MAE 3780
Mechatronics
Mechatronics sits at the intersection of mechanical and electrical engineering. Many modern mechanical systems (e.g. vehicles) includes embedded electronics and microcontrollers. This course introduces students to mechatronic systems with a hands-on focus on circuits that interact with the world via sensors and actuators. Students will learn the underlying theory behind circuit behavior along with extensive circuit prototyping and debugging. The course will culminate in the design, fabrication, and programming of a mechatronic system such as a mobile robot or device for home/office automation.
Topics
- Students will be able to analyze a given circuit using relevant physical laws to solve for parameters of interest in the circuit (e.g. voltages and currents).
- Students will be able to select from known circuit topologies to accomplish a desired task, and appropriately choose or size components for the circuit.
- Students will be able to prototype and debug electronic circuits and mechatronic systems while skillfully using relevant laboratory equipment (e.g. breadboards, multimeters, oscilloscopes).
- Students will be able to program a microcontroller to interface with circuits that include sensors and actuators.
- Students will be able to design, build, and program a mechatronic system to accomplish a desired task while taking constraints and requirements into account.
Official roster learning outcomes
Prerequisites & course information
CS 1110 or CS 1112 or equivalent; MATH 2930; PHYS 2213.
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027
- Catalogue entry ↗
Catalogue variants
- Mechatronics · 4.0 · Undergraduate