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Mechatronics, the term coined in Japan in the 1970s, has evolved over the last 25 years, giving rise to a special breed of smart products. What is mechatronics? It is a natural stage in the evolutionary process of modern engineering design. For some engineers mechatronics is nothing new and for others it is a philosophical approach to design that guides their activities. Certainly, mechatronics is an evolutionary process, not a revolutionary one. It is clear that there is no complete definition of mechatronics, but it is not really needed. Mechatronics is understood to be about the synergistic integration of mechanical, electrical, and computer systems.
One can understand the reach that mechatronics reaches in various disciplines by characterizing the constituent components that make up mechatronics, which include: (i) modeling of physical systems, (ii) sensors and actuators, (iii) signals and systems, (iv) computers and logic systems and (v) software and data acquisition.
Engineers and scientists from all walks of life and fields of study can contribute to mechatronics. As the boundaries of engineering and science become less defined, more students will seek a multidisciplinary education with a strong design component. The academy should move towards a curriculum that includes coverage of mechatronic systems. In the future, the growth of mechatronic systems will be driven by the growth of the constituent areas. Advances in traditional disciplines fuel the growth of mechatronic systems by providing “enabling technologies.”
For example, the invention of the microprocessor had a profound effect on the redesign of mechanical systems and the design of new mechatronic systems. We should expect continued advances in cost-effective microprocessors and microcontrollers, sensor and actuator development enabled by advances in MEMS applications, adaptive control methodologies and real-time programming methods, networking and wireless technologies, mature CAE technologies for advanced system modeling, creation of virtual prototypes. and tests. Continued rapid development in these areas will only accelerate the pace of smart product development. The Internet is a technology that, when used in combination with wireless technology, can also lead to new mechatronic products.
While automotive developments provide vivid examples of mechatronics development, there are numerous examples of smart systems in all walks of life, including smart home appliances such as dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, microwaves, and wireless network-enabled devices. In the area of ”human-friendly machines,” we can expect advances in robotic-assisted surgery and implantable sensors and actuators. Other areas that will benefit from mechatronic advances may include robotics, manufacturing, space technology, and transportation. The future of mechatronics is wide open.