THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

DIPLOMA IN TECHNOLOGY (MECHATRONICS) LEVEL 03
ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/2015

MEX3273- MODELLING OF MECHATRONICS SYSTEMS

ASSIGNMENT NO 01
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE ANSWERING THE ASSIGNMENT
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This assignment is based on Book 01, Book 02, and Course reading material. You may require referring
addition resources for more information.
2. Answer all questions
3. Submission of assignments can be done by any of the following methods
I.

By registered post to the address given below

THE COURSE CO-ORDINATOR IN MEX3273
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA
P.O.BOX 21, NAWALA
NUGEGODA

II.

Depositing it into the assignment box located outside the Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory at
Science & Technology building, Nawala.

III.

Personally handing it over to the respective Coordinator. (Make sure that it is day stamped).

4. Deadline for submission: 06th February 2015. Please note that late submissions will not be entertained.

1) What is a dynamic system, a special case of any general system? Explain.

2) Real systems are nonlinear. Under what conditions a linear model is sufficient in studying a real
systems? Explain.
3) Explain the categories of uses of dynamic modeling.
4) List advantages and disadvantages of experimental modeling over analytical modeling. Explain.
5) Explain the logical steps of the analytical modeling process for a general physical system.
6) Accurate design of the system should consider the entire system as a whole rather than designing
the electrical, electronic, and the mechanical aspects separately and sequentially. Explain.
7) Why are analogies important in modeling of dynamic systems? Explain.
8) What are A-type elements and T-type elements? Classify mechanical inertia, mechanical spring, fluid
inertia, and fluid capacitor into these two types. Explain a possible conflict that could arise due to
this classification.
9) Application areas of Mechatronics are numerous, and involve those that concern mixed systems
and particularly electromechanical systems. Explain with suitable examples.
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10) Determine the governing model for the angular rotation for the pulley system is shown in Figure 1.
I.

How many degrees of freedom does the system constitute?

II.

Draw the FBD for the forces involved in the system.

III.

State all assumptions you make.

Figure 1

11) Using DAlembert principle, determine the governing model for the angular rotation for the pulley
system is shown in Figure 1.
12) Consider three-cart system illustrated in Figure 2. Assume all the surfaces are smooth. Using
Newtons second law to derive governing equations of the motion of the system.

Figure 2

END

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