Outline

Overview

This unit of study aims to introduce students to the fundamental principles that underlie the study of mechatronic engineering. It lays the foundation for later studies, including advanced mechatronic engineering, computing, control and system design courses. The subject also provides students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of a range of machining and manufacturing processes required to make mechanical components. Introduction to Mechatronic Engineering (60%): (a) Introduction to mechatronics and to the structure of the BE in Mechatronic Engineering. (b) Systems Modelling and Control - Fundamental concepts which underlie the modelling and control of dynamic systems. (c) Design Process - The process of design synthesis as an important part of engineering. (d) Actuators - Components that exert effort to accomplish a given task. (e) Sensors - Components that take measurements of the environment. (f) Computers - Hardware and software components that, when combined, allow a system to be controlled. (g) Advanced Topics - Case studies relating to the application of mechatronic engineering principles. Manufacturing Technology (40%): An overview of a range of processes related to the design and manufacture of aerospace components is provided through hands-on experience. Manufacturing Technology practical work is undertaken in: (a) Hand tools, Machining, and Soldering - an introduction to basic manufacturing processes used to fabricate mechatronic engineering hardware. (b) Solid Modelling - the use of computer aided design (CAD) tools to model geometry and create engineering drawings of engineering components. (c) Microcontrollers - ubiquitous in modern engineered products - will be introduced through experiential learning with development kits. Safety requirements: All students are required to provide their own personal protective equipment (PPE) for activities (a) and comply with the workshop safety rules provided in class. Safety glasses must be worn at all times. Approved industrial footwear must be worn, and long hair must be protected by a hair net, for the Hand Tools and Machining activities. Students who fail to do this will not be permitted to enter the workshops.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	MTRX1701
Academic unit	Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	MECH1560 OR ENGG1800 OR AERO1560 OR CIVL1900 OR CHNG1108 OR AMME1960 OR BMET1960 OR ENGG1960
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	David Rye, david.rye@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	David Rye, david.rye@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Jacob Mackay, jmac5415@sydney.edu.au
	Stratton Vakirtzis, svak9135@uni.sydney.edu.au
	Hugh Allen, h.allen@sydney.edu.au
	Jesse Morris, jesse.morris@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Tutorial quiz	In-class quizzes	10%	Multiple weeks	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Workshop technology	40%	Multiple weeks	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 1	10%	Week 05 Due date: 28 Mar 2020 at 23:59 Closing date: 07 Apr 2020	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 2	12%	Week 08 Due date: 25 Apr 2020 at 23:59 Closing date: 05 May 2020	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 3	12%	Week 11 Due date: 16 May 2020 at 23:59 Closing date: 26 May 2020	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 4	16%	Week 13 Due date: 30 May 2020 at 23:59 Closing date: 09 Jun 2020	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assignment 1: System block diagrams.
Assignment 2: Requirements capture and component selection.
Assignment 3: Sensor signal processing.
Assignment 4: Case study; an analysis and design exercise.
In-class quizzes: Short quizzes in class.
Manufacturing technology: Practical sessions in Hand Tools, Machining, Soldering, CAD and Microcontrollers.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Unit of Study Policies

Method of Submission of Assignments
All assignments must be submitted electronically via Canvas.

Assignment Extensions and Deadlines
No extension of the published due dates and times will be given unless exceptional circumstances apply. In such cases, formal application for Special Consideration should be made using the form available at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/forms/.

Moderation of Group Work Marks
Marks for group work may be moderated on the basis of individual effort and understanding in tutorials and laboratory sessions as perceived by the Lecturers, Tutors and Demonstrators, and to compensate for demonstrated statistical variation between markers.

Must Pass Both Components
To pass this unit of study it is necessary but not sufficient to obtain a mark of not less than 45% in both the Introduction to Mechatronic Engineering and Manufacturing Technology components.

Assessment Feedback
Students can expect feedback for this unit of study through discussion during lectures and tutorial/laboratory sessions, through assignment assessment, and through responses to questions posted on the unit of study discussion board (Ed) or via email.

Students can provide feedback to the Lecturer and Tutors by discussion during lectures or tutorial/laboratory sessions, by posting comments and questions on the Ed discussion forum, or by email to the unit coordinator.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades as set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

Standards Based Assessment

Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS for Pass and FA for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Coursework Policy 2014.

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard. For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to mechatronic systems	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	System Design 1 (The Design Process)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	System Design 2 (Functional Block Diagrams)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	System Design 3 (System Block Diagrams)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Estimating and Intuition	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Sensors (Part 1)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Actuators (Part 1)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Control (Part 1)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Sensors (Part 2)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Actuators (Part 2)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Control (Part 2)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Full System Implementation	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Uncommitted	Lecture (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend all scheduled lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Recommended References

Note: References are provided for guidance purposes only. Students are advised to consult these books, or other books, in the University Library. Purchase is not required

David G. Alciatore. Introduction to Mechatronics and Measurement Systems. 4 ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 2012. ISBN: 9780071086042. Library: http://opac.library.usyd.edu.au/record=b3901993~S4
William Bolton. Mechatronics: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 4 ed., Pearson-Prentice Hall, Harlow, 2008. ISBN: 9780132407632 Library: http://opac.library.usyd.edu.au/record=b3741910~S4
Clarence W. de Silva. Mechatronics: An Integrated Approach. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2005, ISBN 0849312744 Library: http://opac.library.usyd.edu.au/record=b3741918~S4
Lawrence J. Kamm. Understanding Electro-Mechanical Engineering: An Introduction to Mechatronics. IEEE Press, New York, 1996. ISBN 0780310314 Library: http://opac.library.usyd.edu.au/record=b2187859~S4

Online Course Content

Canvas

Note on Resources

Library

Search for “mechatronic” in the University Library catalogue: https://sydney.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,mechatronic&tab=Everything&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&vid=61USYD_INST:sydney〈=en&offset=0

Online Magazines

ASME Mechanical Engineering https://www.asme.org/about-asme/mechanical-engineering-magazine Monthly “new products” section and many interesting articles relevant to mechatronics.
EDN (Electronic Design News) http://www.edn.com
Embedded Systems http://www.embedded.com/
IEEE Spectrum http://spectrum.ieee.org
IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine http://ezproxy.library.usyd.edu.au/login?url=http://www.ieee.org/ieeexplore Overview magazine of the Robotics and Automation Society, with good tutorial sections.
Machine Design http://www.machinedesign.com

Journals

Mechatronics is a mature engineering and scholarly discipline. The University library subscribes electronically to some of the leading journals in mechatronics and robotics. Although most of this research material is not immediately relevant to first-year mechatronic engineering, you may be interested to have a look at some of the journals at http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/databases/

Mechatronics: Formal refereed scholarly papers on mechatronics. This is the leading international journal in the field.
International Journal of Robotics Research: The leading peer-reviewed academic journal in robotics with a focus on formal experiments as well as theory. Its articles are detailed and provide extensive explanation of concepts and demonstrations.
IEEE Transactions on Robotics: Peer-reviewed academic journal in the field of robotics. It tends to emphasise mathematical and theoretical approaches.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Analyze and formulate requirements for a mechatronic system based on a specification.
LO2. Undertake independent research and analysis and to think creatively about engineering problems.
LO3. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the norms of professional practice and of common workshop skills - hand tool use, machining, hand soldering, CAD and microcontroller applications.
LO4. Apply a systematic approach to the design process for mechatronic systems.
LO5. Think creatively and independently about new design problems.
LO6. Appreciate the fundamental components that make up typical mechatronic systems, including sensors, actuators, electronic and computing systems.
LO7. Understand the general principles involved in computer-controlled machinery.
LO8. Demonstrate a basic understanding of system modelling and approaches to control.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

We will endeavour to provide even more timely feedback on assignments this year.

Additional information

Additional costs

Students must supply their own personal protective equipment (PPE) for Workshop Technology practical classes.

Work, health and safety

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory for participation in the Hand Tools, Machining and Soldering practical classes within the Manufacturing Technology component of the unit. Further information will be provided in the first week’s lectures.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

MTRX1701: Introduction to Mechatronic Engineering

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect