Applying Graphical Representation Method in Teaching Mechatronics Problems in Industrial Automation to Undergraduates-A Case Study

Industrial automation engineers need a detailed knowledge of the mechanical system of the machines when they program and implement complex motion control functionalities on machines. However, there are no information standards to support the conceptual design of a new machine with all relevant data required for both mechanical and motion control views. As an academic consequence, programming exercises and lessons lose linkage with the mechanical specification, and the experience of students is more focused on the automation perspective. Therefore, the authors have proposed a new intermediate information representation system between mechanics and logic representations: "Mechanical and Motion Control Schematics"or MMCS, which may serve as a support for the teaching of advanced programming of motion control functionalities of machines. The paper addresses the hypothesis of whether the use of MMCS improves the communication and understanding of advanced concepts of movements when compared to mechanical drawings. To assess its usefulness, an experiment presented in this article was designed and performed. Two groups of students carried out a timed test with identical exercises varying only the mechanical documentation used. One group used the standard mechanical drawings as a reference, and the other group used the mechatronic drawings presented in this article. The experiment results show that MMCS provides benefits in reducing time and a better understanding and strengthening of advanced concepts of motion control.