Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field, offering low-cost system solutions based on the principle of integrated system components and consequently eliminating at least one material component or packaging level from the system. Prior to the evolution of Information Technology and Microprocessor Embedded Mechanical Systems, Mechatronics was simple and mainly focused on basic technologies, such as automatic door opening, servo valves, and AC/DC servo motors, etc.
Nowadays the mechanical systems are more reliable, accurate, and have really high efficiency, more than ever. Especially in automobiles with electronic engine controls technology that allows the on-impact trigger of airbags, the evolution of sophisticated sensors, active and passive safety devices, has predicted a record in-car navigation system. The amount of interconnects necessary to link a motor, a sensor, or an actuator, to the subsequent digital bus decreases, as the smartness of the devices increases.
The integration of mechanical processes and microelectronics towards mechatronic systems opens new possibilities for the planning of mechanical components designed for automatic functions.
Besides the essential energy flow within the mechanical system, an information flow to the electronic system enables an array of automatic functions. This results in mechatronic systems that contain mechanics (mechanical engineering, precision mechanics) and coupled processes (e.g. thermal, electrical), electronics (microelectronics, power electronics, measurement, and actuator technology), information technology (systems theory, automation, communication, software designing, artificial intelligence).
Fig. 1 Integration of Mechanics, Electronics, and Information Technology leads to Mechatronic Systems
MECHATRONIC SYSTEM IN AUTOMOBILES:
The integration of electronics into automotive systems plays a crucial role in the current development.
Car engine management
Car engine management system consists of a lot of electronic control systems involving microcontrollers, the engine control system being one. Its aim is to regulate the quantity of fuel to be injected into each cylinder, ignition, engine revolution limit, turbochargers wastage control, variable cam timing, and gear controls.
Electronic stability control
This control system uses ultra-sophisticated sensors within the cars’ central computer and mechanical actions for a safe and secured drive. The electronic stability control system doesn’t work by itself, it also uses the cars’ other safety and regulatory devices, to correct problems before they get into accidents. It also includes
- Yaw control sensor
- Wheel speed sensors
- Steering angle sensors
- Rotational speed sensors
Cruise Controlled Acceleration and Deceleration
The cruise control system controls the speed of a car by adjusting the throttle position. The throttle valve controls the power and speed of the engine by limiting the proportion of air intake in the engine.
Airbag Inflation
The goal of an airbag is to inflate rapidly during automobile collision and prevent the passengers from striking against the interior objects. There are three parts to an airbag that helps to achieve its function. Advance systems have solid-state crash sensors that contain a piezoelectric crystal or a micromachined accelerometer, a device used to measure acceleration or vibration shock built into a microchip that produces an electrical signal when jolted.
Power door locks
In this system, the door lock/unlock switch actually sends power to the actuators that unlock the door.
Mechatronics is often defined by the intersection of mechanics, electronics, computers, and controls. The inter-disciplinary use of aspects of each of these fields in designing products and processes is driving advances in the automobiles – the actual cars and components, as well as the equipment needed to build, diagnose and service them.
Written By:
Assistant Professor
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