Recent advances of mechatronics

Mechatronics is a relatively new engineering discipline, and is defined as: "The synergetic integration of mechanical engineering with electronic and intelligent computer control in the design and manufacture of industrial products and processes". Historically, a number of different approaches have been followed to establish mechatronics, since mechatronics is a multi-disciplinary technical area. In this paper, an approach from electrical engineering is reviewed, and then status and future perspectives of mechatronics are discussed. The following areas are covered: power electronics and electrical drives; motion control; robots; and intelligent mechatronics.