Development of a Mechatronics and Intelligent Machines Laboratory

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Engineering - Mechanical (56)The Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) departments at Tennessee Technological University provide a background in the synthesis, analysis, and design of either mechanical or electrical and computer systems. However, the current curriculum does not provide students with the proper platform to integrate this knowledge in an interdisciplinary, team-oriented, engineering design experience that includes mechanical, electrical, and computer control. In order to address this issue, this project adapts results from the mechatronics programs at Virginia Tech and the University of Utah and implements them in the completion of a Mechatronics and Intelligent Machines Laboratory. This laboratory boosts an effort to establish an area of concentration (an option for ME or ECE majors) that constitutes a seamless interaction between ME and ECE curricula. The laboratory consists of 10 workstations that student teams use to perform lab experiments and to carry out open-ended mechatronics systems projects. Project results are being disseminated through workshops for local industry and K-12 teachers, visits to local K-12 schools for demonstrations of student projects, and presentations of student projects over the Internet and at conferences.