MECHENG 201 : Introduction to Mechatronics
Engineering
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Mechanical and mechatronics engineers need to be familiar with mechanical, electronics, and software elements that are now vital components of most mechatronic products and processes. This course introduces mechatronics to mechanical and mechatronics engineers. Topics covered include:
- Introduction to mechatronics
- VEX robot programming
- Introduction to control systems
- Electronics
- Sensors
- Actuators
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
Learning Outcomes
- Define the term mechatronics and identify the components of a mechatronic system. (Capability 3.1)
- Use C-programming, with the aid of flow charts, to program a robot to perform moderately complex tasks such as following a line. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Identify the main components of a control system, draw simple block diagrams of simple control systems, and explain the differences between open and closed-loop control. (Capability 3.1)
- Implement and program a simple control system on a robot to achieve a desired outcome. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Comprehend the use of various electronics components in different practical electronics applications and recognize commonly used electronics circuits such as filters, amplifiers, etc constructed by transistors, op-amps and passive components. (Capability 3.1)
- Demonstrate understanding of the operation and application of common transducers and be able to choose appropriate transducers for certain control/automation applications. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 6.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 30% | Individual Examination |
| Projects | 42% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Laboratories | 3% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Test | 15% | Individual Coursework |
| Quizzes | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| 5 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| Projects | ||||||||||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
- A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.
- Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
- Late submissions are not allowed for the Quizzes, group projects, the Test, and the Final Exam.
- Late submission penalties will be applied for Peer Assessments. The penalties will be listed on Canvas.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For each week in this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, 2 hours of labs, and 5 hours of self-study (reading and thinking about the content and working on assessments).
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
This is a hands-on course where students can only access lab/project hardware during their scheduled lab sessions. Attendance is compulsory for the weekly scheduled labs. Some students may have a one-off clash with another lab in a different course (e.g., MECHENG 299); these will be resolved on a case-by-case basis.
Lecture attendance is highly recommended but not compulsory. Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities, including labs, will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Students are required to complete an online health and safety induction training before being allowed into the laboratories. An in-person safety induction will follow this to cover the specific hazards in each laboratory. Furthermore, students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
- Introduce a simulator for the VEX robot.
- If time permits, redevelop the labs in weeks 10-12 to be more hands-on and be related to the project.
- Minor changes to the order in which topics are taught in lectures to better align with the labs and projects.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.