What can we learn from all this?
Autonomous vehicles are hard to design. There is always the risk of component failure, and a greater risk of not foreseeing flaws that could be potentially very nasty. Given the limited timeframe in which to develop these vehicles, there have been some very good innovations.
Autonomous vehicles are a form of robotics in which the car becomes the robot. I think many of us (including myself) would like to own an autonomous vehicle some day
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
DARPA Grand challenge - an exercise in robotics
DARPA grand challenge
What is it?
The DARPA grand challenge is a US based challenge sponsored by the Department of Defense under the ‘Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’ arm. DARPA is unique in that it gives technological option to the Department of Defense. It accelerates development of technological advances to make what might be possible in the future possible.
The grand challenge is a result of the goal by the military to develop unmanned vehicles for use in warfare. In order to accelerate development in the field, DARPA created a challenge open to teams around the world to develop autonomous vehicles to drive around a preset path. The vehicles had to have no human intervention.
Sadly, no vehicle completed the race, but it did highlight some of the dangers and pitfalls when designing an autonomous vehicle. Encouraged by the result that they did move autonomously for some distance, DARPA announced a second grand challenge to be held in the desert in 2005. The goal was to drive to path in less than 5 hours. 3 vehicles managed to successfully do this, and a fourth finished the course after being parked on a hilltop overnight due to lack of battery power and low sunlight. The rest had various problems with components.
In 2006, DARPA announced another grand challenge. Dubbed the urban challenge, he vehicles must now successfully navigate traffic, and follow local traffic laws (including traffic lights). It will be held late in 2007
What is it?
The DARPA grand challenge is a US based challenge sponsored by the Department of Defense under the ‘Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’ arm. DARPA is unique in that it gives technological option to the Department of Defense. It accelerates development of technological advances to make what might be possible in the future possible.
The grand challenge is a result of the goal by the military to develop unmanned vehicles for use in warfare. In order to accelerate development in the field, DARPA created a challenge open to teams around the world to develop autonomous vehicles to drive around a preset path. The vehicles had to have no human intervention.
Sadly, no vehicle completed the race, but it did highlight some of the dangers and pitfalls when designing an autonomous vehicle. Encouraged by the result that they did move autonomously for some distance, DARPA announced a second grand challenge to be held in the desert in 2005. The goal was to drive to path in less than 5 hours. 3 vehicles managed to successfully do this, and a fourth finished the course after being parked on a hilltop overnight due to lack of battery power and low sunlight. The rest had various problems with components.
In 2006, DARPA announced another grand challenge. Dubbed the urban challenge, he vehicles must now successfully navigate traffic, and follow local traffic laws (including traffic lights). It will be held late in 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
Mechatronics and you - electronic stability in cars
Mechatronics and you:
Electronic stability in cars – how it works.
Electronic stability control (ESC) (marketed under different marketing names by different companies) is a program in some newer cars that tries to prevent oversteer and understeer in cars. ESC cannot prevent crashes – merely reduce the severity of impact.
Electronic stability works by comparing the drivers intended direction to the actual response of the vehicle by sensing lateral acceleration, individual wheel speeds and rotation and responds accordingly.
ESC is an example of mechatronics at work – it is a moving system using electronics to control and get a desired response.
Electronic stability in cars – how it works.
Electronic stability control (ESC) (marketed under different marketing names by different companies) is a program in some newer cars that tries to prevent oversteer and understeer in cars. ESC cannot prevent crashes – merely reduce the severity of impact.
Electronic stability works by comparing the drivers intended direction to the actual response of the vehicle by sensing lateral acceleration, individual wheel speeds and rotation and responds accordingly.
ESC is an example of mechatronics at work – it is a moving system using electronics to control and get a desired response.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Robotics and Mechatronics part 2
How does Mechatronic engineering apply to robotics?
The common dream of most Mechatronic engineer is to build robots. In the meantime, Mechatronic engineering graduates design and supervise construction of systems automation. Industrial robots are programmed and maintained by Mechatronic engineers.
Robotics and mechatronics part 2
Robotics and their associated programming requires knowledge of electrical systems and mechanical movement. Robots are constrained in their movement. This can be 1-axis, 2-axis, 3-axis, or multiple axis robots.
Multiple axis robots can be hard to program. It is easier to program a 2 axis robot than a 3-axis one, as you have limitations on its motion based on its wires and its motors.
As I mentioned in a previous article, robotics have invaded many industries to increase productivity. They are far more precise, accurate, and less prone to boredom. Robots can be programmed to do anything within their capabilities.
The common dream of most Mechatronic engineer is to build robots. In the meantime, Mechatronic engineering graduates design and supervise construction of systems automation. Industrial robots are programmed and maintained by Mechatronic engineers.
Robotics and mechatronics part 2
Robotics and their associated programming requires knowledge of electrical systems and mechanical movement. Robots are constrained in their movement. This can be 1-axis, 2-axis, 3-axis, or multiple axis robots.
Multiple axis robots can be hard to program. It is easier to program a 2 axis robot than a 3-axis one, as you have limitations on its motion based on its wires and its motors.
As I mentioned in a previous article, robotics have invaded many industries to increase productivity. They are far more precise, accurate, and less prone to boredom. Robots can be programmed to do anything within their capabilities.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
what do companies usually advertise that relate to mechatronics engineering?
I look at the employment section in my local paper and I don’t see a lot of engineering firms advertising for ‘mechatronics engineers’. What’s up with that?
You may be looking for the words ‘mechatronics engineers’ specifically, and you wont find a lot of companies advertising this way. Mechatronics is a new engineering field, so you won’t find a lot of senior mechatronics engineers. In order to not restrict their search, they don’t advertise for mechatronics engineers specifically. Some of the more common positions which a mechatronics engineers can apply for are:
• Asset Engineer
• Automation engineer
• Data Logging engineer
• Electrical/Electronic engineer
• Electro mechanical engineer
• Instrumentation engineer
• Maintenance engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Plant engineer
• Process engineer
• Process monitoring and plant systems engineer
• Project engineer
• Software engineer
• Systems engineer
You may be looking for the words ‘mechatronics engineers’ specifically, and you wont find a lot of companies advertising this way. Mechatronics is a new engineering field, so you won’t find a lot of senior mechatronics engineers. In order to not restrict their search, they don’t advertise for mechatronics engineers specifically. Some of the more common positions which a mechatronics engineers can apply for are:
• Asset Engineer
• Automation engineer
• Data Logging engineer
• Electrical/Electronic engineer
• Electro mechanical engineer
• Instrumentation engineer
• Maintenance engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Plant engineer
• Process engineer
• Process monitoring and plant systems engineer
• Project engineer
• Software engineer
• Systems engineer
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
mechatronics and robotics part 1
Mechatronics and robotics.
What is mechatronics?
This is a commonly asked question in industry, so it is best if it is answered so people know what it is, exactly.
Mechatronics is a relatively new field of engineering. It was born out of industry pressure to create an engineer who could adapt. Traditional disciplines have grown so far apart, it has become hard for them to work together.
Mechatronics is a unique blend of computer science, Mechanical engineering, and Electrical engineering. It gives the mechatronics engineer an understanding in those field in order to tie them together. They are able to combine the necessary elements together to provide automated systems.
Why should you employ a mechatronics engineer?
COST!
Most traditional engineers regard the mechatronics engineer as 1/3 mechanical, 1/3 electrical and 1/3 computer science with not enough knowledge in any to be any good. In fact, research has shown that an engineer picks up most of his or her knowledge while working, and not studying.
A mechatronics engineer has good fundamental grounding in all three fields. He or she is a specialist in automation. A good mechatronics engineer will be able to take control of a project that involves automation, and ensure that everything will work. He or she will have enough background knowledge to be able to pick out any problem before it becomes a major issue (problem resolution is another thing though…). Any major delays can be avoided this way, saving you potentially millions of dollars.
What is mechatronics?
This is a commonly asked question in industry, so it is best if it is answered so people know what it is, exactly.
Mechatronics is a relatively new field of engineering. It was born out of industry pressure to create an engineer who could adapt. Traditional disciplines have grown so far apart, it has become hard for them to work together.
Mechatronics is a unique blend of computer science, Mechanical engineering, and Electrical engineering. It gives the mechatronics engineer an understanding in those field in order to tie them together. They are able to combine the necessary elements together to provide automated systems.
Why should you employ a mechatronics engineer?
COST!
Most traditional engineers regard the mechatronics engineer as 1/3 mechanical, 1/3 electrical and 1/3 computer science with not enough knowledge in any to be any good. In fact, research has shown that an engineer picks up most of his or her knowledge while working, and not studying.
A mechatronics engineer has good fundamental grounding in all three fields. He or she is a specialist in automation. A good mechatronics engineer will be able to take control of a project that involves automation, and ensure that everything will work. He or she will have enough background knowledge to be able to pick out any problem before it becomes a major issue (problem resolution is another thing though…). Any major delays can be avoided this way, saving you potentially millions of dollars.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
industrial robotics - a very commonly discussed topic
Industrial robots today – a commonly discussed topic in robotics.
There is extensive debate about what a robot consists of. Some people insist it has to be bipedal, interact with humans and be able to think on its own. There are already robots like this, albeit experimental. The most well known one of this form is ASIMO. It is a research robot by Honda - more about this in a later article.
Robots, and more specifically robotics, have become very useful in industry. In these instances, they perform tasks too dangerous or too repetitive for humans to do. You will see them in manufacturing, parts fabrication, and so on. There is an ISO standard for industrial robots, which ensures a minimum standard to classify an industrial robot as a robot. The ISO definition is:
an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator programmable in three or more axes
What does this mean for you?
This means you have probably worked with a robot if you have programmed a piece of equipment to do a specific task for you. If you have worked alongside a piece of equipment that fast and precise, you have worked alongside a robot.
Robots are very common in industries that carry a fair amount of danger, or a lot of repetition in the work. For example, robotic arms with welders are used in the automotive industry to weld car parts together. As you can imagine, the precision and repetition of the work would ensure a greater chance of a defective vehicle, or that there is an accident in the workplace. Robots have not completely taken over every possible job imaginable. You still need humans to weld the intricate parts together, and to ensure that everything is ‘correct’ (i.e. to spec). A robot would not be able to see the fine details.
There is extensive debate about what a robot consists of. Some people insist it has to be bipedal, interact with humans and be able to think on its own. There are already robots like this, albeit experimental. The most well known one of this form is ASIMO. It is a research robot by Honda - more about this in a later article.
Robots, and more specifically robotics, have become very useful in industry. In these instances, they perform tasks too dangerous or too repetitive for humans to do. You will see them in manufacturing, parts fabrication, and so on. There is an ISO standard for industrial robots, which ensures a minimum standard to classify an industrial robot as a robot. The ISO definition is:
an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator programmable in three or more axes
What does this mean for you?
This means you have probably worked with a robot if you have programmed a piece of equipment to do a specific task for you. If you have worked alongside a piece of equipment that fast and precise, you have worked alongside a robot.
Robots are very common in industries that carry a fair amount of danger, or a lot of repetition in the work. For example, robotic arms with welders are used in the automotive industry to weld car parts together. As you can imagine, the precision and repetition of the work would ensure a greater chance of a defective vehicle, or that there is an accident in the workplace. Robots have not completely taken over every possible job imaginable. You still need humans to weld the intricate parts together, and to ensure that everything is ‘correct’ (i.e. to spec). A robot would not be able to see the fine details.
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