TWO PROJECTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE MECHATRONICS CLASS: SUCCESSAND FAILURE

摘要

The vast majority of mechatronics courses currently offered in MechanicalrnEngineering programs across the country have a substantial project experiences as arncentral part of the course. The proper design of the project experience is crucial for thernsuccess of the educational experience. In this paper, two particular mechatronics projectsrnthat were actually used in a senior-level elective mechatronics course at Penn State willrnbe examined. While they are very similar in basic design, they were extremely differentrnin practice; one being a huge success, the other a dismal failure. The features thatrncontributed to the success and failure of the projects will be addressed as will the over-allrnstructure of Penn State's mechatronics program so that the paper can be given the properrnperspective.