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Book Advances in High Performance Motion Control of Mechatronic Systems

Download or read book Advances in High Performance Motion Control of Mechatronic Systems written by Takashi Yamaguchi and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2017-12-19 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mechatronic systems are used in a range of consumer products from large-scale braking systems in vehicular agents to small-scale integrated sensors in mobile phones. To keep pace in the competitive consumer electronics industry, companies need to continuously improve servo evaluation and position control of these mechatronic systems. Advances in High-Performance Motion Control of Mechatronic Systems covers advanced control topics for mechatronic applications. In particular, the book examines control systems design for ultra-fast and ultra-precise positioning of mechanical actuators in mechatronic systems. The book systematically describes motion control design methods for trajectory design, sampled-data precise positioning, transient control using switching control, and dual-stage actuator control. Each method is described in detail, from theoretical aspects to examples of actual industry applications including hard disk drives, optical disk drives, galvano scanners, personal mobility robots, and more. This helps readers better understand how to translate control theories and algorithms from theory to design and implementation in realistic engineering systems. The book also identifies important research directions and advanced control techniques that may provide solutions for the next generation of high-performance mechatronics. Bridging research and industry, this book presents state-of-the-art control design methodologies that are widely applicable to industries such as manufacturing, robotics, home appliances, automobiles, printers, and optical drives. It guides readers toward more effective solutions for high-performance mechatronic systems in their own products.

Book The Design of High Performance Mechatronics   3rd Revised Edition

Download or read book The Design of High Performance Mechatronics 3rd Revised Edition written by R. Munnig Schmidt and published by IOS Press. This book was released on 2020-02-05 with total page 949 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since they entered our world around the middle of the 20th century, the application of mechatronics has enhanced our lives with functionality based on the integration of electronics, control systems and electric drives. This book deals with the special class of mechatronics that has enabled the exceptional levels of accuracy and speed of high-tech equipment applied in the semiconductor industry, realising the continuous shrink in detailing of micro-electronics and MEMS. As well as the more frequently presented standard subjects of dynamics, motion control, electronics and electromechanics, this book includes an overview of systems engineering, optics and precision measurement systems, in an attempt to establish a connection between these fields under one umbrella. Robert Munnig Schmidt is emeritus professor in Mechatronic System Design at Delft University of Technology with industrial experience at Philips and ASML in research and development of consumer and high-tech systems. He is also director of RMS Acoustics & Mechatronics, doing research and development on active controlled low frequency sound systems. Georg Schitter is professor at the Automation and Control Institute (ACIN) at Vienna University of Technology with a standing track record in research on the control and mechatronic design of extremely fast precision motion systems such as video rate AFM systems. Adrian Rankers is managing partner of Mechatronics Academy, developing and delivering high level courses to the industrial community, based on industrial experience at Philips in the research and development of consumer and high-tech systems. He also teaches Mechatronics at the Eindhoven University of Technology. Jan van Eijk is emeritus professor in Advanced Mechatronics at Delft University of Technology. He is also director of MICE BV and partner at Mechatronics Academy, acting as industrial R&D advisor and teacher with experience at Philips in the research and development of consumer and high-tech systems.

Book The Design of High Performance Mechatronics

Download or read book The Design of High Performance Mechatronics written by R. Munnig Schmidt and published by IOS Press. This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since they entered our world around the middle of the 20th century, the application of mechatronics has enhanced our lives with functionality based on the integration of electronics, control systems and electric drives.This book deals with the special class of mechatronics that has enabled the exceptional levels of accuracy and speed of high-tech equipment applied in the semiconductor industry, realising the continuous shrink in detailing of micro-electronics and MEMS.As well as the more frequently presented standard subjects of dynamics, motion control, electronics and electromechanics, this book includes an overview of systems engineering, optics and precision measurement systems, in an attempt to establish a connection between these fields under one umbrella.Robert Munnig Schmidt is professor in Mechatronic System Design at Delft University of Technology with industrial experience at Philips and ASML in research and development of consumer and high-tech systems. He is also director of RMS Acoustics & Mechatronics, doing research and development on active controlled low frequency sound systems.Georg Schitter is professor at the Automation and Control Institute (ACIN) at Vienna University of Technology with a standing track record in research on the control and mechatronic design of extremely fast precision motion systems such as video rate AFM systems.Adrian Rankers is managing partner of Mechatronics Academy, developing and delivering high level courses to the industrial community, based on industrial experience at Philips in the research and development of consumer and high-tech systems.Jan van Eijk is emeritus professor in Advanced Mechatronics at Delft University of Technology. He is also director of MICE BV and partner at Mechatronics Academy, acting as industrial R&D advisor and teacher with experience at Philips in the research and development of consumer and high-tech systems.

Book The Design of High Performance Mechatronics   2nd Revised Edition

Download or read book The Design of High Performance Mechatronics 2nd Revised Edition written by R. Munnig Schmidt and published by IOS Press. This book was released on 2014-01-08 with total page 928 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since they entered our world around the middle of the 20th century, the application of mechatronics has enhanced our lives with functionality based on the integration of electronics, control systems and electric drives. This book deals with the special class of mechatronics that has enabled the exceptional levels of accuracy and speed of high-tech equipment applied in the semiconductor industry, realising the continuous shrink in detailing of micro-electronics and MEMS. As well as the more frequently presented standard subjects of dynamics, motion control, electronics and electromechanics, this book includes an overview of systems engineering, optics and precision measurement systems, in an attempt to establish a connection between these fields under one umbrella. Robert Munnig Schmidt is professor in Mechatronic System Design at Delft University of Technology with industrial experience at Philips and ASML in research and development of consumer and high-tech systems. He is also director of RMS Acoustics & Mechatronics, doing research and development on active controlled low frequency sound systems. Georg Schitter is professor at the Automation and Control Institute (ACIN) at Vienna University of Technology with a standing track record in research on the control and mechatronic design of extremely fast precision motion systems such as video rate AFM systems. Adrian Rankers is managing partner of Mechatronics Academy, developing and delivering high level courses to the industrial community, based on industrial experience at Philips in the research and development of consumer and high-tech systems. Jan van Eijk is emeritus professor in Advanced Mechatronics at Delft University of Technology. He is also director of MICE BV and partner at Mechatronics Academy, acting as industrial R&D advisor and teacher with experience at Philips in the research and development of consumer and high-tech systems.

Book High Speed Precision Motion Control

Download or read book High Speed Precision Motion Control written by Takashi Yamaguchi and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2017-07-12 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Edited by Takashi Yamaguchi, Mitsuo Hirate, and Chee Khiang Pang, with contributions from pioneers known for their ground-breaking work, High-Speed Precision Motion Control discusses high-precision and fast servo controls in hard disk drives (HDDs). The chapter authors describe the control technologies they’ve developed, most of which have already been successfully applied to mass production of HDDs. As the proposed methodologies have been verified on commercial HDDs at the very least, these advanced control technologies can also be readily applied to precision motion control of other mechatronic systems, e.g., scanners, micro-positioners, photocopiers, atomic force microscopes (AFMs), etc. Each self-contained chapter progresses from concept to technique and presents application examples in automotive, aerospace, aeronautical, and manufacturing engineering. The control technologies are categorized into high-speed servo control, precision control, and environment-friendly control, making it easy to find an appropriate control technology according to their domain of application. The book also makes MATLAB®/SIMULINK® codes for benchmark problems available for download. The control technologies described range from fundamental classical control theories to advanced topics such as multi-rate control. The content contains a healthy balance between materials from the contributor’s research works and that in the wider literature. The resulting resource empowers engineers and managers with the knowledge and know-how to make important decisions and policies.

Book Electromechanical Systems  Electric Machines  and Applied Mechatronics

Download or read book Electromechanical Systems Electric Machines and Applied Mechatronics written by Sergey Edward Lyshevski and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2018-02-06 with total page 509 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recent trends in engineering show increased emphasis on integrated analysis, design, and control of advanced electromechanical systems, and their scope continues to expand. Mechatronics-a breakthrough concept-has evolved to attack, integrate, and solve a variety of emerging problems in engineering, and there appears to be no end to its application. It has become essential for all engineers to understand its basic theoretical standpoints and practical applications. Electromechanical Systems, Electric Machines, and Applied Mechatronics presents a unique combination of traditional engineering topics and the latest technologies, integrated to stimulate new advances in the analysis and design of state-of-the-art electromechanical systems. With a focus on numerical and analytical methods, the author develops the rigorous theory of electromechanical systems and helps build problem-solving skills. He also stresses simulation as a critical aspect of developing and prototyping advanced systems. He uses the MATLABTM environment for his examples and includes a MATLABTM diskette with the book, thus providing a solid introduction to this standard engineering tool. Readable, interesting, and accessible, Electromechanical Systems, Electric Machines, and Applied Mechatronics develops a thorough understanding of the integrated perspectives in the design and analysis of electromechanical systems. It covers the basic concepts in mechatronics, and with numerous worked examples, prepares the reader to use the results in engineering practice. Readers who master this book will know what they are doing, why they are doing it, and how to do it.

Book Mechatronics and Control of Electromechanical Systems

Download or read book Mechatronics and Control of Electromechanical Systems written by Sergey Edward Lyshevski and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2017-07-14 with total page 407 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Due to the enormous impact of mechatronics systems, we encounter mechatronics and micromechatronic systems in our daily activities. Recent trends and novel technologies in engineering have increased the emphasis on integrated analysis, design, and control. This book examines motion devices (actuators, motors, transducers and sensors), power electronics, controllers, and electronic solutions with the main emphasis placed on high-performance mechatronic systems. Analysis, design, optimization, control, and implementation issues, as well as a variety of enabling mechatronic systems and devices, are also covered. The results extend from the scope of mechatronic systems to the modern hardware-software developments, utilizing enabling solutions and placing the integrated system perspectives in favor of consistent engineering solutions. Mechatronics and Control of Electromechanical Systems facilitates comprehensive studies and covers the design aspects of mechatronic systems with high-performance motion devices. By combining traditional engineering topics and subjects with the latest technologies and developments, new advances are stimulated in design of state-of-the-art mechatronic systems. This book provides a deep understanding of the engineering underpinnings of integrated technologies.

Book Advanced Optimization for Motion Control Systems

Download or read book Advanced Optimization for Motion Control Systems written by Jun Ma and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2020-01-24 with total page 183 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Precision motion control is strongly required in many fields, such as precision engineering, micromanufacturing, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. Although great achievements have been made in control engineering, it is still challenging to fulfill the desired performance for precision motion control systems. Substantial works have been presented to reveal an increasing trend to apply optimization approaches in precision engineering to obtain the control system parameters. In this book, we present a result of several years of work in the area of advanced optimization for motion control systems. The book is organized into two parts: Part I focuses on the model-based approaches, and Part II presents the data-based approaches. To illustrate the practical appeal of the proposed optimization techniques, theoretical results are verified with practical examples in each chapter. Industrial problems explored in the book are formulated systematically with necessary analysis of the control system synthesis. By virtue of the design and implementation nature, this book can be used as a reference for engineers, researchers, and students who want to utilize control theories to solve the practical control problems. As the methodologies have extensive applicability in many control engineering problems, the research results in the field of optimization can be applied to full-fledged industrial processes, filling in the gap between research and application to achieve a technology frontier increment.

Book The Mechatronics Handbook   2 Volume Set

Download or read book The Mechatronics Handbook 2 Volume Set written by Robert H. Bishop and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2002-02-26 with total page 1272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mechatronics has evolved into a way of life in engineering practice, and indeed pervades virtually every aspect of the modern world. As the synergistic integration of mechanical, electrical, and computer systems, the successful implementation of mechatronic systems requires the integrated expertise of specialists from each of these areas. De

Book Motion Control Systems

    Book Details:
  • Author : Asif Sabanovic
  • Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
  • Release : 2011-03-10
  • ISBN : 0470828293
  • Pages : 337 pages

Download or read book Motion Control Systems written by Asif Sabanovic and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-03-10 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Motion Control Systems is concerned with design methods that support the never-ending requirements for faster and more accurate control of mechanical motion. The book presents material that is fundamental, yet at the same time discusses the solution of complex problems in motion control systems. Methods presented in the book are based on the authors' original research results. Mathematical complexities are kept to a required minimum so that practicing engineers as well as students with a limited background in control may use the book. It is unique in presenting know-how accumulated through work on very diverse problems into a comprehensive unified approach suitable for application in high demanding, high-tech products. Major issues covered include motion control ranging from simple trajectory tracking and force control, to topics related to haptics, bilateral control with and without delay in measurement and control channels, as well as control of nonredundant and redundant multibody systems. Provides a consistent unified theoretical framework for motion control design Offers graduated increase in complexity and reinforcement throughout the book Gives detailed explanation of underlying similarities and specifics in motion control Unified treatment of single degree-of-freedom and multibody systems Explains the fundamentals through implementation examples Based on classroom-tested materials and the authors' original research work Written by the leading researchers in sliding mode control (SMC) and disturbance observer (DOB) Accompanying lecture notes for instructors Simulink and MATLAB® codes available for readers to download Motion Control Systemsis an ideal textbook for a course on motion control or as a reference for post-graduates and researchers in robotics and mechatronics. Researchers and practicing engineers will also find the techniques helpful in designing mechanical motion systems.

Book Control of Mechatronic Systems

Download or read book Control of Mechatronic Systems written by Patrick O. J. Kaltjob and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2021-04-12 with total page 496 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A practical methodology for designing integrated automation control for systems and processes Implementing digital control within mechanical-electronic (mechatronic) systems is essential to respond to the growing demand for high-efficiency machines and processes. In practice, the most efficient digital control often integrates time-driven and event-driven characteristics within a single control scheme. However, most of the current engineering literature on the design of digital control systems presents discrete-time systems and discrete-event systems separately. Control Of Mechatronic Systems: Model-Driven Design And Implementation Guidelines unites the two systems, revisiting the concept of automated control by presenting a unique practical methodology for whole-system integration. With its innovative hybrid approach to the modeling, analysis, and design of control systems, this text provides material for mechatronic engineering and process automation courses, as well as for self-study across engineering disciplines. Real-life design problems and automation case studies help readers transfer theory to practice, whether they are building single machines or large-scale industrial systems. Presents a novel approach to the integration of discrete-time and discrete-event systems within mechatronic systems and industrial processes Offers user-friendly self-study units, with worked examples and numerous real-world exercises in each chapter Covers a range of engineering disciplines and applies to small- and large-scale systems, for broad appeal in research and practice Provides a firm theoretical foundation allowing readers to comprehend the underlying technologies of mechatronic systems and processes Control Of Mechatronic Systems is an important text for advanced students and professionals of all levels engaged in a broad range of engineering disciplines.

Book Mechatronics and Robotics

Download or read book Mechatronics and Robotics written by Marina Indri and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2020-11-24 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The term “mechatronics” was coined in 1969, merging “mecha” from mechanism and “tronics” from electronics, to reflect the original idea at the basis of this discipline, that is, the integration of electrical and mechanical systems into a single device. The spread of this term, and of mechatronics itself, has been growing in the years, including new aspects and disciplines, like control engineering, computer engineering and communication/information engineering. Nowadays mechatronics has a well-defined and fundamental role, in strict relation with robotics. Drawing a sharp border between mechatronics and robotics is impossible, as they share many technologies and objectives. Advanced robots could be defined as mechatronic devices equipped with a “smart brain”, but there are also up-to-date mechatronic devices, used in tight interaction with humans, that are governed by smart architectures (for example, for safety purposes). Aim of this book is to offer a wide overview of new research trends and challenges for both mechatronics and robotics, through the contribution of researchers from different institutions, providing their view on specific subjects they consider as “hot topics” in both fields, with attention to new fields of application, new challenges to the research communities and new technologies available. The reader of this book will enjoy the various contributions, as they have been prepared with actual applications in mind, along a journey from advanced actuators and sensors to human-robot interaction, through robot control, navigation, planning and programming issues. The book presents several state-of-the-art solutions, like multiple-stage actuation to cope with conflicting specification of large motion-spans, ultra-high accuracy, model-based control for high-tech mechatronic systems, modern approaches of software systems engineering to robotics, aand humanoids for human assistance. The reader can also find new techniques in approaching the design of mechatronic systems in some possible industrial and service robotics scenarios, with a particular attention for the interaction between humans and mechanisms.

Book The Design of High Performance Mechatronics

Download or read book The Design of High Performance Mechatronics written by Robert Munnig Schmidt and published by IOS Press under the. This book was released on 2011 with total page 753 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since they entered our world around the middle of the 20th century, the application of mechatronics has enhanced our lives with functionality based on the integration of electronics, control systems and electric drives. This book deals with the special class of mechatronics that has enabled the exceptional levels of accuracy and speed of high-tech equipment applied in the semiconductor industry, realising the continuous shrink in detailing of micro-electronics and MEMS. As well as the more frequently presented standard subjects of dynamics, motion control, electronics and electromechanics, thi.

Book Interdisciplinary Mechatronics

Download or read book Interdisciplinary Mechatronics written by M. K. Habib and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-05-06 with total page 422 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mechatronics represents a unifying interdisciplinary and intelligent engineering science paradigm that features an interdisciplinary knowledge area and interactions in terms of the ways of work and thinking, practical experiences, and theoretical knowledge. Mechatronics successfully fuses (but is not limited to) mechanics, electrical, electronics, informatics and intelligent systems, intelligent control systems and advanced modeling, intelligent and autonomous robotic systems, optics, smart materials, actuators and biomedical and biomechanics, energy and sustainable development, systems engineering, artificial intelligence, intelligent computer control, computational intelligence, precision engineering and virtual modeling into a unified framework that enhances the design of products and manufacturing processes. Interdisciplinary Mechatronics concerns mastering a multitude of disciplines, technologies, and their interaction, whereas the science of mechatronics concerns the invention and development of new theories, models, concepts and tools in response to new needs evolving from interacting scientific disciplines. The book includes two sections, the first section includes chapters introducing research advances in mechatronics engineering, and the second section includes chapters that reflects the teaching approaches (theoretical, projects, and laboratories) and curriculum development for under- and postgraduate studies. Mechatronics engineering education focuses on producing engineers who can work in a high-technology environment, emphasize real-world hands-on experience, and engage in challenging problems and complex tasks with initiative, innovation and enthusiasm. Contents: 1. Interdisciplinary Mechatronics Engineering Science and the Evolution of Human Friendly and Adaptive Mechatronics, Maki K. Habib. 2. Micro-Nanomechatronics for Biological Cell Analysis and Assembly, Toshio Fukuda, Masahiro Nakajima, Masaru Takeuchi, Tao Yue and Hirotaka Tajima. 3. Biologically Inspired CPG-Based Locomotion Control System of a Biped Robot Using Nonlinear Oscillators with Phase Resetting, Shinya Aoi. 4. Modeling a Human’s Learning Processes toward Continuous Learning Support System, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Kouki Takemori and Keiki Takadama. 5. PWM Waveform Generation Using Pulse-Type Hardware Neural Networks, Ken Saito, Minami Takato, Yoshifumi Sekine and Fumio Uchikoba. 6. Parallel Wrists: Limb Types, Singularities and New Perspectives, Raffaele Di Gregorio. 7. A Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation System – RehabRoby, Duygun Erol Barkana and Fatih Özkul. 8. MIMO Actuator Force Control of a Parallel Robot for Ankle Rehabilitation, Andrew Mcdaid, Yun Ho Tsoi and Shengquan Xie. 9. Performance Evaluation of a Probe Climber for Maintaining Wire Rope, Akihisa Tabata, Emiko Hara and Yoshio Aoki. 10. Fundamentals on the Use of Shape Memory Alloys in Soft Robotics, Matteo Cianchetti. 11. Tuned Modified Transpose Jacobian Control of Robotic Systems, S. A. A. Moosavian and M. Karimi. 12. Derivative-Free Nonlinear Kalman Filtering for PMSG Sensorless Control, Gerasimos Rigatos, Pierluigi Siano and Nikolaos Zervos. 13. Construction and Control of Parallel Robots, Moharam Habibnejad Korayem, Soleiman Manteghi and Hami Tourajizadeh. 14. A Localization System for Mobile Robot Using Scanning Laser and Ultrasonic Measurement, Kai Liu, Hongbo Li and Zengqi Sun. 15. Building of Open-Structure Wheel-Based Mobile Robotic Platform, Aleksandar Rodic and Ivan Stojkovic. 16. Design and Physical Implementation of Holonomous Mobile Robot–Holbos, Jasmin Velagic, Admir Kaknjo, Faruk Dautovic, Muhidin Hujdur and Nedim Osmic. 17. Advanced Artificial Vision and Mobile Devices for New Applications in Learning, Entertainment and Cultural Heritage Domains, Gian Luca Foresti, Niki Martinel, Christian Micheloni and Marco Vernier. 18. Application of Stereo Vision and ARM Processor for Motion Control, Moharam Habibnejad Korayem, Michal Irani and Saeed Rafee Nekoo. 19. Mechatronics as Science and Engineering – or Both, Balan Pillai and Vesa Salminen. 20. A Mechatronic Platform for Robotic Educational Activities, Ioannis Kostavelis, Evangelos Boukas, Lazaros Nalpantidis and Antonios Gasteratos. 21. The Importance of Practical Activities in the Formation of Mechatronic Engineers, Joao Carlos M. Carvalho and Vera Lúcia D.S. Franco About the Authors Maki K. Habib is Professor of Robotics and Mechatronics in the School of Science and Engineering, at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. He has been regional editor (Africa/Middle East,) for the International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems (IJMMS) since 2010. He is the recipient of academic awards and has published many articles and books. J. Paulo Davim is Aggregate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Aveiro, Portugal and is Head of MACTRIB (Machining and Tribology Research Group). His main research interests include manufacturing, materials and mechanical engineering.

Book 7th International Workshop on Advanced Motion Control 2002

Download or read book 7th International Workshop on Advanced Motion Control 2002 written by and published by Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers(IEEE). This book was released on 2002 with total page 632 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Control of Mechatronic Systems

Download or read book Control of Mechatronic Systems written by Levent Güvenç and published by IET. This book was released on 2017-05-16 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book introduces researchers and advanced students with a basic control systems background to an array of control techniques which they can easily implement and use to meet the required performance specifications for their mechatronic applications. It is the result of close to two decades of work of the authors on modeling, simulating and controlling different mechatronic systems from the motion control, automotive control and micro and nano-mechanical systems control areas. The methods presented in the book have all been tested by the authors and a very large group of researchers, who have produced practically implementable controllers with highly successful results.

Book Mechatronic Systems Applications

Download or read book Mechatronic Systems Applications written by Teodor Piatek and published by . This book was released on 2016-08-01 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mechatronics is a blend of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer control and information technology. Mechatronics is a design process to create more functional and adaptable products. By integrating the best design practices with the most advanced technologies, mechatronics aims at comprehending high-quality products, promising at the same time a substantial reduction of time and costs of manufacturing. Mechatronic systems are manifold and range from machine components, motion generators, and power producing machines to more complex devices, such as robotic systems and transportation vehicles. Over the years mechatronics has come to mean a methodology for designing products that exhibit fast, precise performance. These characteristics can be achieved by considering not only the mechanical design, but also the use of servo controls, sensors, and electronics. Mechatronics has been popular in Japan and Europe for many years but has been slow to gain industrial and academic acceptance as a field and practice in Great Britain and the United States. In the past, machine and product design has been the domain of mechanical engineers. After the machine was designed by mechanical engineers, solutions to control and programming problems were added by software and computer engineers. This sequential-engineering approach usually resulted in less-than-optimal designs and is now recognized as less than optimal itself. The prime role of mechatronics is one of initiation and integration throughout the entire design process, with the mechatronics engineer as the leader. Mechatronic Systems Applications delivers an excellent review of contemporary work in the sphere of mechatronics with applications in numerous fields, like robotics, medical and assistive technology, human-machine interaction, unmanned vehicles, manufacturing, and education. Experts in the interdisciplinary mechatronics field must be able to use the special knowledge resources of other people and the particular blend of technologies that will provide the most economic, innovative, elegant, and appropriate solution to the problem at hand. Industry needs mechatronics engineers to continue to rapidly develop innovative products with performance, quality and low cost.