Machine Dynamics Research
2014, Vol. 38, No 3, 43 - 49
Jerzy Swider, Adam Cholewa, Mariusz Piotr Hetmanczyk
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering Processes Automation and
Integrated Manufacturing Systems, Silesian University of Technology jerzy.swider@polsl.pl
The growing demands of the complexity of industrial systems require knowledge of advanced issues covered of mechatronics domain. On the other hand, is noticeable a need to adjust programs of specialized educational programmes to rapidly changing requirements of labor market. The article presents new trends in the field of education covering the scope of mechatronic drive systems. The authors specified leading trends in the development of diagnosis and prognosis of mechatronic drive states that have been realized in the Laboratory of Mechatronics Drive Applications. Particular attention was paid to the issues of energy savings and modern systems of exchange of information between distributed drives, using a Fieldbus and wireless networks.
Keywords: mechatronics, distributed drives, mechatronic drive systems
Rapid development of state-of-the-art drive systems [Ban D., 2009, De
Silva C.W., 2005] makes it necessary to adapt educational programmes for students to the dynamics of the labour market requirements.
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Silesian University of
Technology opened a Laboratory of Drive Applications Mechatronics, equipped with cutting-edge equipment manufactured by SEW-Eurodrive, supporting research as well as educational process of students specializing in Drive
Applications.
Selection, monitoring and inspection of the condition of the electric drives equipped with AC asynchronous motors [Bloch H.P., Geitner, F. K., 2005, Korbicz
J., 2002] have been widely researched and developed in many research units and educational institutions. Special attention has been paid to the issues of electric power saving and modern systems of information exchange between distributed drives with the use of Fieldbus network.

44 J. Swider, A. Cholewa, M. P. Hetmanczyk
The educational offer of the Institute of Engineering Processes Automation and Integrated Manufacturing Systems (IAPTiZSW) includes elements which make its proposition really special:
 close collaboration with SEW-Eurodrive company within the scope of specialist education for graduate students,
 a wide range of additional opportunities for students’ development
(industrial placement, training, workshops in industrial plants, educational trips abroad) offered in cooperation with SEW-Eurodrive company,
 education and research directed to practical aspects of working with drives.
Modern systems of the industrial processes automation most often are composed of several basic components [Toliyat H. A., Kliman G. B., 2004], among others: controllers (PLCs, regulators, industrial computers, etc.), actuators (electric, pneumatic, hydraulic and their combinations), control and measuring equipment
(sensors and detectors), industrial networks and SCADA/HMI systems.
The development of automation and mechatronics resulted in the fact that mechatronic drive technology has become the most open and receptive to innovation of all fields of study.
According to available market analyses, the most common group is constituted by three phase’s drives. The advantages of these machines make it possible to use them in many different industrial areas, including:
 transportation systems (conveyors, lifts, transporters, and forklift trucks),

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning systems (supplying fresh air, dust extraction),
 drives of pumps (water and hydraulic ones) as well as in the drives of manipulators,
 plotters and metal working machines.
Electric motors dominate in industrial drive systems of modern machines.
The reasons for such wide spread popularity are their functional features such as: high efficiency of the individual drive unit, wide ranges of torque and speed adjustments, small dimensions, ease of a power supply, good prices regarding functional features [Hughes A., 2006].
The above-mentioned items belong to the applications that do not require exact positioning, otherwise servo drives are required.
Trends of development of electric drives are determined by increasing market requirements and ecological awareness as well as rising energy prices.

Programme of Research Development of Mechatronic Drive Systems 45
The dominant criterion is the minimization of dimensions with the simultaneous increase of the drives’ load possibilities.
As a result of the analysis, the authors have distinguished three basic groups of activities in which it is possible to implement innovative solutions in the field of mechatronic drive systems [Moreton P.L., 2002, Valentine R., 1998]:
 optimization of construction – with the main criteria enabling the achievement of satisfactory thermal conditions of winding at considerable loads, the decrease of natural resources used for the manufacturing of the drive, the application of the state-of-the-art materials allowing the increase of efficiency of electrical machines,
 design of drives control algorithms [ Kwaśniewski J., 1999] – taking into consideration the minimization of starting currents and energy recovery in the phase of drive deceleration,
 selection and implementation of mechatronic drive systems.
The last of the above-listed items includes key elements having impact on the correct operation of not only the drive itself, but also on the whole application.
Many manufacturers offer ancillary tools supporting this phase of the engineer’s work. However, without the knowledge of principles defining the drive operation and the control method such tools become pointless.
The research of mechatronic drive systems has been conducted at the
IAPTiZSW Institute for many years.
In 2014 an agreement was signed between IAPTiZSW Institute and SEW-
Eurodrive company, which encompassed the support of the specialization in Drive
Applications. Within the framework of this new major a new detailed curriculum has been developed (Fig. 1), which includes all necessary aspects of the issue making it possible to educate an engineer of mechatronics specializing in the selection and application of drives (Fig. 2).
The proposed program was aimed at the development of the practical aspects concerning drive applications. This approach allows the development of theoretical knowledge and manual skills directly related to the configuration of real drive systems.
Subjects available within the framework of specialization in Drive
Applications based on the technologies used in industry allow to work without additional courses and the elimination period associated with the implementation of a new employee.

46 J. Swider, A. Cholewa, M. P. Hetmanczyk
Fig. 1. Subjects available within the framework of specialization in Drive Applications
As a result of collaboration of IAPTiZSW and SEW-Eurodrive teams a state-of-the-art Laboratory of Drive Applications Mechatronics was created. The laboratory equipment enables performance of the planned tests and laboratory practice as well as development of students’ interests (Fig. 3).
The facilities provided by the laboratory as well as prognoses of its prospects made it possible to chart two directions of its further development:
 educational (didactic) direction connected with the provision of specialist classes for students, within the following scope:
 designing, modelling, simulation and optimization of work parameters of drive systems,
 selection of drive system elements (toothed gears and motoreducers) for particular requirements of industrial applications,
 selection and configuration of frequency converters,
 presentation of basic methods of diagnostics of industrial electric drives,
 completion of master’s theses by the students within the scope of drive applications,
 arousing students’ interest in additional activities, such as scientific associations,
 acquiring of basic permissions to work with power systems,

Programme of Research Development of Mechatronic Drive Systems 47
 science and research direction including groups of issues connected with:
 investigation of current trends in the development of cutting-edge drive technology in industrial applications,
 determination and minimization of energy consumption by drive systems,
 application of portable devices for current monitoring of the condition of distributed drives through WLAN network,
 diagnostics and prediction of drive condition using a graph method and expert systems,
 development of intelligent algorithms for the purpose of controlling self-propelled devices,
 identification and impact of external interference on the exchange of data in industrial wireless networks,
 examination of the influence of the start-up of drives on their durability.
Fig. 2. Schematic presentation of student’s knowledge after graduation
The equipment of the Laboratory of Drive Applications Mechatronics includes research and educational stations which fully cover the range of machines and devices using mechatronic drive systems available in industry.

48 J. Swider, A. Cholewa, M. P. Hetmanczyk
Fig. 3. View of workstations at the Laboratory of Drive Applications Mechatronics: a) transportation workstation equipped with horizontal and vertical conveyors driven by decentralized units linked by means of PROFINET network and induction drive of power truck, b) lift with chain conveyor c) suspension conveyor with induction drive, d) vertical chain conveyor
The main workstations contain modular transportation systems, such as: conveyors (chain conveyors, conveyors with induction drive and rolling conveyors), lifts (with belt drive and chain drive), power trucks with induction drive (Fig. 3).
Laboratory equipment allows to present basic applications of AC drives.
At present stage conceptual work has been completed and construction documentation has been made. The next step is to build workstations which would provide the laboratory with subsequent typical electric applications of drive systems
One of the objectives of students’ education within the framework of Drive
Applications speciality is to increase their activity on the didactic path they are following. As a result of this policy, alongside a newly formed specialization a Students’ Scientific Association of SEW-Eurodrive Drive Mechatronics was founded.
At present Students’ Scientific Association (SKN) have 16 members. They are undergraduate and graduate students of full-time daily studies majoring in mechatronics. The students may use the equipment and software located at the
Laboratory of Drives Mechatronics for the purposes related to activities performed by the Association.

Programme of Research Development of Mechatronic Drive Systems 49
SKN members can take part in scientific conferences, presentations and exhibitions. A significant part of the Association’s activity is the organization of trips to industrial plants. A great assistance in this scope is provided by the SEW-
Eurodrive company. SKN will also deal with the development of members’ own work as well as interim and diploma dissertations which will be presented in the meetings of the Scientific Association and at conferences.
Education of qualified engineering staff that, in addition, possesses manual skills, constitutes the basis for modern approach to didactics. In the modern education of engineers is necessary to take steps for the implementation of courses oriented on gaining a detailed knowledge and manual skills.
The next step in the laboratory development will be designing and building laboratory workstations enabling the parameterization of drive units, such as motors or servo-motors with frequency converters.
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