ABSTRACT
Mechatronics is the synergistic combination of mechanical engineering, electronics, control systems, and computers. The key element in mechatronics is the integration of these areas through the design process. Synergism and integration in design set a mechatronic system apart from a traditional, multidisciplinary system. In a mechatronic system, computer, electronic, and control technology allow changes in design philosophy, which lead to better performance at lower cost: accuracy and speed from controls, efficiency and reliability from electronics, and functionality and flexibility from computers. Automotive enginecontrol systems are a good example. Here a multitude of sensors measure various temperatures, pressures, flow rates, rotary speeds, and chemical composition and send this information to a microcomputer. The computer integrates all this data with preprogrammed engine models and control laws and sends commands to various valves, actuators, fuel injectors, and ignition systems so as to manage the engine’s operation for an optimum combination of acceleration, fuel economy, and pollution emissions.
