“Muscletronics”-teaching mechatronics with fluid power systems

The focus on teaching microprocessor interfacing and control has been fueled in part by the abundance of inexpensive computational power available for use in products ranging from bread makers to toys. The range of applications of computer-controlled devices is not yet known, but many companies are racing more and more new designs into production. Colleges and Universities across the nation are scrambling to develop mechatronics courses, research, and even degrees in order to meet the demands of these industrial innovations. One area in mechatronic systems that promises new growth and challenges for industry as well as diverse and interesting learning challenges for academia is in the area of computer controlled fluid power systems. Fluid power systems are used in a wide variety of applications, and operate with various levels of complexity that can offer challenges at many levels in the classroom and laboratory setting. We discuss the development of a mechatronics course at Iowa State University with a focus on the application of this technology to fluid systems