Page 3 - The Mechatronics Handbook

0066 frontmatter Page i Thursday, January 17, 2002 11:36 AM

Preface

According to the original definition of mechatronics proposed by the Yasakawa Electric Company and
the definitions that have appeared since, many of the engineering products designed and manufactured
in the last 25 years integrating mechanical and electrical systems can be classified as mechatronic systems.
Yet many of the engineers and researchers responsible for those products were never formally trained in
mechatronics per se. The Mechatronics Handbook can serve as a reference resource for those very same
design engineers to help connect their everyday experience in design with the vibrant field of mecha-
tronics. More generally, this handbook is intended for use in research and development departments in
academia, government, and industry, and as a reference source in university libraries. It can also be used
as a resource for scholars interested in understanding and explaining the engineering design process. As
the historical divisions between the various branches of engineering and computer science become less
clearly defined, we may well find that the mechatronics specialty provides a roadmap for nontraditional
engineering students studying within the traditional structure of most engineering colleges. It is evident
that there is an expansion of mechatronics laboratories and classes in the university environment world-
wide. This fact is reflected in the list of contributors to this handbook, including an international group
of 88 academicians and engineers representing 13 countries. It is hoped that the Mechatronics Handbook
can serve the world community as the definitive reference source in mechatronics.

Organization

The Mechatronics Handbook is a collection of 50
chapters covering the key elements of mechatronics:
a. Physical Systems Modeling
b. Sensors and Actuators
c. Signals and Systems
d. Computers and Logic Systems
e. Software and Data Acquisition

Section One – Overview of Mechatronics
In the opening section, the general subject of
mechatronics is defined and organized. The chapters are overview in nature and are intended to provide
an introduction to the key elements of mechatronics. For readers interested in education issues related
to mechatronics, this first section concludes with a discussion on new directions in the mechatronics
engineering curriculum. The chapters, listed in order of appearance, are:
1. What is Mechatronics?
2. Mechatronic Design Approach

©2002 CRC Press LLC