Learning Guides by Week
Week 1 Learning Guide
Explore the foundational concepts of mechatronics, its interdisciplinary nature, and the importance of a systems approach in design and analysis.
Go to Week 1Week 2 Learning Guide
Delve into fundamental electrical components: resistors, capacitors, and their behavior in DC circuits, including Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's Laws.
Go to Week 2Week 3 Learning Guide
Focus on inductors and diodes, understanding their characteristics, transient responses, and roles in basic circuit analysis and rectification.
Go to Week 3Week 4 Learning Guide
Explore Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps): ideal characteristics, basic configurations (inverting, non-inverting), and their use in signal conditioning.
Go to Week 4Week 5 Learning Guide
Understand measurement systems, including static and dynamic characteristics, accuracy, precision, resolution, and linearity.
Go to Week 5Week 6 Learning Guide
Introduction to digital logic, binary systems, and the fundamental architecture of microcontrollers and microprocessors.
Go to Week 6Week 7 Learning Guide
Learn about Analog-to-Digital (ADC) and Digital-to-Analog (DAC) conversion, including resolution, sampling rate, and aliasing.
Go to Week 7Week 8 Learning Guide
Introduction to Arduino programming: structure (setup(), loop()), basic digital and analog I/O, and serial communication.
Go to Week 8Week 9 Learning Guide
Master conditional statements (`if`, `else if`, `else`) and looping constructs (`for`, `while`, `do-while`) for decision-making and repetitive tasks in Arduino.
Go to Week 9Week 10 Learning Guide
Learn to organize code with functions, implement data mapping/scaling for sensor inputs, and apply Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) for analog-like outputs.
Go to Week 10Week 11 Learning Guide
Explore various sensor types including potentiometers, optical encoders, and Hall effect sensors for position and motion detection.
Go to Week 11Week 12 Learning Guide
Deep dive into sensors for force, pressure, and temperature measurement, such as strain gauges, piezoelectric sensors, and thermistors.
Go to Week 12Week 13 Learning Guide
Understand various types of actuators: DC motors, stepper motors for precise steps, and servomotors for accurate position control.
Go to Week 13Week 14 Learning Guide
Learn about controlling motors using H-bridges for direction, relays for switching, and PWM for speed regulation.
Go to Week 14Week 15 Learning Guide
Understand common communication protocols like Serial (UART), I2C, and SPI for inter-device data exchange in mechatronic systems.
Go to Week 15Exam Study Guides
Exam 1 Study Guide
Covers Weeks 1-5: Introduction, Basic Circuits, Op-Amps, Measurement Fundamentals.
Go to GuideExam 2 Study Guide
Covers Weeks 6-10: Digital Logic, ADCs/DACs, Arduino Programming, Control Flow.
Go to GuideFinal Exam Study Guide
Comprehensive Review of Weeks 1-15: Sensors, Actuators, Motor Control, Communication Protocols.
Go to Guide