Introduction to Mechatronic Design

Course Description

EGN3060C – Introduction to Mechatronic Design is a 3-credit-hour upper-division engineering course that develops students' competency in mechatronic system design — the integration of mechanical, electrical, control, and software engineering to create intelligent products and automated systems. The course addresses the design of mechatronic systems through hands-on projects involving sensors, actuators, microcontrollers (typically Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or comparable platforms), embedded software, mechanical interfaces, and the systems-engineering integration of these components into functional products.

The "C" lab indicator denotes integrated lecture and laboratory components, with substantial hands-on work building, programming, and testing mechatronic systems. Coursework typically progresses from foundational electronics and microcontroller programming through sensor and actuator integration to substantive team-based mechatronic design projects (often culminating in a working autonomous system, mobile robot, automated process, or comparable demonstrable system). The course requires the integration of skills from across engineering disciplines and is well-suited to mechanical, electrical, computer, and biomedical engineering students.

EGN3060C is a Florida common course offered at approximately 2 Florida institutions. The specific platform choice (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, specific commercial platforms) and project scope vary among institutions. EGN3060C transfers as the equivalent course at all Florida public postsecondary institutions per SCNS articulation policy where the receiving institution accepts the course.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply foundational mechatronics concepts, including the integration of mechanical, electrical, control, and software engineering; the systems-engineering view of mechatronic design; the role of mechatronics in modern products and processes.
• Apply foundational electronics for mechatronics, including basic circuit analysis (Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws); resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors at introductory level; common power and signal interfaces.
• Apply microcontroller programming, including the operation of common microcontroller platforms (typically Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or comparable); the digital and analog I/O; serial communication; the embedded programming model (the main loop, interrupts at introductory level).
• Apply sensor integration, including the operation and interfacing of common sensors (force, pressure, temperature, distance, light, optical, accelerometer, gyroscope, encoder, IMU); the analog-to-digital conversion (ADC); signal conditioning at introductory level.
• Apply actuator integration, including the operation and control of common actuators (DC motors, servo motors, stepper motors, solenoids, pneumatic actuators); H-bridge circuits for motor control; pulse-width modulation (PWM) for actuator control.
• Apply foundational control, including open-loop and closed-loop control; introductory PID control concepts; the implementation of basic control on a microcontroller; tuning at introductory level.
• Apply communication and interfacing, including digital communication protocols at introductory level (UART/Serial, SPI, I²C); wireless communication at introductory level (Bluetooth, WiFi where included); data logging.
• Apply mechanical design for mechatronics, including the mechanical interfaces between actuators and mechanisms; basic mechanical design considerations (mounting, alignment, stiffness, vibration); the integration with CAD tools.
• Apply mechatronic systems integration, including the assembly of mechanical, electrical, and software components into functional systems; debugging across system layers; the recognition of systems-level failure modes.
• Apply mechatronic design methodology, including requirements gathering; concept generation; subsystem design; integration; testing; iteration; documentation; the role of prototyping in mechatronic development.
• Apply mechatronic team design, including effective participation in interdisciplinary teams; the management of design tasks across mechanical, electrical, and software domains; the integration of subsystem work.
• Apply mechatronic safety, including electrical safety; mechanical safety (pinch points, energy storage, motion safety); software safety (graceful failure, watchdog timers, e-stop integration).
• Demonstrate technical communication for mechatronic projects, including design documentation, technical reports, presentations, and the clear communication across disciplines.

Optional Outcomes

• Apply introductory robotics, including mobile robot platforms; basic localization; line following; obstacle avoidance.
• Apply computer vision at introductory level (using OpenCV with Python on Raspberry Pi or comparable), with mechatronic applications.
• Apply introductory machine learning in mechatronic contexts (sensor data analysis, simple ML for control).
• Apply industrial automation principles at introductory level, including the relationship between mechatronics and PLC-based automation; introduction to SCADA.
• Engage with specific application domains reflecting the program's emphasis (medical devices, automotive systems, manufacturing automation, consumer products, robotics competitions).

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Foundations of Mechatronics: The definition of mechatronics; the integration of mechanical, electrical, control, and software engineering; historical evolution of mechatronics; common mechatronic products and systems; the systems-engineering view.
• Electronics for Mechatronics: Foundational electronics review (Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, voltage dividers); common components (resistors, capacitors, diodes, LEDs, switches, transistors at introductory level); breadboards and prototyping; basic measurement (multimeter, oscilloscope at introductory level); power supplies and battery selection.
• Microcontroller Platforms: Common platforms — Arduino (Atmel-based, beginner-friendly, extensive ecosystem); Raspberry Pi (Linux-based, more powerful, supports Python); ESP32 (WiFi-enabled, popular for IoT); Teensy (high-performance Arduino-compatible); the choice of platform; the architecture of typical microcontroller systems.
• Microcontroller Programming: The Arduino IDE (or equivalent); the typical setup() and loop() structure; digital I/O (digitalWrite, digitalRead); analog input (analogRead, ADC concepts); analog output via PWM (analogWrite); serial communication for debugging and data exchange.
• Sensor Integration — Common Sensors: Force/pressure (strain gauges, load cells); temperature (thermistors, thermocouples, IC sensors like LM35); distance (ultrasonic HC-SR04, IR, time-of-flight, LIDAR introduction); light (photoresistors, photodiodes); optical (photointerrupters, encoders, line sensors); accelerometer, gyroscope, IMU (commonly MPU6050, MPU9250); the choice of sensor for an application.
• Sensor Signal Conditioning: The need for conditioning; voltage dividers and amplification at introductory level; analog filtering at conceptual level; the digital filter as an alternative; calibration; the relationship between sensor specifications and engineering accuracy requirements.
• Actuator Integration — DC Motors: The DC motor — operation, characteristics; H-bridge for direction control (typically L298N or similar driver); PWM for speed control; the relationship between PWM duty cycle and motor speed.
• Actuator Integration — Servo Motors: Standard hobby servo motors; PWM control of position; the typical 1ms-2ms pulse width range; common applications in mechatronic projects.
• Actuator Integration — Stepper Motors: The stepper motor — operation, control sequences; common driver ICs (ULN2003, A4988); the relationship between step count and motion; engineering applications.
• Actuator Integration — Other: Solenoids; pneumatic and hydraulic actuators at introductory level; relays for high-power switching; the choice of actuator.
• Foundational Control: Open-loop control (no feedback); closed-loop control (with sensor feedback); the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller at introductory level; the implementation on a microcontroller; tuning the controller.
• Communication Protocols: Serial/UART (the workhorse of microcontroller-to-PC and microcontroller-to-microcontroller); SPI (faster, multiple devices via chip-select); I²C (two-wire, multiple devices via address); the choice among protocols.
• Wireless Communication (Where Included): Bluetooth at introductory level; WiFi (with ESP32 or Pi); the IoT context; common cloud platforms.
• Data Logging: SD card storage; serial data logging; cloud-based logging at introductory level; the engineering use of data logging in mechatronic systems.
• Mechanical Design for Mechatronics: The mechanical interfaces between actuators and the things they move; mounting and alignment; the role of CAD; 3D printing for mechatronic mechanical components; the integration of mechanical and electrical subsystems.
• Mechatronic Systems Integration: The assembly of mechanical, electrical, and software components into functional systems; layered debugging (mechanical, electrical, software); the recognition of systems-level failure modes (intermittent, environmentally dependent, edge cases).
• Mechatronic Design Methodology: Requirements gathering; concept generation; subsystem partitioning (which functions are mechanical, which are electrical, which are software); subsystem design; integration; testing; iteration; documentation.
• Team Mechatronic Design: Interdisciplinary teamwork; the management of design tasks across domains; subsystem responsibility allocation; the integration of subsystem work; common interdisciplinary communication challenges.
• Mechatronic Safety: Electrical safety (current limits, isolation, grounding); mechanical safety (pinch points, energy storage, motion safety, emergency stops); software safety (graceful failure, watchdog timers, the integration with hardware safety); the safety responsibility of the mechatronic designer.
• Mechatronic Project — Substantive Design Work: Team-based mechatronic design project (typically multi-week or semester-long); culminating in a working demonstrable system; documentation and presentation; the integration of all course content.

Optional Topics

• Introductory Robotics: Mobile robot platforms; differential drive; basic localization (dead reckoning); line following; obstacle avoidance; the mechatronic foundation for further robotics study.
• Computer Vision: OpenCV with Python on Raspberry Pi; basic image processing; object detection; the mechatronic applications.
• Introductory Machine Learning: ML on microcontrollers (TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers, Edge Impulse); ML on Raspberry Pi; the appropriate use in mechatronic contexts.
• Industrial Automation: The relationship between mechatronics and PLC-based automation; SCADA at introductory level; the industrial vs. consumer mechatronics distinction.
• Application Domains: Medical devices (the regulatory context); automotive systems (in-vehicle networks, ECUs); manufacturing automation; consumer products; robotics competitions.

Resources & Tools

• Common Texts: Mechatronics (Bolton); Introduction to Mechatronics and Measurement Systems (Alciatore/Histand); Mechatronic Systems: Modelling and Simulation with HDLs (Pelz); platform-specific resources (Arduino official documentation; Raspberry Pi official documentation)
• Software: Arduino IDE (free); Python on Raspberry Pi (free); Fusion 360 or SolidWorks for mechanical design; CAD software for circuit design (Fritzing, KiCad — free; Altium for advanced); LabVIEW (where institutionally licensed)
• Lab Equipment: Microcontroller boards (Arduino Uno/Mega/Nano, Raspberry Pi 4/5, ESP32); breadboards and component kits; sensors (assortment); actuators (DC motors, servos, steppers); H-bridge drivers; oscilloscopes and multimeters; soldering equipment; 3D printers; mechanical prototyping equipment
• Reference Resources: Arduino Forum (forum.arduino.cc); Raspberry Pi Foundation resources; Adafruit Learning System (free, extensive tutorials); SparkFun tutorials (free); the IEEE robotics and automation society resources; Hackster.io for project examples
• Component Vendors (for parts): Adafruit; SparkFun; Pololu; DigiKey and Mouser for components; Amazon for hobbyist-grade parts

Career Pathways

Mechatronics is increasingly central to modern engineering practice. EGN3060C supports career pathways in:

• Mechatronics Engineering — Direct preparation; specialty in mechatronic system design.
• Robotics Engineering — Foundation for robotics careers; relevant to Florida's robotics ecosystem.
• Automation Engineering — Manufacturing automation, industrial automation; substantial Florida demand in manufacturing sector.
• Medical Device Engineering — Device design; instrumentation; control systems for medical applications.
• Aerospace Engineering — Avionics and Systems — Florida's aerospace sector includes substantial mechatronic content.
• Automotive and Mobility Engineering — In-vehicle electronics, ADAS, autonomous vehicle systems.
• Consumer Products Engineering — IoT devices, smart products, connected appliances.
• Embedded Systems Engineering — The hardware-software interface across many industries.
• Mechanical Engineering with Electronic Integration — Mechanical engineers increasingly need electronics and software competency; mechatronics fills this gap.

Special Information

Variation Across Institutions

Because EGN3060C is offered at relatively few Florida institutions (approximately 2), the specific platform choice and project scope vary. Some institutions emphasize Arduino-based introductory work; others emphasize Raspberry Pi for more powerful systems; still others use commercial mechatronic platforms (LEGO Mindstorms EV3 has been widely used historically, with successors emerging). Students should consult their specific institution's current syllabus.

The Interdisciplinary Nature

EGN3060C is fundamentally interdisciplinary, drawing from mechanical engineering (mechanisms, structures, mechanical interfaces), electrical engineering (circuits, electronics, power), control engineering (feedback, PID), and software engineering (embedded programming, real-time systems). Students from any of these disciplines bring strengths and gaps; the course supports cross-disciplinary learning. Many students find mechatronic projects among the most engaging and career-relevant work in their engineering programs.

General Education and Transfer

EGN3060C is a Florida common course number that transfers as the equivalent course at all Florida public postsecondary institutions per SCNS articulation policy where the receiving institution accepts the course.

Course Format

EGN3060C is offered primarily in face-to-face format due to the hands-on lab component. Hybrid versions (online lecture + on-campus lab) are common; fully online versions are less common but may use take-home kits.

Position in the Engineering Curriculum

EGN3060C is typically taken in the third year of engineering study, after foundational electronics (typically introductory circuits coursework) and programming. The course is well-positioned as a junior-level course and supports senior-level capstone design work that frequently has mechatronic content.

Materials and Project Costs

Mechatronic projects involve substantial materials and component costs. Many institutions provide course kits or materials access through course fees; others require students to purchase or contribute to project materials. Students should plan for materials investment beyond the textbook.

The Career Centrality of Mechatronics

Modern engineering products and processes are pervasively mechatronic. Even traditionally "purely mechanical" products (cars, appliances, industrial equipment, medical devices) are increasingly defined by their electronics, software, and connectivity. Engineers who can design across the mechanical-electrical-software domains have substantial career advantages and are increasingly in demand. EGN3060C provides the foundational competency for this central modern engineering capability.