The increasing scope and complexity of mechatronic systems means that their design and development must be subject to the disciplines of good engineering practice. This text reflects the methods and techniques available to support the successful design and implementation of such systems.

This text identifies the concepts which underpin the mechatronic approach to engineering design and brings together its principle components - sensors and tranducers, embedded microprocessors, actuators and drives to explore their interrelationships. The text focuses primarily on hardware elements and the impact of system architecture. Modern technology is set in an historical background and chapter comes with learning objectives and chapter outlines.