A Mechatronics Approach to Rapid Product Development: A Case Study

Mechatronics represents a 'systems design' approach in which mechanical, electronics and software systems are tightly integrated and are seen to influence each other, and therefore have a design impact on each other and the system as a whole. It is therefore essential that they all be designed as a true 'system'. In essence, a mechatronics design approach can be seen as an ideal form of concurrent engineering in which, different disciplines truly collaborate with (and influence) each other at all stages of the project. This paper examines how a mechatronics approach can effectively be used when designing conventional consumer products and presents a case study of the Spengler Cardiovascular Lab, a technologically complex project involving a variety of technologies, including electronic, mechanical, and software systems. This product was developed by a collaborative team working concurrently in three countries, in less than five months through the tightly integrated use of mechatronics design principles, concurrent engineering and virtual and physical rapid phototyping that allowed for a fast reiterative design approach and a short product development cycle.