1st Edition

Mechatronics and the Design of Intelligent Machines and Systems

    348 Pages
    by CRC Press

    348 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Mechatronics as a discipline has an ever growing impact on engineering and engineering education as a defining approach to the design, development, and operation of an increasingly wide range of engineering systems. The increasing scope and complexity of mechatronic systems means that their design and development now involve not only the technical aspects of its core disciplines, but also aspects of organization, training, and management.

    Mechatronics and the Design of Intelligent Machines and Systems reflects the significant areas of development in mechatronics and focuses on the higher-level approaches needed to support the design and implementation of mechatronic systems. Throughout the book, the authors emphasize the importance of systems integration. Each chapter deals with a particular aspect of the design and development process, from the specification of the system to software design and from the human-machine interface to the requirements for safe operation and effective manufacture.

    Notable among this text's many features is the use of a running case study-the autonomous and robotic excavator LUCIE-to illustrate points made in various chapters. This, combined with the authors' clear prose, systematic organization, and generous use of examples and illustrations provides students with a firm understanding of mechatronics as a discipline, some of the problems encountered in its various areas, and the developing techniques used to solve those problems.

    OF MACHINES AND MECHATRONICS
    Introduction
    Mechatronics and Technology
    Engineering Design and Mechatronics
    Mechatronics and Concurrent Engineering
    Summary
    MECHATRONICS AND INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
    What is Intelligence?
    Intelligent Machines
    Artificial Intelligence and Expert systems
    Architectures
    Safety
    Operating Modes
    Summary
    Case Study: An Intelligent Robot or Unstructured Environments-Autonomous Robotic Excavator
    A MECHATRONIC DESIGN PROCESS
    Introduction
    Engineering Design Models
    A Mechatronic Design Framework
    Summary of Principles
    Approaches to Designing Mechatronic Hardware
    REQUIREMENTS INTERPRETATION FOR MECHATRONIC SYSTEMS
    Introduction
    Customer Requirements and the Product Life Cycle
    Customer Requirements
    Customer Requirements and the Mechatronic System Design Framework
    Requirements Interpretation
    Summary or Beyond Requirements Interpretation
    Case Study: Autonomous Robotic Excavator
    ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
    Introduction
    AI Programming versus "Conventional" Programming
    Knowledge Acquisition
    Knowledge Representation
    Searching for Solutions
    Case Study: The Use of Artificial Intelligence for an Automated Robotic Excavator
    NEURAL NETWORKS AND FUZZY SYSTEMS
    Neural Networks
    Artificial Neural Networks
    The Adeline
    The Perceptron
    Kohonen Network
    Adaptive Resonant Theorem Networks
    Hopfield Network
    Implementation of Neural Networks
    Fuzzy Systems
    Fuzzy Sets
    Set Operations
    Fuzzy Reasoning and Control
    Developing a Fuzzy System
    Fuzzy-Neural Systems
    SOFTWARE
    Introduction
    Software Development Process Models
    Software Methods
    Requirements
    Design
    Object-Oriented Methods
    Testing
    Case Study: The Role of Software in Automated and Robotic Excavation
    USER INTERFACES
    Introduction
    The Design of the Human-Machine Interface
    Tele-Operation
    Summary
    Case Study: Prototyping and User Interface Design
    SYSTEM SAFETY
    Introduction
    Background to Safety
    The IEC 1508 Approach
    Case Study: The Role of Safety in Automated and Robotic Excavation
    MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
    Introduction
    Computer Numerically Controlled Machines, An Overview
    CNC Machines and Programming Essentials of Cell Manufacturing and FMS
    Parts Classification Systems and Design by Features
    The Extension of FMS to CIM
    CIM Architectures
    Identifying Information Flow in the CIM System
    Databases in Manufacturing
    In-Process Gauging and Coordinate Measurement
    Rapid Prototyping and Modelling
    CAD-CAM Integration and Rapid Prototyping
    Rapid Tool Making
    Principles of Design for Ease of (Automated) Assembly
    Sensors in Manufacturing
    On-Line Monitoring of Manufacturing Equipment
    Automatic Guided Vehicles and parts Handling
    FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN MECHATRONICS
    Automotive Systems
    Home Systems
    Telecare and Telehealth
    Automation and Robotics
    Manufacturing
    Design
    Summary
    CASE STUDIES IN MECHATRONICS
    Mechatronic Guided Bus
    Microsystems, MEMS, and Built-in-Self-Test
    High-Speed Tilting Trains
    A Practical Application of Expert Systems Design
    The Torotrak Infinitely Variable Transmission: Optimizing Power Transmission System, A Goal within Sight?
    BIBLIOGRAPHY
    INDEX

    Biography

    David Allan Bradley, Derek Seward, David Dawson, Stuart Burge