Project in mechatronics

Teacher(s)

Dehez Bruno; Ronsse Renaud;

Language

English
> French-friendly

Prerequisites

Students are expected to master the following skills: basic knowledge in description and analysis of mechanisms, mechanical manufacturing, analog and digital electronic circuits, electromechanical converters, and linear control, as they are covered within the courses LMECA1210, LMECA1451, LELEC1530, LELEC1310, and LINMA1510, respectively.

Main themes

The full and extended design of an autonomous mechatronic system.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

With respect to the AA referring system defined for the Master in Electro-mechanical Engineering, professional focus in Mechatronics, the course contributes to the development, mastery and assessment of the following skills: AA1.1, AA1.2, AA1.3 AA2.1, AA2.2, AA2.3, AA2.4, AA2.5 AA3.2, AA3.3,AA3.4 AA4.1, AA4.2, AA4.3, AA4.4 AA5.1, AA5.2, AA5.3, AA5.4, AA5.5, AA5.6 AA6.5 The project mainly targets the acquisition of engineering skills similar to those being exploited in a mechatronics and robotics design office or department a.      Disciplinary Learning Outcomes At the end of this course, students will be able to: analyze a problem proposed by an external entity in the field of mobile robotics, and write its corresponding specifications; achieve a pre-study of a mechatronics device and build up a pre-project: finding possible solutions, comparing them based on criterions from the specs, selecting the best solution, making a pilot mock-up, preliminary dimensioning, etc; conduct the detailed design of the selected mechatronics solution (or a mockup of the solution) including: the components dimensioning; the selection of standard materials and components (bearings, motors, gears, electronics, batteries, sensors, etc.); the production of a global drawing of the solution, and of detailed drawings for fabrication by using CAD software; design and implement an electronic system (typically with a FPGA and a microprocessor) providing a certain level of autonomy to a mechatronic system; program the autonomous functions of this system in an appropriate language and with a real-time operating system, towards the achievement of tasks planning and low- and high-level control of a mechatronic system; integrate the elements of the design into a functional prototype, build up, and assemble this prototype; build up a synthesis dossier presenting all technical details of the selected solution (global drawing, nomenclature, calculations, tests, electronic architecture, code) for the teaching staff. b.      Transversal Learning Outcomes At the end of this course, students will be able to: develop inventiveness while searching innovative solutions to an external problem; conduct a project in a group, requiring: to rephrase some objectives; to separate the basis problem into sub-tasks; to evaluate the necessary resources for each task, and write down a working plan; to distribute the work to be done within the group; to maintain efficient communication within the group; to make collective decisions; to manage interpersonal relationships within the group, and to potentially solve conflicts in a constructive way. collect documentation and look for components from suppliers (describing the need, and selecting the most relevant component); perform a convincing public presentation by arguing on the decisions, in front of the teaching staff; perform a critical analysis of the functioning of a mechatronics device; anticipate possible failures and out-of-service causes.

Content

An integrated project in mobile robotics, carried out by groups of students. The practical terms and conditions are specified in the other sections

Teaching methods

Early in the year, students freely make group of students. Each group has to make a robot fulfilling the yearly requirements of the 'Eurobot' robotics cup.
The pre-design goes on during the first half of the first quadrimester and is concluded by a presentation of the pre-project in front of the teaching staff. Thereafter, students achieve the detailed design of the robot, including the full dimensioning and drawings. The first quadrimester is concluded with the release of a technical dossier gathering all these elements. The rest of the year (2nd quad) is devoted to the fabrication of the electromechanical devices, their mounting, and to the programming (control) and tests.
Students are invited to participate to contests in order to compare their device performance to opponents: the Belgian qualifiers of the 'Eurobot' cup, during the Eastern break, and a local UCL cup, at the end of the year. A public overviewing presentation is also organized at the end of the year.
Throughout the year, students are accompanied by key resource people (assistants, technical staff) to deal with specific issues, such as the choice of a mechanical, electrical or electronic components.
Alongside this, students have the opportunity to learn the use of Solidworks a computer-aided design software, both via tutorials and a supervised exercise.
Under exceptional circumstances, the supervising team reserves the right to replace group work with individual work, the details of which will be adjusted according to the situation.

Evaluation methods

The language of instruction for the course is English. However, a group may be permitted to present its work in French with the approval of the teaching staff.
Continued evaluation of the project is used to determine the group’s final grade. The following factors will be taken into account:

• the group’s work throughout the year;
• interim reports and presentations;
• the final report;
• the general and manufacturing plans;
• the overall functionality of the manufactured device and its compliance with the specifications;
• to a lesser extent, performance in competitions against other institutions (e.g., “Robotix’s,” “Eurobot,” or the UCLouvain Cup);
• public presentations;
• responses to questions from the team.

Please note that certain disciplines practiced during the project are primarily evaluated as part of associated courses (see the “Prerequisites” section). The project evaluation focuses primarily on aspects of mechatronic design, control, and strategy.
The use of generative AI software such as ChatGPT is permitted to assist in drafting the documents required for this project. However, in such cases, an appendix must specify, for each relevant section, how the AI was used (information search, text drafting and/or editing, etc.).
This group project is a once-a-year assessment, in accordance with Article 78 of the RGEE. It cannot be retaken during the second session, but students may improve their work and resubmit it in August–September. All students in a group whose work is deemed insufficient during the June session will receive a failing grade for this course. That group will be asked to improve their work over the summer and resubmit it during the August–September session.
A student who has submitted work assessed as insufficient in quantity or of poor quality may also receive a failing grade individually, even if the other members of their group receive a passing grade. In this case, the student in question must complete additional work over the summer and submit it during the August–September session. The content of this additional work will be determined by the teaching staff.
A student who fails either of the two SolidWorks tests administered during the academic year will have one point out of 20 deducted from the group grade when calculating their individual grade.
Pursuant to Article 72 of the RGEE, the course instructors reserve the right to:

•     replace group work with individual work if the situation warrants it;
•     recommend to the examination committee that a student who did not participate in the project or who left their group during the academic year—including for the August–September session—be barred from registering for the exam for this course.

Other information

Students can occupy different rooms (the 'Faraday' lab and the adjacent mechanical workshop, both in the 'Maxwell' building), being equipped with standard tools and mechanical, electrical, electronic, and IT components. Borrowing this material during the academic year is secured through a financial guarantee for which modalities (amount and timing) are specified at the beginning of the year. The guarantee release is made only if rooms and materials are returned in a state in line with the internal rules signed by the students.
The pedagogical objectives and learning outcomes are reachable by using the electromechanical components provided by the teaching staff, a budget awarded to each group, and potentially a small personal contribution from students.

Online resources

Moodle
https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=648

Bibliography

Des ouvrages de référence dans les domaines du choix des composants, de la mise en plans, et du dimensionnement électromécanique, sont disponibles à la bibliothèque.
Des catalogues de composants sont mis à disposition des étudiants. Tous les documents nécessaires à la poursuite du projet sont disponibles sur le site du cours (Moodle).

Faculty or entity

> ELME