The University of Western Ontario

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Mechatronic Systems Engineering Program

MSE 2202 — Introduction to Mechatronic Design

FINAL EXAMINATION—April 14, 2012

CLOSED BOOK 3 HOURS INTRAMURAL

CHEATING: University policy states that cheating is a scholastic offence. The commission of a scholastic
offence is attended by academic penalties that might include expulsion from the program. If
you are caught cheating, there will be no second warning.
NOTE: Marks will be assigned on the basis of correctness of solution, and thoroughness and clarity of
presentation. All sketches must be properly labelled. Only simple, non-programmable calcula-
tors are permitted in the exam.

Marks:

(12) 1. In less than 50 words per item, compare and contrast four (out of five) of the following:
a) Polling and interrupts
b) Sensor accuracy and repeatability
c) PDS and QFD
d) Auxillary view and detail view
e) Source modulation and medium modulation
2. Consider the schematic shown in Fig. 1.
(2) a) What is the advantage of using the method of Charlieplexing to connect LEDs to the Arduino.
(4) b) Describe how a particular LED (e.g., 3) is turned on.
(2) c) Can multiple LEDs be illuminated simultaneously? If so, how; if not, why not?

D13
1 2 3 4 5 6
D12

D11

Arduino D10

D9

Figure 1: Charlieplexed LEDs connected Arduino.

3. Consider the development of a simple Arduino-based project. The circuit should respond to a user
input (pressing a button) by alternating the state of two LEDs. While the button is pressed the LEDs
should cycle as follows: LED 1 on, while LED 2 is off; LED 2 on, while LED 1 is off. The time for each
state should be equal. The cycle rate should vary between 200 and 1000 ms, as determined by a poten-
tiometer.
(8) a) Using the schematic layout in Fig. 2 as a basis, draw a complete schematic that shows how the
required components would be connected to the Arduino. Be sure to include any additional com-
ponents (e.g., resistors, capacitors, diodes, switches) that might be necessary for the circuit to
operate properly.
(10) b) Write a complete Arduino sketch that would implement the required functionality, assuming that
the components are connected as shown in your schematic.
 MSE 2202b—Introduction to Mechatronic Design Final Exam 2012 Page 2

5V

3V3 5V Vin
D13
Power
RST D12

AREF D11

IO REF Arduino D10

N/C D9

D8

D7

D6

D5

A0 D4

A1 D3

Analog Input
A2 D2
TX
A3 D1
RX
A4 D0

A5 SCL

SDA
GND

Figure 2: Schematic layout of Arduino Uno.

(6) 4. Provide an example of a household product that is mechatronic in nature. Outline the features that
characterize it as being a mechatronic system.
(8) 5. Outline the strengths and weaknesses of the remote control shown in Fig. 3 from a human factors
perspective. It is 21⇥30⇥3.5 cm in size. Can you suggest modifications to the design for enhanced
usability?

Figure 3: Remote control.

6. Consider the bracket shown in Fig. 4. The base is 50⇥30⇥5 mm. The uprights are 20⇥20⇥7.5 mm,
spaced 30 mm apart. The hole in the uprights is 8 mm in diameter. There are four 3 mm diameter
mounting holes (only two are visible in Fig. 4; however, the part is symmetric about the long axis).

(10) a) Describe the steps required to model the part using a solid modelling CAD package such as Solid-
Works.
(10) b) Using the provided A-sized drawing template, generate a properly laid out and labelled drawing
of the part. Use third-angle projection and include all relevant dimensions and tolerances.
(8) c) Using design guidelines manufacturing and assembly, what modifications could be made to im-
prove the part design? You may use annotated sketches or text in your answer.
In all parts, be sure to clearly state any assumptions.
 MSE 2202b—Introduction to Mechatronic Design Final Exam 2012 Page 3

Figure 4: Bracket.

(10) 7. One method used to determine the convection coefficient associated with airflow over the surface of
a thick piece of material is to embed temperature sensors (thermocouples) along a hypothetical line
normal to the surface. Assume that a piece of stainless steel with a thermal conductivity of 15 W/m·K
is under consideration. With the steel in an environment where the air temperature is 100 C, sensors
placed at 10 and 20 mm from the surface measure temperatures of 50 and 40 C, respectively. What is
the convection heat transfer coefficient?
(10) 8. Consider the final product design for the reaching aid that you designed as part of the course project.
Describe the most significant feature of the final design that you were unable to prototype appropri-
ately. How did this shortcoming affect your ability to use the prototype to assess how well your design
would achieve your design objectives? Given an opportunity to revisit the prototype, is there anything
that you could do to improve its validity?

(Total = 100)

*** T HE E ND ***

S TANDARD A RDUINO F UNCTIONS

abs() char() loop() setup()

analogReference() constrain() lowByte() shiftIn()
analogRead() cos() map() shiftOut()
analogWrite() delay() max() sin()
byte() delayMicroseconds() micros() sizeof()
bit() digitalRead() millis() sqrt()
bitClear() digitalWrite() min() tan()
bitRead() float() noTone() tone()
bitSet() highByte() pinMode() word()
bitWrite() int() pow()
byte() long() pulseIn()
MSE 2202b—Introduction to Mechatronic Design Final Exam 2012 Page 4

U SEFUL F ORMULAS

00 dT T2 T1 T1 T2 T
Heat flux (conduction) [W/m2 ]: qcond = k = k =k =k
dx L L L
00
Heat flux (convection) [W/m2 ]: qconv = h(Ts T1 )
Heat flux (radiation)† [W/m2 ]: 00
qrad = "Eb (Ts ) ↵G = " (Ts4 4
Tsur )
Heat rate (radiation)† [W/m]: qrad = hr A(Ts Tsur )
† 2
Radiation heat transfer coefficient [W/m ·K]: hr = " (Ts + Tsur )(Ts2 + Tsur
2
)
Stefan-Boltzmann constant: = 5.67 ⇥ 10 8
W/m · K4
First law of thermodynamics for closed system: Esttot = Q W
Thermal and mechanical energy over interval, t: Est = Ein Eout + Eg
Thermal and mechanical energy at an instant, t: Ėst = Ėin Ėout + Ėg
T
Heat rate [W/m]: q = q 00 A =
Rt
L
Thermal resistance (conduction) [m2 ·K/m]: Rt,cond =
kA
L
Thermal resistance (convection) [m2 ·K/m]: Rt,conv =
hA
1
Thermal resistance (radiation) [m2 ·K/m]: Rt,rad =
hr A
00
Rt,c
Thermal resistance (contact) [m2 ·K/m]: Rt,c =
Ac
T 1
Total thermal resistance [m2 ·K/m]: Rtot = ⌃Rt = =
q UA
1 1 1
Thermal resistance with parallel conductors: = +
Rtot R1 R2

†
Assumes radiation exchange between a small surface at Ts and a much larger, isothermal surface that completely sur-
rounds the smaller one. It is also assumed that ↵ = " for the surface.