A mechatronic sensing system for vehicle guidance and control

Magnetic sensing is used for control and guidance in intelligent transportation systems (ITS). This includes vehicle applications such as lane-keeping in intelligent cruise control as well as driver assistance in highway maintenance functions such as snow removal. This paper presents a new mechatronic magnetic sensing system for ITS. The new system has several advantages both in terms of its hardware design and its underlying reference detection algorithms, providing a significant improvement in performance, maintainability, and upgradability over existing systems. It is a mechatronic system in that it combines mechanical position sensing with electronics implementation of the hardware and the underlying algorithms.     

Guest Editorial Introduction to the Focused Section on Advanced Integrated Mechatronics

The 11 regular papers and four short papers in this special section focus on the research issues of advanced integrated mechatronics. The topics include advanced mechatronic sensing, devices and control, biomechatronics for better life, intelligent mechatronic systems, infotronics-enabled mechatronics systems, intelligent automation systems, and innovative applications of mechatronic systems.     

On conceptual design of intelligent mechatronic systems

We have technology now to design networks of small intelligent units capable of competing and/or co-operating with each other on specified tasks and making decisions under conditions of uncertainty through a process of negotiation. In highly dynamic environments, such distributed systems are capable of achieving considerably better results in terms of performance/cost ratio and reliability than conventional centralised large systems and structures. The major elements of these systems are intelligent agents, which are software objects capable of communicating with each other, as well as reasoning about received messages. The paper discusses conceptual design of mechatronic systems based on multi-agent technology.     

智能汽车技术发展趋势

机电信息系统的高性能化发展使智能汽车成为可能。智能汽车可以通过感知驾驶环境(人-车-路)并提供信息和车辆控制,帮助或替代驾驶员进行最安全、最高效、最舒适的车辆操控。本文从交通安全、节能减排、城市/交通规划这几个角度入手,分析了当前智能汽车技术对汽车产业乃至整个社会的影响,对自动驾驶汽车技术的发展现状进行了综述。基于以上分析对智能汽车技术的发展趋势和前景进行了讨论。     

Closed-Loop Modeling in Future Automation System Engineering and Validation

This paper presents a new framework for design and validation of industrial automation systems based on systematic application of formal methods. The engineering methodology proposed in this paper is based on the component design of automated manufacturing systems from intelligent mechatronic components. Foundations of such componentspsila information infrastructure are the new IEC 61499 architecture and the automation object concept. It is illustrated in this paper how these architectures, in conjunction with other advanced technologies, such as Unified Modeling Language, Simulink, and net condition/event systems, form a framework that enables pick-and-place design, simulation, formal verification, and deployment with the support of a suite of software tools. The key feature of the framework is the inherent support of formal validation techniques achieved on account of automated transformation among different system models. The paper appeals to developers of automation systems and automation software tools via showing the pathway to improve the system development practices by combining several design and validation methodologies and technologies.     

Model-based design of artificial zero power cochlear implant

This paper deals with a model-based design of an autonomous biomechatronic device for sensing and analog signal processing of acoustic signals. The aim is to develop a biomechatronic artificial cochlear implant for people with hearing loss due to damage or disease of their cochlea. The unique artificial electronic cochlear implant is based on an array of microelectromechanical piezoelectric membranes. Oscillations of membranes detect and filter acoustic signals in individual acoustic frequencies. The proposed biomechatronic device of the artificial cochlear implant consists of an active filters array, signal processing electronics, stimulation nerves electrodes and energy harvesting system for autonomous powering of the device. This solution differs from current cochlear implants solutions, which are bulky electronic systems limited by their high power consumption. The multidisciplinary models of the artificial cochlea implant concept are presented. The mechatronic approach based on model seems to be very useful for development of the full implantable cochlear implant which is designed for the sensing and processing of acoustic signals without external energy source.     

基于ARM9的无线智能家居控制(智能监控)系统设计

无线通信设备、信息传感设备与嵌入式控制系统目前已广泛应用于智能家居产品上,实现家居的智能化,提升家居的安全性、便利性、舒适性.本文设计了一种基于ARM9的无线智能家居控制系统,实现家居电器控制与安防监控功能.希望本论文的研究工作能够为对智能家居方面的应用及发展提供一点借鉴意义.     

The Interconnection of MRI Scanner and MR-Compatible Robotic Device: Synergistic Graphical User Interface to Form a Mechatronic System

MRI scanner and magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible robotic devices are mechatronic systems. Without an interconnecting component, these two devices cannot be operated synergetically for medical interventions. In this paper, the design and properties of a graphical user interface (GUI) that accomplishes the task is presented. The GUI interconnects the two devices to obtain a larger mechatronic system by providing command and control of the robotic device based on the visual information obtained from the MRI scanner. Ideally, the GUI should also control imaging parameters of the MRI scanner. Its main goal is to facilitate image-guided interventions by acting as the synergistic component between the physician, the robotic device, the scanner, and the patient.     

Liquid pressure sensing system based on distributed polarization crosstalk analysis in polarization maintaining fiber

A novel quasi-distributed liquid pressure sensing system based on distributed polarization crosstalk analysis (DPXA) in polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) is proposed and demonstrated. We design a special structure of liquid pressure sensing units and invent a corresponding nonlinear calibration method. Five sensing units deployed on a sensing tape can effectively transform the liquid pressure into the transverse-force applied on the sensing PMF, and the induced polarization crosstalk can be measured and located by the DPXA system, so as to further establish the relationship between liquid pressure and crosstalk through the nonlinear calibration method. The liquid pressure sensing system has good sensitivity and high repeatability, and a maximal measurement relative error of 8.96% is measured for the five sensing units, which can be much improved by optimizing the packaging of sensing units. We believe our sensing system will find great applications in the field of engineering liquid pressure sensing.     

Interface model enabling decomposition method for architecture definition of mechatronic systems

Solving a complex problem often requires a way to break it down into smaller, interconnected and manageable sub-problems, and then to join them together. The concept of breaking down a problem into smaller pieces is generally referred to as decomposition. The design of mechatronic systems is an example of such complex problems, as it is based on the integration of several disciplines, such as mechanical, electrical and software engineering. Decomposition is thus a common technique to help designers to obtain solutions for the design of mechatronic systems during the systems engineering process. However, an effective decomposition method which can fully solve the design problems of mechatronic systems has not yet been proposed in systems engineering.The goal of the paper is to formalise this decomposition method based on an interface model. This method is applicable to the architecture definition in the context of the design of mechatronic systems during their conceptual design phase. The proposed decomposition method provides designers with high-level guidance to help them to achieve the appropriate hierarchies and granularities for the architecture of mechatronic systems. The proposed decomposition method is applied and demonstrated using the systems engineering practices of a 3D measurement system.     

基于Q-Learning的认知无线电系统感知管理算法

认知无线电系统不仅是一个自适应系统,更应该是一个智能系统。该文将智能控制中的Q-Learning思想引入到认知无线电系统中,用于解决感知任务在认知用户之间的分配问题,给出了一种基于Q-Learning的感知管理算法。该算法在不知道信道状态信息以及不需要对主用户业务进行估计的假设下通过不断地与环境进行交互和学习来给认知用户分配感知任务。仿真表明,该算法能够提高感知效率,并且收敛速度较快,可作为未来认知无线电系统走向智能化的一种尝试。     

Modeling and design methodology for mechatronic systems

The integration of mechanical systems and microelectronics opens many new possibilities for process design and automatic functions. After discussing the mutual interrelations between the design of the mechanical system and digital electronic system the different ways of integration within mechatronic systems and the resulting properties are described. The information processing can be organized in multi levels, ranging from low level control through supervision to general process management. In connection with knowledge bases and inference mechanisms, intelligent control systems result. The design of control systems for mechanical systems is described, from modeling, identification to adaptive control for nonlinear systems. This is followed by solving supervision tasks with fault diagnosis. Then design tools for mechatronic systems are considered and examples of applications are given, like adaptive control of electromagnetic and pneumatic actuators, adaptive semiactive shock absorbers for vehicle suspension, and electronic drive-chain damping.     

A model-based design methodology for the development of mechatronic systems

The development of mechatronic systems involves the use of multiple disciplines, from mechanical engineering to electronics engineering and computer science.Traditionally, every discipline was developed independently and then integrated to generate the final system. However, high-quality designs cannot be achieved without simultaneously considering all the engineering disciplines. This integrated approach carries an intrinsic complexity into system design process and numerous researches are on-going in order to find out optimal methods. This article illustrates a methodology based on Model-Based System Engineering to support the integrated development of complex mechatronic devices. The main contribution is the introduction of a design methodology based on the W model and the identification of SysML as the tool to support the whole process.This method will also address the problem of “devices interchangeability”, that means the possibility to develop the functionality of a system with different operation principles, at a very early stage of the development process (i.e. during the conceptual development). To achieve this goal, the methodology treats the problem of linking the conceptual with executable models to enable the validation by simulation.Main advantages of this methodology are in providing, to the mechatronic systems designers, a fixed schedule which does not limit their intuition and reduces complexity through a hierarchical approach. The process has been tested through the rationalization of the choices that have brought to the current solution of the filling system of an automatic filling machine for liquid foodstuff.     

基于TINY210的物联网监控终端硬件设计

目前,物联网（Internet of Things,IOT）已经成为一个热门话题引起了人们的关注。物联网是用一定的通信技术（如RFID、GPS）按约定的协议将物品与互联网连接,进行信息交换,以实现监控管理、智能化识别、定位和跟踪的一种网络。本文提出了物联网监控终端硬件设计,整个系统是以广州友善之臂公司（GuangZhou Friendly ARM）生产的TINY210核心板为主控制器,结合各功能模块,综合运用嵌入式系统、通信系统等提出一套低成本功能强的应用系统的设计。     

A Flexible and Biomimetic Olfactory Synapse with Gasotransmitter-Mediated Plasticity (Adv. Funct. Mater. 18/2023)

Neuromorphic electronics has demonstrated great promise in mimicking the sensory and memory functions of biological systems. However, synaptic devices with desirable sensitivity, selectivity, and operational voltage imitating the olfactory system have rarely been reported. Here, a flexible and biomimetic olfactory synapse based on an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) coupled with a breath-figure derived porous solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) is proposed. The device demonstrates excellent sensitivity with a ppb-level response limit and desirable selectivity toward hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) over other gases, and successfully achieves wireless real-time detection of excessive concentration of H₂S from rotten eggs. H₂S-mediated synaptic plasticity is accomplished with the device and typical synaptic behaviors are realized, including short-term memory (STM), long-term memory (LTM), transition from STM to LTM, etc., enabling the imitation of potential cumulative damages upon H₂S exposure. The proposed device paves new ways toward next-generation olfactory systems capable of sensing and memorizing functionalities mimicking neurobiological systems, offering critical materials strategies to accomplish intelligent artificial sensory systems.     

A Review of Acoustic Devices Based on Suspended 2D Materials and Their Composites

Acoustic devices play an increasingly important role in modern society for information technology and intelligent systems, and recently significant progress has been made in the development of communication, sensing, and energy transduction applications. However, conventional material systems, such as polymers, metals and silicon, show limitations to fulfill the evolving requirements for high-performance acoustic devices of small size, low power consumption, and multifunctional capabilities. 2D materials hold the promise in overcoming the development bottleneck of acoustic devices aforementioned, given their atomic-thin thickness, extensive surface area, superior physical properties, and remarkable layer-stacking tunability. By suspending the 2D materials, mechanical and thermal disruption from substrate will be eliminated, which will enable the development of new classes of acoustic devices with unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy. In this review, the recent progress of acoustic devices based on suspended 2D materials and their composites, especially applications in the audio frequency, static pressure, and ultrasonic frequency range, is briefly summarized, emphasizing the advantageous properties of suspended 2D materials and related outstanding device performance. Together with the development of 2D membrane synthesis, transfer, as well as microelectromechanical fabrication process, suspended 2D materials will shed light on the next-generation high-performance acoustic devices.     

Sensor technologies and microsensor issues for mechatronics systems

Intelligence and flexibility are essential in a mechatronic product. To achieve the primary function of an integrated system, it is essential that the functional interaction and spatial integration between mechanical, electronic, control, and information technologies be accomplished in a synergistic way. Sensors are as important in the mechatronic system as the senses are to the human being. While the subject of sensors and the need of sensors are certainly important, it is also both pervasive and diffuse. This paper cannot in any sense be exhaustive of such a wide range of discussion, and will only attempt to discuss sensors related to mechatronics. In this paper, the role of sensors in the field of mechatronics has been identified, followed by the characterization of different sensing technologies. The discussion of microsensor technologies, advantage of microsensors, and problems with microsensors together with multisensor fusion applications is presented. An example of a capacitive micro proximity sensor using micromachining technology developed by the Center of Robotics and Intelligent Machines at North Carolina State University is also described.     

基于智能生态细胞的遥感信息提取方法

提出了一种基于智能生态细胞的遥感信息提取方法.该方法综合了作物的物候特征、光谱演化特征和空间相关性的反馈信息,融合了元胞自动机、模糊推理和BP神经网络智能计算思想.以2009年多时相Landsat7 ETM遥感影像作为数据源,进行了基于智能生态细胞的烤烟种植面积监测.监测结果表明,该方法可以有效提高遥感信息提取精度,具...     

用低温圆片键合实现传感器和微电子机械系统器件的集成和封装

集成化是传感器和微电子机械系统(MEMS)的发展方向,即将传感功能、逻辑电路和驱动功能集成在一块单芯片上。未来的系统芯片将能通过集成的传感器和逻辑电路收集并分析外界数据,将这些数据传输到中央处理器并产生必要的动作或反应。讨论了这种系统集成芯片对于封装和集成的要求,并提出一种能够满足这种要求的低温键合技术。同时这种低温键合技术还具有气密性封装、保留透明窗口等优点。     

Piezomechanics as a subsystem of mechatronics: present state of theart, problems, future developments

The concept of piezomechanics (piezoelectricity+mechanics+a control system) describing a complex interaction of dynamic effects and precision engineered devices is discussed. Piezomechanics is considered as part of the more broad philosophy of mechatronic devices. The object and structure of piezomechanics are presented as well as the primary linear and nonlinear effects, on which energy, motion and signal transformation processes are based. Novel applications are proposed to illustrate the potential benefits, including adaptive mechanical systems in addition to multifunctional and intelligent devices