EGB220 Mechatronics Design 1

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Mechatronics Design 1 is a project unit with a hands-on introduction to mechatronics. You will be introduced to the basic concepts in mechatronics, focusing on the mechanics, electronics, and embedded software principles. The unit focuses on the research, design, and implementation of a mechatronic product to conform to a customer's needs. This is the first in a series of design units specifically for Mechatronics, building on your Introduction to Design unit in first year.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Use a recognised project development and management technique to plan and execute a mechatronic project, at an introductory level
2. Research, design and implement a mechatronic system in collaboration with a team by executing a whole systems design cycle approach, at an introductory level
3. Write a technical report that describes and explains the design of your mechatronic project and reflect your own contribution to the project, product and team, at an introductory level
4. Search, analyse, evaluate, and reference relevant information from appropriate sources, and describe and illustrate your mechatronic project work through different media, at an introductory level

Content

Learning Approaches

Mode of Teaching
Total hours per week: 5
Lectures: 2
Group Meetings: 1
Laboratory: 2 (plus additional computer lab sessions in the first half of the semester, 2 hours per week)

Team Projects require significant hands-on experience both with the implementation of your product but also working within a diverse, multi-level and multi-disciplinary team. The unit introduces Project Management principles for teamwork, enabling agility in decision making and crisis mitigation. Furthermore, a series of interactive lectures provides an overview of the techniques available to the
Mechatronics engineer for design and implementation. The unit focuses on the practical element of Mechatronics Engineering with an emphasis on practical lab work and team meetings.

1. Interactive lectures: Lectures are used to provide an introduction to technical material, and immediate application of the material 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 well-known Mechatronics projects providing relevance to 'real-world' problems. Lectures will also include an introduction to project management and provide a process for teamwork that will be used throughout the unit. 
2. Project Management Review Meetings: It is expected that your team will meet often throughout each week. However, a formal assessed review meeting will be held a few times through the semester with your team and a tutor. The aim of this meeting is to demonstrate your work from the previous fortnight and compare to goals you had set yourselves in the previous formal review. These meetings allow the tutor to gauge your work and provide guidance on problems and where the team should focus for the following
   fortnight.
3. Laboratory Pracs: The team project requires the implementation of a product specified by a virtual industry client. The project runs over the entire semester, with a progress demonstration in the middle of the semester, and a final 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, and embedded programming. Initial prac sessions will provide electronic and mechanical computer-aided design tutorials. Pracs later in the semester will be used to complete your product with expert tutor assistance and virtual client feedback.
4. Computer programming labs: in the first few weeks of the semester, software programming techniques will also be introduced that are directly applicable to the project.
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. You get to reflect on and document the outcome via your ePortfolio as evidence of your progress towards Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies.

6. This unit will include content, case studies and examples of the ways in which the work of professional engineers connects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s status as First Nations owners of land and seas. This may include: partnership with Indigenous communities and Indigenous engineering businesses, · connection with regulatory requirements such as the Cultural Heritage duty of care required under the Queensland Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2005, or · engineering industry partners who have an organisational commitment through Reconciliation Actions Plans which bring responsibilities to engineers working with them.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

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

• oral and written feedback (summative) on each demonstration from tutor (assessed)
• oral and written group and individual feedback on your contribution, presentations and report (assessed)
• detailed written individual feedback on your final report (assessed)
• written feedback on your reflection (EA competency progress) (assessed)

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

Overview

Assessment will be based on practical performance during two demonstrations which makes up 75% of your overall grade. This includes an individual component worth 25% and a group component worth 50%. Group scores will be moderated using peer and self-assessments. Additionally, you will submit an individual technical report (25%) at the end of the semester describing your product's design and highlighting those parts of the product for which you were responsible. It will be assessed on design rationale, presentation quality, and a reflection of your contribution to the project, product and team.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration

You will collaborate with a team to research, design and implement a mechatronic system prototype using a whole systems design cycle approach. You will be assessed on the design and performance of your prototype through team meetings and a stage 1 demonstration (individual and team), a presentation and brief project summary report (as a team). Peer and Self-Assessment will be used for the moderation of grades in addition to other means.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is allowed to help you study and find out more about the topic; noting AI-generated content may not be accurate, reliable, or may display bias. Any content generated may not be copied and included in your final submission. This is because the task has been designed for you to demonstrate your achievement of the learning outcomes of the unit.

Assessment: Mechatronic System Final Demonstration

You will collaborate with a team to research, design and implement a mechatronic system prototype using a whole systems design cycle approach. You will be assessed on the design and performance of your integrated prototype through team meetings and a final demonstration (individual and team), and a presentation (as a team). Peer and Self-Assessment will be used for the moderation of grades in addition to other means.  

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is allowed to help you study and find out more about the topic; noting AI-generated content may not be accurate, reliable, or may display bias. Any content generated may not be copied and included in your final submission. This is because the task has been designed for you to demonstrate your achievement of the learning outcomes of the unit.

Assessment: Final Report and Reflection

Each team member must submit an individual technical report that describes the final design of those parts of the mechatronic project for which you were responsible. In the report you will reflect your own contribution to the project, product, and team at an introductory level, tying your experience in this unit to specific Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies, which are required of engineering graduates.

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

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is allowed to help you study and find out more about the topic; noting AI-generated content may not be accurate, reliable, or may display bias. Any content generated may not be copied and included in your final submission. This is because the task has been designed for you to demonstrate your achievement of the learning outcomes of the unit.

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: MATLAB, C, Altium or Eagle, SolidWorks or Fusion 360.

Other

Project: Small motor platform, electronic components, electronics workbench (power supply, oscilloscope,
function generator).

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 in-laboratory safety induction. If you do not have 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: Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration, Final Report and Reflection

2: Engineering Application Ability

1. 
   Relates to: Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration, Final Report and Reflection
2. 
   Relates to: Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration, Final Report and Reflection
3. 
   Relates to: Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration, Mechatronic System Final Demonstration
4. 
   Relates to: Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration, Mechatronic System Final Demonstration

3: Professional and Personal Attributes

1. 
   Relates to: Mechatronic System Final Demonstration
2. 
   Relates to: Final Report and Reflection
3. 
   Relates to: Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration, Final Report and Reflection
4. 
   Relates to: Final Report and Reflection

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: ULO3, Mechatronic System Final Demonstration
2. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: ULO2, Final Report and Reflection
3. Deploy appropriate approaches to engineering design and quality.
   Relates to: ULO1, Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration, Final Report and Reflection
4. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO4, Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration, Mechatronic System Final Demonstration

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: Mechatronic System Final Demonstration
2. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: Final Report and Reflection
3. Deploy appropriate approaches to engineering design and quality.
   Relates to: Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration, Final Report and Reflection
4. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Mechatronic System Stage 1 Demonstration, Mechatronic System Final Demonstration