Instructional Labs

• Introduction to Mechatronics Engineering

  Introduction

  Introduction to Mechatronics Engineering Lab teaches students about robotics, by using the VEX robotics platform, and gives hands on examples of how the different aspects of STEM are all used in the field of robotics. This lab also introduces the VEX robotics CLAWBOT, and uses it as a platform to introduce students to the different subsystems within the VEX platform and how they interact together by using digital and analog sensors. Students put this knowledge into practice as they follow step-by-step directions to build their first robot, program it using remote and autonomous control and ultimately participate in an in house VEX robotics competition.  

  • Hardware
         VEX robotic Kits
  • Software
         RobotC
         SolidWorks

  Location: Engineering Technology Center, Building Q
  Room Q-118 Dale Heatherington Mechatronics Lab

• Intermediate Programming for Mechatronics

  Introduction

  Intermediate programming for Mechatronics Lab covers programming topics relevant for Mechatronics Engineering, using tools such as C++, Arduino, and Python. The focus is towards acquiring analog, digital, and camera sensor data, motor control, pneumatics, etc. The lab also has a color sorting robot system, PI controlled minicars, DC motor control with Arduino, 2D tracking, serial communication, and image processing for students learning.

  • Hardware
         Color sorting robots
         Minicars
  • Software
         Anduino IDE
         Python
         C++

  

  Location: Engineering Technology Center, Building Q
  Room Q-242

   

• Mechatronics Engineering Fundamentals

  Introduction

  Mechatronics Engineering Fundamentals Lab teaches fundamental skills for the mechatronics engineer. 

  Topics Include:

  1. Creating electronics circuits using diode, LEDs and Transistors.
  2. A mobile robot programming using the Robot Operating System (ROS).
  3. Perform robot kinematics with principles of obstacle avoidance.
  4. Sensors and actuators, especially pneumatics.
  5. DC motors programming and interfacing with the AVR microcontroller.

  

  • Hardware
         ROS bots
         Pneumatics Test Bench
  • Software
         Robot Operating System     

  Location: Engineering Technology Center, Building Q,
  Room Q-118 Dale Heatherington Mechatronics Lab
  Room Q-242

• Fluid Power 

  Introduction

  Fluid Power is the Robotics and Mechatronics course equivalent to Fluid Dynamics. Fluid Power has a heavier focus in motors and pumps which is more useful to graduates in our field. The lab focuses heavily on understanding and creating fluid simulations and diagrams. Students will have the chance to examine hands on equipment such as the FESTO Manufacturing Production system and to create fluid simulations from it as well as work with and control the FESTO Process Control Training Bench. Students will show mastery by being able to create many different fluid control simulations using a variety of components.

  

  • Hardware
         FESTO Manufacturing Production System(including Fanuc Robot)
         FESTO Process Control Training Bench
  • Software
         Fluidsim
         Labview

  Location: Engineering Technology Center, Building Q,
  Room Q-118 and Q-110

• Feedback Control

  Introduction

  

  This is a laboratory course designed to complement the modeling and feedback controls topics also covered in MTRE4001. Feedback Control (PID Control), Model Identification, MATLAB/Simulink Modeling, and Process Control are studied and analyzed using simulations and physical experiments. 

  • Hardware
         Couple Water Tank System
         Electro Motors
  • Software
    QUARC- Realtime Control Software
    MatLab

  

  Location: Engineering Technology Center, Building Q,
  Room Q-110 (water tank set up)
  Room Q-336 (electromotor set up)

   

• Instrumentation and Controls

  Introduction
  
  Instruments and Controls teaches student the fundamentals of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). It uses a program called Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) portal to program the Siemens PLC to do various tasks to demonstrate knowledge and understanding. Students will have hands on learning and programming of PLCs as well as demonstrations and hands on trouble shooting of the larger Kawasaki Robotic arms with fully integrated Vanderlande Conveyor System. Students will demonstrate their mastery of their PLC use with a culminating project of fully programming the MiniFESTO Pick and Place system.

  • Hardware
         Siemens PLC controllers
         MiniFesto Pick and place system
         FESTO Manufactiromg Production System (Including Fanuc Robot)
         FESTO Process Control Training Bench
         Kawasaki Robots and Vanderlande Conveyor System fully integrated
         Integrated unit using Misubishi robot
  • Software
         Totally integrated Automation (TIA) portal
         Siemens Produc Lifestyle Management (PLM)

  Location: Engineering Technology Center, Building Q,
  Room Q-110
  Room Q-118 Dale Heatherington Mechatronics Lab
  Room Q121

   

• Robotics Analysis and Synthesis

  Introduction

  

  The “Robotics Analysis and Synthesis” course introduces coordinate transformations, kinematics/dynamics modeling, control system design, and path/trajectory planning of robotic arms. A state-of-the-art robotic arm, the Kinova arm, provides students a versatile and safe robotic platform to explore and validate the robotics knowledge learned from the classroom. The Kinova arm has 7 joints and a 3-finger robotic hand, which is adaptable for varying levels of expertise to test and perform simple or complex grasping and manipulation tasks. In addition, the course also utilizes ROS (Robot Operating System) to implement simulations and control of a robotic arm.

  Hardware
       The Kinova robotic arm
  Software
       ROS (Robot Operating System), MatLab

  Location: Engineering Technology Center, Building Q
  Room Q-242