The Mechatronics Handbook is an immense reference text comprising 50 chapters divided into six sections. It provides the underlying theories, systems and processes associated with mechatronics and addresses the historic, current and future trends of the subject. The clear explanations ensure that non‐specialists can also understand and utilise the information provided.
Section 1 provides an Overview of Mechatronics and includes six chapters discussing “What is Mechatronics?”; System Interfacing, Instrumentation and Control Systems; Microprocessor‐Based Controllers and Microelectronics; and An Introduction to Micro‐ and Nano‐Technology.
Section 2 contains nine chapters addressing Physical System Modelling. Subjects discussed include Modelling Electromechanical Systems; Structures and Materials; Fluid Power Systems; Engineering Thermodynamics; and Modelling and Simulation for MEMS. Fundamentals of Time and Frequency, and Sensor and Actuator Characteristics, are amongst the topics addressed in Section 3, Sensors and Actuators.
Section 4, Systems and Controls, comprises chapters 21 to 34 and presents subjects including: The Role of Control in Mechatronics; State Space Analysis and System Properties; Response of Dynamic Systems; and The Root Locus Method. Subjects also discussed include: Kalman Filters as Dynamic System State Observers; Digital Signal Processing for Mechatronic Applications; Adaptive and Nonlinear Control Design; and Neural Networks and Fuzzy Systems.
Digital Logic Concepts and Combinational Logic Design; Communications and Computer Networks; Synchronous and Asynchronous Sequential Systems; and Control with Embedded Computers and Programmable Logic Controllers, are amongst the subjects presented in Section 5, Computers and Logic Systems.
The final section of the book, Software and Data Acquisition contains seven chapters which provide an Introduction to Data Acquisition; Measurement Techniques: Sensors and Transducers; A/D and D/A Conversion; Signal Conditioning; Computer‐Based Instrumentation Systems; Software Design and Development; and Data recording and Logging.
Overall, this is a superb reference text which will be invaluable to anyone interested in mechatronics.
