Mechatronics-where motors meet microprocessors

Mechatronics can be defined as: `the synergistic integration of mechanical engineering with electronics and intelligent computer control in the design and manufacture of products and processes.´ Examples of applications include robots, automatic guided vehicles, computer-controlled machine tools and through-the-wall cash dispensers, as well as consumer products such as compact-disc players, video recorders, automatic cameras and quartz watches. Common to all these examples is the strong interaction of the disciplines involved, in both the design and production phases. The author discusses how mechatronics is influencing the education of engineers and then describes an SLR camera and CD player, both of which benefit from mechatronics technology