Preface
There are many definitions of mechatronics, but most involve the concept of blending mechanisms, electronics, sensors, and control strategies into a design, knitted together with software.
With an abundant wealth of topics to choose from, authors of mechatronics textbooks are tempted to bundle them all into a massive compendium. This book seeks to throw out all but the essentials; although perhaps in hanging onto the baby, some bathwater will still remain.
There are a hundred ways of achieving all except the simplest of mechatronic design tasks. At every step, choice and compromise will be involved. Should a precision motor be used, or will a simple sensor and a sprinkle of feedback allow something cheaper and easier to do the trick? What does the end user ask for, really want, actually need—or eventually buy?
Specialists can handle the fine detail, the composition of the molded plastic, the choice of components for the electronic interface, machining drawings, embedded computer, or software development platform. At the top of the pyramid, however, there must be a mechatronic designer capable of making the design tradeoffs that will transform a client’s demands or a bright idea into a successful commercial product.
In some ways, mechatronics is as much a philosophy as a science. At its heart is a way of looking at tasks that will, if necessary, achieve their objective by ducking aside into an alternative technology. The mechatronic engineer knows where to look for the side roads and has a shrewd idea of the merits of the diversion.
Essentials of Mechatronics
Chapter 11 - Computer Implementation
Having devised control algorithms and converted them to software of one
form or another, our next step is to integrate the system to include a computer
to run it on. For the experimental work, it has been easiest to exploit a retired
PC, but for serious product development, some sort of computing engine must
be integrated into the design as a whole.
There are some features that are common to the PC and to the humblest
of microcontrollers, which can greatly influence your approach to the task.
11.1 ESSENTIALS OF COMPUTING
As the computer has evolved, many ingenious variations have been tried.
Some have survived, while some have gone the way of the dodo. But some
underlying principles remain unchanged.
11.1.1 General Fundamentals
The simplest computing engine is the Turing machine. This is really a figment
of the mathematicians’ imagination, used to decide what is “computable” or
not. It has an input bit and a “state” signifying which “instruction card” is in
play. From these, the output bit and the next instruction to be used are
specified.
form or another, our next step is to integrate the system to include a computer
to run it on. For the experimental work, it has been easiest to exploit a retired
PC, but for serious product development, some sort of computing engine must
be integrated into the design as a whole.
There are some features that are common to the PC and to the humblest
of microcontrollers, which can greatly influence your approach to the task.
11.1 ESSENTIALS OF COMPUTING
As the computer has evolved, many ingenious variations have been tried.
Some have survived, while some have gone the way of the dodo. But some
underlying principles remain unchanged.
11.1.1 General Fundamentals
The simplest computing engine is the Turing machine. This is really a figment
of the mathematicians’ imagination, used to decide what is “computable” or
not. It has an input bit and a “state” signifying which “instruction card” is in
play. From these, the output bit and the next instruction to be used are
specified.
© 2006
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