Building Robots: Sensors and Data Acquisition

Mechatronic systems are transforming our world, with robots as some of the most impactful examples. These versatile machines enhance efficiency across diverse fields, from manufacturing and agriculture to household tasks and space exploration. Sensors and data acquisition are essential for enabling robots to respond and interact with the world around them. This course provides fundamental knowledge and practical skills in sensor systems and data acquisition for mechatronics, with a focus on robotics. Participants will learn to implement interactive applications in robotic systems, using a range of sensors and data acquisition methods. Who is this course for? Designed for engineering students and young engineers with little or no experience in sensing electronics, this course is also ideal for experienced professionals looking to expand or refresh their expertise. A hands-on approach: build your own robot One of the course's unique features is its use of modular mechatronic educational hardware. This hardware facilitates a systematic approach to designing robotic applications, guiding you through the entire process of mechatronic system integration – from conceptualization and analysis to construction and control. The open-source hardware and firmware enables customization, making it adaptable for various applications, including student thesis projects. Additionally, the course integrates knowledge of other robotics components, such as motor control, communication, and system integration, highlighting their role in sensors. Full Program This course is an initiative of the Erasmus + project GEMS (Graceful Equalizing of Mechatronics Students). It is part of the online program Building Robots: From Mechatronic Components to Robotics , developed by GEMS partners, with University of Alcala leading the part about sensing and data acquisition in robots. 3b

• Explain the underlying principles of physical variables sensing
• Describe the electronic elements related to generic sensor modules
• Explain electronic sensing aspects (hardware and software) involved in a GEMS prototype
• Test and design sensing applications based on a GEMS prototype.From testing demos you’ll progress to design ad-hoc applications
• Make critical design choices for a practical sensing system in a robotic application
• Work with other disciplines to acquire data from sensors for various applications
• Deploy sensing electronics hardware and implement the firmware to acquire the data

• Fundamental analogue and digital electronics
• Preliminary microcontroller programming experience