Plenary Lecture

Current Research Activities in Mechatronic
Applications – Case Studies

Professor Heinz Ulbrich
Institute of Applied Mechanics
Technical University Munich
Boltzmannstrasse 15, 85748 Garching
GERMANY
E-mail: ulbrich@amm.mw.tum.de

Abstract: The research field Mechatronics combines the various engineering and science topics of mechanics, electronics, physics, mathematics and computer science into an integrated approach. This interdisciplinary view on technical issues enables the improved design of sophisticated systems meeting the increasing demands on performance, size and weight. Almost any research topic in this exciting field comprises new developments or optimisation in general using state-of-the-art techniques.
The presentation will focus on case studies like electromagnetic actuators, rotor rubbing control using actively controlled auxiliary bearings, hydraulic controlled cam phasing systems, biologically inspired low-cost inertial measurement systems, enhanced cognitive driver assistance systems with inertial measurement systems and gaze control, modelling of haptic contacts for telepresence applications, free walking in the real worlds and humanoid walking machines (from JOHNNIE to LOLA).
All research work is always based on a proper modelling of the entire mechatronic system. The models facilitate the optimisation of structural issues as well as the development of control laws that are investigated in simulations as a basis for the experimental verification. Finally, the application of theoretical results in experiments is an integral part of our work and comprises all the related issues as sensors, signal analysis, power supply and controller implementation.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Heinz Ulbrich studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University Munich. He re-ceived his doctor’s degree in mechatronics with his work “Design and Control of a Contact-Free Support for a Rotor System Using Magnetic Bearings” and his Habilitation entitled “Dy-namics and Control of Rotors” both at Technical University of Munich. He was Visiting Re-searcher with Professor Roy Holmes at the University of Southampton, UK and Senior re-search fellow at NASA, Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He received pro-fessorships for Dynamics and Technical Kinematics at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Technical University of Braunschweig and for Applied Mechanics at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Essen. Currently, he is Ordinaries and Chair holder, Institute of Applied Mechanics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Munich. He is a member of the extended Board Council of the Society of Applied Mathematics and Me-chanics and a Member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal Acta Mechanica Sinica as an associate editor. His main research interests can be entitled with “Dynamics, Control and Optimization of Mechatronic Systems in Theory and Experiment”. Different ma-chines have been realized over the years in the his mechatronic labs. For example unique hydraulic, electromagnetic and piezoelectric actuators, different biologically inspired walking machines, a parallel kinematical motion platform and actively stabilized rotor systems with fluid-structure interaction, just to name a few. His publications include four books, more than 60 reviewed Journal Papers and more than 200 conference contributions in proceedings related to the topics Dynamics, non-smooth Dynamics, Robotics, Rotor dynamics, Mechatronics.