Introduction to Mechatronics

The course contains the following topics:

• Microcontrollers with components and architecture.
• Introduction to digital technology, logic, combinatorics and number systems.
• Introduction to electronics.
• Introduction to measurement engineering, signal processing and statistics.
• Introduction to imperative (procedural) programming.
• Introduction to project work and lab work with an emphasis on best practice.

Knowledge

• The candidate is familiar with the use of microcontrollers as a central device within IoT and automation and can describe typical components and architecture, application areas, strengths and limitations.
• The candidate can explain fundamental theory, methods and relationships of digital design, logic, combinatorics, and number systems.
• The candidate understands the difference between alternating current (ac) and direct current (dc), and can describe qualitatively and quantitatively fundamental aspects of electronics, such as components (e.g., conductor, resistance, condensator, inductor, diode), transformers, energy sources, circuits, sensors (e.g., temperature, light or sound sensors), and actuators (e.g., dc motor or stepper motor).
• The candidate can describe application areas, advantages and limitations with basic methods for measurements and signal processing, including measurement errors, sampling, the sampling theorem, and aliasing.
• The candidate can explain the imperative programming paradigm and fundamental programming concepts, and do a simple comparison with other paradigms (e.g., object-oriented programming or functional programming).

Skills

• The candidate can convert analog and digital signal, convert between number systems, and use and analyse logic and combinatorical circuits.
• The candidate can read and understand circuit diagrams and schematics, including connecting circuits from specifications, and analysing such circuits using Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's laws.
• The candidate can perform measurements with multimeter, oscilloscope, and sensors; perform simple signal processing and analysis (e.g., sampling, filtering, time response), and control stepper motors or the speed of dc motors using H-bridge or pulse width modulated outputs.
• The candidate can implement imperative computer programs that use data types, control structures, loops, functions, state machines, and libraries; analyse program flow; and write programs that are easy to read, expand, maintain, and well documented.
• The candidate can design and construct simple cyber-physical systems consisting of microcontrollers, sensors, actuators, circuits, and components.

General competence

• The candidate can use interdisciplinary knowledge for designing simple systems consisting of software, hardware, and electronics, which together perform some desired task.
• The candidate can perform simple testing and error detection in systems of subsystems
• The candidate is aware with relation to safety during lab work and can handle components and lab equipment in a safe manner

Learning activities generally include a mix of lectures, tutorials and practical lab/project work. A constructivist approach for learning is endorsed, with focus on problem solving and practical application of theory.