4.1. Overview#
Mechatronic systems rely on electricity to power both the electronics (controllers, sensors) and the actuators (motors, lights, etc) that interact with the real world.
Therefore every mechatronics system must:
Have a suitable source of electricity
Use suitable materials to distribute electricity efficiently and safely
Note
Actuators can also use other forms of energy such as air (pneumatics) and fluids (hydraulics) but we focus on electrically powered actuators because of their relative ease of use, compact size and more convenient integration in embedded systems.
4.1.1. Electricity#
Each electrical component of a mechatronics system needs:
the correct voltage
enough current to operate
Furthermore the system as a whole needs sufficient electrical energy to complete its tasks since each component consumes electricity.
Example
The micro:bit can run from USB power, but the Maqueen’s motors need more current, so they draw power from the AAA batteries instead.
4.1.2. Materials#
The electrical conductors or wires between components is critical too. The material used as a conductor dictates the amount of electrical energy that can be transmitted safely since:
every material resists electricity in different amounts
thin wires resist more than thick wires
Using the wrong materials can cause:
voltage drops, which may prevent components from operating correctly
wasted energy as heat, which is not only inefficient but is also a fire risk