Inaugural Lecture: Prof. Mike Jackson - From Textile Lace to Turbine Blades: Why is Mechatronics Imp

In this lecture Professor Mike Jackson will examine the role of mechatronics in the research, design and development of advanced manufacturing machinery and show how mechatronic thinking has influenced several ‘world first’ manufacturing processes realised at Loughborough University during the past two decades. The way in which mechatronics is taught and how this has changed the role of Mechanical Engineers will also be examined.

Mechatronics embodies an integrated approach to product and process machinery design. In the past 20 years mechatronics has energised academia and industry to produce a community of people that have a common interest – to improve the performance and cost of devices with mechanical functionality.

Mechatronics emerged during the 1960s. The word was first used by Mr Tetsori Mori, chief engineer at Yaskawa Corporation in Japan. ‘Mechatronic modules’ comprising of mechanical structure, electrical power and control circuits were developed for sub-system testing to enable higher quality and flexible assembly of robots. These days, ‘robots make robots’ at Yaskawa Corporation.

A recent New Scientist survey of 15000 industrial experts revealed, unsurprisingly, that the most significant technological development in the past 50 years was judged to have been the microprocessor. The microprocessor fuelled mechatronics research and development from the 1980s onwards and has revolutionised the way the worlds product design and manufacturing industries operate. Mechanical Engineers are the new Mechatronics Engineers for the 21st century.

In this lecture Professor Jackson will examine the role of mechatronics in the research, design and development of advanced manufacturing machinery and show how mechatronic thinking has influenced several ‘world first’ manufacturing processes realised at Loughborough University during the past two decades. The way in which we teach mechatronics and how this has changed the role of Mechanical Engineers will also be examined.

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