Successive build up lab for learning mechatronics

Abstract

The concept of mechatronics consists of mechanical, electronic, control and computer systems. To help students understand the concepts and enhance their competency, a successive build up (SBU) lab was used in the course. The SBU lab involved 10 different experiments executed in sequence. Each experiment required different skills and a small task to complete it. Student groups were selected to conduct only one experiment based on their experience to enhance their expertise. The combined results from each group led to the creation of a complete machine, the H-bot plotter. After the lab, students could understand each fabrication step of the machine and their effort could be applied to subsequent real applications. Moreover, this approach prevented students copying the results from previous year's labs and helped instructors to easily evaluate the students' work.