Page 29 - The Mechatronics Handbook

FIGURE 2.2 Mechanical process and information processing develop towards mechatronic systems.

The energy flow is generally a product of a generalized flow and a potential (effort). Information on
the state of the mechanical process can be obtained by measured generalized flows (speed, volume, or
mass flow) or electrical current or potentials (force, pressure, temperature, or voltage). Together with
reference variables, the measured variables are the inputs for an information flow through the digital
electronics resulting in manipulated variables for the actuators or in monitored variables on a display.
The addition and integration of feedback information flow to a feedforward energy flow in a basically
mechanical system is one characteristic of many mechatronic systems. This development presently influ-
ences the design of mechanical systems. Mechatronic systems can be subdivided into:
• mechatronic systems
• mechatronic machines
• mechatronic vehicles
• precision mechatronics
• micro mechatronics

This shows that the integration with electronics comprises many classes of technical systems. In several
cases, the mechanical part of the process is coupled with an electrical, thermal, thermodynamic, chemical,
or information processing part. This holds especially true for energy converters as machines where, in
addition to the mechanical energy, other kinds of energy appear. Therefore, mechatronic systems in a
wider sense comprise mechanical and also non-mechanical processes. However, the mechanical part
normally dominates the system.
Because an auxiliary energy is required to change the fixed properties of formerly passive mechanical
systems by feedforward or feedback control, these systems are sometimes also called active mechanical systems.

2.2 Functions of Mechatronic Systems

Mechatronic systems permit many improved and new functions. This will be discussed by considering
some examples.
Division of Functions between Mechanics and Electronics

For designing mechatronic systems, the interplay for the realization of functions in the mechanical and
electronic part is crucial. Compared to pure mechanical realizations, the use of amplifiers and actuators
with electrical auxiliary energy led to considerable simplifications in devices, as can be seen from watches,

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