BEng (Hons) Mechatronic Engineering
Course Leader (acting): Tim Mulroy
t.j.mulroy@shu.ac.uk
Mechatronic engineering is the integration of mechanical engineering with electronics, computer and control systems, in order to design and construct complex and integrated products and processes. Mechatronic engineering is a branch of engineering which impacts on all sectors of society.
Mechatronic engineers possess the core skills of both mechanical engineers and electronic engineers. Their knowledge enables them to solve a wide range of mechanical, electrical and software problems, allowing them to contribute to, and lead multidisciplinary design teams. Mechatronic engineers are employed by the manufacturing industry, by the aerospace and defence sectors, and by the government and industry research groups. Wherever there is potential for improvement through the integration of computer and electrical hardware with mechanical systems there is a need for mechatronic engineers.
Students will complete 60 credits of study at Sheffield, leading to the award of BEng (Hons) Mechatronic Engineering.
Units of Study
This course builds on the core concepts of Mechatronic Engineering at TARC. You will study the following four units.
Real Time and Concurrent Systems (10 credits)
Introduction to concurrency and parallel programming. The choice of language and role played by operating system kernel. What is a real-time system? Classification of real-time time systems. The design of concurrent and parallel systems. Distributed and networked systems versus single CPU. The role of the Real time clock and operating system kernel in managing processes on a single CPU solution. Dynamic process creation, termination and control. Process communication. Pipelines and Datapools. Solving Mutual Exclusion. The semaphore. The Producer consumer problem and its solution.
Process synchronisation and stimulation: Events and signals. Memory management aspects. The role of the MMU. Process scheduling strategies. Process states and priorities. Pre-emptive vs. non pre-emptive strategies. Simple scheduling strategies.
This module is assessed by coursework (100%).
Control Systems (20 credits)
State-space design – observers for unmeasurable states, regulators and tracking systems.
Fuzzy logic control – fuzzy inference systems – Mamdani, Sugeno.
System modelling – identification by pseudo-random binary sequence testing and correlation methods. More complex system models from frequency response data.
Digital systems – digital implementation of continuous-time designs (e.g. PID). Truly digital controllers (dead-beat, Kalman, Dahlin).
Nonlinear systems - descriptions of nonlinearities and their effects on system performance.
Automation and Robotics (20 credits)
This module will equip the students with an understanding of where automation should be used, and at what level automation is appropriate in an industrial environment. It will help the student understand the hard and soft techniques required to attain different levels of automation, and enable the student to identify the class and appropriate capability of a robot for a given task. It will also provide the student with the ability to implement robotic solutions to automation tasks.
This module aims to provide prospective engineers with an understanding of the major components of an automated system, both hardware and software, and how these components may be integrated to perform real world tasks. Such engineers are expected to be able to bring a range of analytical and simulation techniques to bear on the analysis and design of such systems. The module will investigate discrete automation systems, both synchronous and asynchronous, along with techniques used to control, program and implement robotic systems. The module is self contained but assumes mathematical, computing and engineering skills commensurate with those of a final year engineering student.
This module is assessed by coursework (30%) and examination (70%).
Design of Mechatronic Systems (10 credits)
This module will enable the student to develop a systematic approach to design. The student will learn to appreciate the stages of the design process, including specification preparation, concept generation and evaluation, solution optimisation and manufacturing requirements. The student will learn methods of control and actuation, including radio control; servo-mechanism operation, computer control; motors and interfacing.
Assessment
You must achieve overall mark of 40% to pass a unit. The programme you will undertake here at Sheffield comprises 60 credits of work at UK degree level 6.
Entry Requirements
This course is only available for students who have completed their Advanced Diploma in Mechatronic Engineering at TAR College in Malaysia.
