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Session No: 1526 Advanced Mechatronics: Development of a Course on Modeling and Simulation of Mechatronic Systems

Shuvra Das*, Mohan Krishnan+, Sandra A. Yost+, Kathleen Zimmerman-Oster⊥ * Mechanical Engineering Department + Electrical & Computer Engineering Department ⊥ Psychology Department University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI 48219-0900 dass@udmercy.edu

Abstract Mechatronics refers to the interplay between mechanical and electrical principles that apply to a growing number of industrial products and processes. Despite the importance of this interdisciplinary area, many of today’s engineering graduates are unprepared to function competently in environments that require them to integrate electrical and mechanical knowledge areas. In addition, engineers with better communication and teamwork skills are needed to ensure U.S. competitiveness in today’s global economy.

In order to address this competency gap a team of faculty members (consisting of faculty from both ME and EE departments) started work in the mid-nineties to integrate mechatronics-based activities at all levels of the undergraduate engineering curriculum at University of Detroit Mercy. These included a new senior level technical elective in introductory mechatronics along with mechatronic activities in freshmen design and in the introductory electrical engineering course meant for non-EE majors. This effort has been very successful, and now mechatronics activities are also going on in many pre-college programs that the school runs.

Recently this team received a National Science Foundation grant to take this effort one step further by developing two new advanced courses in the area of modeling and simulation of mechatronic systems and in the area of sensors and actuators, including emerging technologies. One of the key components of this effort is a detailed plan for outcomes assessment. An outcomes assessment expert is also part of the team just as in our earlier efforts. The first of the two courses will be taught for the first time in January 2005. This paper describes in detail the technical content of the planned course as well as the assessment plan for the course.

Introduction Mechatronics is defined as the synergistic combination of precision mechanical engineering, electronic control, and intelligent software in a systems framework, used in the design of products and manufacturing processes. Design of modern day products involves the knowledge of different engineering disciplines, an ability to communicate well, and work well in multi- disciplinary teams. Because engineers are traditionally trained in fields such as either “Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright ASEE 2005, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Zimmerman-Oster, K., & Krishnan, M., & Das, S., & Yost, S. (2005, June), Advanced Mechatronics: Development Of A Course On Modeling And Simulation Of Mechatronic Systems Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--14286