The Mechatronics Handbook chapter 1

Basic Definitions

The definition of mechatronics has evolved since the original definition by the Yasakawa Electric Company. In trademark application documents, Yasakawa defined mechatronics in this way 

The word, mechatronics, is composed of “mecha” from mechanism and the “tronics” from electronics. In other words, technologies and developed products will be incorporating electronics more and more into mechanisms, intimately and organically, and making it impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins.

Key Elements of Mechatronics

The study of mechatronic systems can be divided into the following areas of specialty: 

1. Physical Systems Modeling 

2. Sensors and Actuators 

3. Signals and Systems 

4. Computers and Logic Systems 

5. Software and Data Acquisition 

The key elements of mechatronics are illustrated in Fig. . As the field of mechatronics continues to mature, the list of relevant topics associated with the area will most certainly expand and evolve. 

Career Spotlight: Mechatronics Engineer