Carnegie Mellon University

Electrical and Computer Engineering

College of Engineering

Course Information

18-578: Mechatronic Design

Units:

12

Description:

Mechatronics is the synergistic integration of mechanism, electronics, and computer control to achieve a functional system. Because of the emphasis upon integration, this course will center around system integration in which small teams of students will configure, design, and implement a succession of mechatronic subsystems, leading to a main project. Lectures will complement the laboratory experience with comparative surveys, operational principles, and integrated design issues associated with the spectrum of mechanism, electronics, and control components. Class lectures will cover topics intended to complement the laboratory work, including mechanisms, actuators, motor drives, sensors and electronic interfaces, microcontroller hardware and programming and basic controls. During the first week of class, each student will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their technical background. The class will then be divided into multi-disciplinary teams of three students. During the first half of the class, lab assignments will be made every 1-2 weeks to construct useful subsystems based on material learned in lecture. The lab assignments are geared to build to the main project. This course is cross-listed as 16-778 and 24-778. Students in other departments may take the course upon availability of slots with permission of instructor. Non ECE students may take the course upon availability of slots with permission of the instructor.

Prerequisites: (18-320 and 18-348) or (15313 and 18-348) or (18-348 and 18-370) or (18-349 and 18-370) or (15313 and 18-349) or (18-320 and 18-349) or (18-320 and 18-370)

Last Modified: 2024-01-19 9:45AM

Current session:

This course is currently being offered.

Semesters offered:

  • Spring 2024
  • Spring 2023
  • Spring 2022
  • Spring 2021
  • Spring 2020
  • Spring 2019
  • Spring 2018
  • Spring 2017
  • Spring 2016
  • Spring 2015
  • Spring 2014
  • Spring 2013
  • Spring 2012
  • Spring 2011
  • Spring 2010
  • Spring 2009
  • Spring 2008
  • Spring 2007
  • Spring 2006
  • Spring 2005