EGB320 Mechatronics Design 2

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Mechatronics Design 2 is a project unit with a hands-on application to advanced mechatronics principles. You will focus on the mechanics, electronics, and embedded software principles behind mechatronics. In this unit, you extend your knowledge and skills from Mechatronics Design 1 to the research, design, and implementation of an advanced mechatronic product to meet a customer's needs. You will further extend your skills and knowledge in mechatronics design in Mechatronics Design 3.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Identify, select, and apply recognised project development and management techniques to plan and execute a complex mechatronic project, at an intermediate level.
2. Research, design and implement a complex mechatronics product in collaboration with a team by executing a whole systems design cycle approach at an intermediate level.
3. Individually design, create, and evaluate a sub-system of a complex integrated mechatronic system, using known and learnt engineering knowledge and extracted information from the engineering literature at an intermediate level. Define and describe the scope and requirements of your individual sub-system. Integrate your system into the overall system at an intermediate level.
4. Write a professional design report that describes, quantitatively evaluates, and defends the technological aspects of your complex mechatronics product at an intermediate level.
5. Explain, summarise, and evaluate the design and implementation aspects of your complex mechatronics product through different media, at an intermediate level.

Content

Learning Approaches

Mode of Teaching
Total hours per week: 5
Lectures: 2
Laboratory: 2
Tutorial: 1
Team Projects require significant hands-on experience both with the implementation of your product but
also working within a team. The unit will focus on technical challenges in mechatronics while using project
management principles for teamwork learnt in the prerequisite Mechatronics Design 1. A series of
interactive lectures provide a forum for critiquing existing techniques (with a focus on the product) available
to the mechatronics engineer for design and implementation.

1.  Interactive lectures: Lectures are used to provide deeper understanding of technical material, and choices to be made within your product. Multiple technical solutions are normally applicable to your product and these are discussed in class. Lectures will relate the work to other advanced mechatronics projects providing relevance to current research problems.
2. Group meetings: It is expected that your team will meet often throughout each week, be self-managed and deal with task allocation and delivery. If you are unable to resolve any problems in your group, you are encouraged to contact the teaching staff immediately.
3. Laboratory: The team project requires the implementation of a complex mechatronic product specified by a client. The project runs over the entire semester and culminates in a demonstration of the product at the end of the unit. Practical work in the laboratory will focus on particular problems that a number of teams may be having but will be flexible such that teams at different stages will be
   provided assistance. The product will require mechanical design and construction, electronics design, sensor processing, and embedded programming. Labs later in the semester will be used to complete your product with expert tutor assistance.
4. Tutorials: Advanced electronic, mechanical design and software programming tutorials will be run during the first half of the semester. These tutorials will focus on skills necessary for developing your product, good design practice and for future-proofing your product.
5. Work-Integrated Learning: You will have guidance and feedback from your virtual industry client on your product development through face to face and/or virtual input. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback on your learning throughout the semester through:

• oral post-demonstration feedback on practical performance (assessed items)
• written feedback on submitted reports and video (assessed items)
• peer assessment provided by your team (written component forms part of your assessment)
• oral feedback during laboratories and interactive lectures

Assessment will be based on practical performance of the mechatronic product (50%), an individual written report and a team video (20%), and individual demonstrations (30%). Practical performance will be based on the performance of the product at the end of the unit. This mark is also weighted according to a peer assessment provided by your team. An individual final report and accompanying team video describing your product's design and those parts of the product for which you were responsible will be submitted at the end
of semester.

Each assessment demonstration and submission will be marked against criteria and standards which will be shared with you at the beginning of semester through Assessment Task Descriptions and Marking Rubrics.

General feedback on assignment tasks will be provided to the class.
Assessment Submission and Extensions
Assessment items submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked and will receive a grade of 1 or 0%. If special circumstances prevent you from meeting the assessment due date, you can apply for an extension. If you don't have an approved extension you should submit the work you have done by the due date and it will be marked against the assessment criteria. QUT's assessment submission requirements reflect the expectations of professional practice where you will need to meet deadlines.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment includes three individual demonstrations (performed in your teams) showcasing your contribution to the design and prototype of the complex mechatronics system and the successful integration of your component (3 x 10%). Practical performance will be based on the performance of the product at the end of the unit (50%). Additionally, an individual report describing your product's design, novel contributions, and a reflection on what you learned from the unit and any technical challenges you experienced (10%) will be submitted along with an accompanying team video (10%) at the end of the semester. Team scores will be adjusted using peer and self-assessments. 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Individual Milestone Demonstrations

You will show your individual progress in three separate demonstrations called design, prototype and integration. In the design demonstration, you will list your specifications and show your intended solution for your part of the project including preliminary experiments and results. In the prototype demonstration, you will show a prototype of your solution or significant progress towards your solution. In the final demonstration, you will show your completed or very close to completed part of the project. Although it may still require more integration with other team member's contributions and more calibration at this stage.

Assessment: Mechatronic Design Challenge

In collaboration with a team (of 4 members) you will use project development and management techniques to plan, research, design, and implement a complex mechatronic product with a bias to completeness and performance in the final demonstration. Peer and Self-Assessment will be used for the moderation of grades in addition to other means.  

Assessment: Report & Video

Each member will write a professional design report outlining the technological aspects of the complex mechatronics product that they worked on. This report will include technological aspects, engineering literature, your complex mechatronics product design and project results. An accompanying video produced as a team will highlight results presented in the Individual reports. Peer and Self-Assessment will be used for the moderation of grades in addition to other means.  

'This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions'

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Software

Computer software: Python, Coppelia Sim

Other

Project Kit: Small motor platform, raspberry pi, electronic components, electronics workbench (power supply, oscilloscope)

Risk Assessment Statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

You will be required to undertake practical sessions in the laboratory under the supervision of the lecturer and technical staff of the School. In any laboratory practicals you will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. closed shoes).

You will undergo a health and safety induction before the commencement of the practical sessions, both an online induction and an in-laboratory safety induction. If you do not complete both safety inductions you will be denied access to laboratories.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer

1: Knowledge and Skill Base

1. 
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video
2. 
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video
3. 
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video

2: Engineering Application Ability

1. 
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video
2. 
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video
3. 
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video

3: Professional and Personal Attributes

1. 
   Relates to: Report & Video
2. 
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge
3. 
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge
4. 
   Relates to: Mechatronic Design Challenge

Course Learning Outcomes

EN01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
   Relates to: ULO5, Report & Video
2. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: ULO1, Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge
3. Deploy appropriate approaches to engineering design and quality.
   Relates to: ULO3, Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video
4. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO4, Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video
5. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO2, Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video

EV01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
   Relates to: Report & Video
2. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge
3. Deploy appropriate approaches to engineering design and quality.
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video
4. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video
5. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Individual Milestone Demonstrations, Mechatronic Design Challenge, Report & Video