The course discusses topics related with the mechanical ' electronics systems applied both in industrial automation and in vehicle applications. The components of standard servo-systems, as well as the structure of a servo-system, are analysed, with a special attention for the regulating and sensing components.
Interfaces and power regulation systems of electric, pneumatic and hydraulic actuation field are presented and discussed, also functional and constructive typologies for instruments sensible to physical and mechanical quantities are described.
Methodological aspects of the design of a servo-system are described, particular attention will be given to the choice of a servo-system considering its components (regulation, interface, actuators, transducers) and the various possible actuation techniques.
Finally some indication will be given about performance obtainable with fluid power servo-systems, applied in typical action such as position, velocity, speed, force, torque and pressure control.

To design a system with controlled actuation. To design a test rig. To simulate a servosystem.

Regulation of mechanical systems, Applied Mechanics

Definition of mechatronic servo-system. Components of a mechatronic servo-system. Comparison between different kind of actuation: electric, pneumatic, hydraulic. Design requirements and functional properties.
Static and dynamic characteristics of the instrumentation within a servo-system. Static characteristics: sensitivity, accuracy, linearity, resolution, hysteresis. System identification in time and frequency domain. Time constant, response time, band width.
Reminders about regulation of mechanical systems, with a special attention to type zero and type one systems, with first and second order transfer function. Design consideration of the regulation system based on the Bode diagram.
Fluid power servo-systems. Interface devices: continuous and digital valves. Pressure and flow proportional servo-valves. Modulating digital valves. Construction typology. Properties: functional, environmental, electrical. Actuation devices. Layout of fluid power servo-systems. Position, speed, force/torque, pressure control, open loop and closed loop systems.
Simulation of fluid power servo-systems. Non linear and linearised modelling. Simulation environments.
Mechanical, pneumatic, electric, optical and sound transducers. Resistive, capacitive, inductive, laser, Hall effect, piezoelectric transducers. Digital transducers: encoder, optical linear encoder. Constructive typology of sensors for the detection of mechanical quantities: proximity, position, speed, torque, force, pressure. Functional properties, performance and comparison.
Analysis of servo-system used in road and railway vehicle, in industrial application and in test rigs.

They are forecast simulation exercises on different servosystems applied in automotive technologies. Students are divided up in groups, each of them will develop all simulation exercises. For the final exam, each group of students will prepare a presentation about the developed activity describing the targets, the methods, the main properties as well as results obtained in the simulated environment.

Documents provided by the teacher and book:
Bishop R. H.: 'The Mechatronis Handbook', CRC Press, 2002
E.O. Doebelin: 'Measurement systems ' Application and Design' McGraw Hill
Shetty D., Kolk R.A., 'Mechatronic systems design', PWS Publishing Company, Boston 1997
Viersma T.J.: 'Analysis, synthesis and design of hydraulic servosystems and pipelines', Elsevier, 1980
Nordmann R., Birkhofer H.,:'Elementi di macchine e meccatronica', Mc Graw Hill, 2006
Jacazio G., Piombo B.: 'Meccanica Applicata alle Macchine, vol. III, Regolazione e servomeccanismi', Levrotto&Bella
Sorli M., Quaglia G.: 'Meccatronica vol. 1', Politeko, Torino 2003

The exam is oral and it considers the programs of classes and exercises. The presentation and discussion of the results obtained in the exercises will be evaluated.