Ko Kikuchi in 1970
who worked a long time for Yaskawa Corporation Company as a design
engineer.The origin of the word is due to the problematic to incorporate the design of the products, relationship with the mechanic engineering and the electric engineering.
The Technical Committee of Mechatronics of the International Federation for the Theory of Machines and Mechanism, define the Mechatronics as follows:
THE MECHATRONICS DESIGN FRAMEWORK
Mechatronics Design is a combination of modeling procedures and simulation techniques that allow designing complex machines by combining mechanical and physical characteristics with electrical and software functions to obtain a real-time, dynamic virtual prototype.
There is no qualified, universally accepted procedure or framework in which Mechatronics Design could be thoroughly executed. There are several issues that need to be addressed in the creation of such a framework. The ultimate challenge in the 21st Century Mechatronics is to build an innovative modeling concept to facilitate seamless integration among a number of domain specific modeling tools.
Within such a Mechatronics Design Framework control software for Mechatronics machines could be automatically generated and verification of the entire machine design through virtual reality based simulation could be achieved.
MECHATRONIC CONSULTING SERVICES
1. Assess dynamic performances by modeling the mechanical dynamics together with the electrical actuators, the control algorithms and trajectory planning in a complete simulation model.
2. Measure/predict oscillation and vibration levels, natural modes of the machine, eigenfrequencies and mode-shapes.
3. Estimate rigidity/stiffness/damping. Model the process forces and observe the system’s capability of disturbance rejection.
4. Analyze and suggest changes varying from material selection, mechanical or electrical design to control strategy and implementation.
5. Calculate the impact of all the above on performance, maximum achievable production speed, accuracy limitations, adjustment ranges for controller parameters.
6. Minimize the overall cost of the solution by virtually eliminating the need of prototypes.
7. Provide reproducible knowledge based on comparison with other solutions and experience in similar projects.
