Development of Multiple Sensor Fusion Experiments for Mechatronics Education

The development of effective training equipment for students in engineering colleges to acquaint them with sensory devices in mechatronics is presented in this paper. This training is focused on sensors, transducers, signal conditioning circuits, and microprocessor interfaces. Software as well as hardware techniques for designing a dynamic measurement system were emphasized in this study. In this paper, a developed integrated sensor module for mechatronics experiments is described. This module consists of incremental shaft encoders, an electronic compass and a vehicle platform. The module will be used as a teaching instrument in the course sensors and transducers for sophomore and junior students in colleges and universities. Applying the Kalman filtering theory, we successfully fused shaft encoders and electronic compass to obtain improved position and heading angle estimation of a test vehicle. Using this experimental module, students can be trained in the concept and effectiveness of multiple-sensor fusion.