Explained: Importance of Mechatronics for design schools

This programme prepares you to work directly on robotic systems and intelligent equipment in a variety of industries by combining electronics, parametric design, welding, and more.

Explained: Importance of Mechatronics for design schools

By India Today Web Desk: Mechatronics is the field that lies at the intersection of various technologies but is not limited to: computers, Mechanical engineering, Control and Automation, and Electrical engineering. Mechatronic designers translate inventors’ and engineers’ ideas into production plans.

It has made a huge impact on the horizons of products and services that are seen all around us. Examples of its Omni presence can be felt by just enumerating and realising that almost all objects that surround us today have some element of Mechatronics built into them, that is elevators, consumer durables, hobby toys, robotics, automotive, industrial machines, etc. all are created by experts for various engineering fields and contribute to a unified outcome as an excellent product.

IMPORTANCE OF MECHATRONICS IN PRODUCT DESIGN

If product designers are made aware of the things that can be done with the help of Mechatronics built into their designs, magical and absolutely stunning creations can be created from the ground up. The current scenario, with designers still aloof or unaware of this, leaves the inclusion of intelligence, control, and automation to be dealt with as an afterthought. This either kills or reduces the ability of products to be stunning and unique.

Products designed with Mechatronics ground up Vs Products designed with it added later

The aesthetics, form, and ergonomics of a product are the domain expertise of industrial and product designers. So, while imagining a product styling and its embodiment, these things tend to find a perfect place in the product ideas developed.
The designer takes all care to ensure that the product communicates its usability and purpose to the user, making their experience smooth and fluid.

IT SHOULDN’T BE IGNORED

If Mechatronics is ignored at the early stages of designing the product, the engineer later tends to find it hard to retain the product’s original spirit and aesthetics as they begin to add various technologies to it. This makes the product look greatly compromised and the designer gives up a great deal on the fine detailing of the product and the user experience.

On the other hand, a designer with adequate knowledge or the help of mechatronic practitioners can include the various device controls, actuators, and gimmicks into a beautifully blended mix of form and function with technical input already built in, leaving no room for compromised design.

MAJOR TAKEAWAYS

As the design includes the ability to have additional tilt and rotate axis, the machine can be used in a wider variety of X-ray examinations. All without having the patient pose and posture differently.

The mere knowledge of having a motorised tilt makes for a very different approach to the patient care and user experience of both the patient and the Radiology team.

Article by: Parth Atulkumar Shah, Assistant Professor and Milind Chitale,Director, Anant National University.