SENSORY INFORMATION ACQUISITION FOR MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTELLIGENT MECHATRONIC SYSTEMS

Abstract

Mechatronic systems are electromechanical systems where an integrated design procedure is used with respect to mechanical and electrical aspects. These systems possess computational intelligence with capabilities such as perception, learning, reasoning, and making inferences (or, decisions) from incomplete information. Concepts of sensing and information acquisition are crucial for mechatronic systems in all stages of design, development, testing, operation, and maintenance. This paper outlines the considerations of sensing and information acquisition for intelligent mechatronic systems. A typical mechatronic system operates as a self-contained unit and involves direct information acquisition. There are situations, however, where a group of mechatronic systems have to operate in a coordinated manner, as in a mechatronic workcell. Also it may be necessary to monitor a mechatronic system remotely and to share common resources between several applications. Networked control is needed then. This issue is also addressed in the paper. Several industrial applications of intelligent mechatronics have been developed in our Industrial Automation Laboratory. Some of them involve cutting, inspection, and grading of fish products. The paper presents a representative application, by highlighting information acquisition and the integration of sensing and control.