Automation Systems

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

120 hours

Plus one of the following -

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

• Robotics and automation (18 hrs of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials and practical work) - robotic manipulators - kinematics including inverse and differential kinematics, dynamics including Denavitg-Hartenberg convention, loagrangian approach and classical Newton-Euler formulation, position, force and velocity control, trajectory planning, robotic vision and robotic programming.
• Machine tools (9 hrs of lectures and 6 hrs of tutorials and practical work) - planning, scheduling and control of machine tool systems, modelling and prediction of product and process quality performance.
• Factory automation networks (9 hrs of lectures and 6 hrs of tutorials and practical work) - concepts for the automated factory environment with networked stations, use of Ethernet, wireless technology and protocols, safety and security issues.

On completion of this subject, students should be able to -

• Analyse and simulate the dynamic performance of robotic manipulators and machine tools
• Undertake a systems analysis for a practical automation system
• Specify software and hardware requirements
• Integrate software, hardware and human components of an automation system
• Make effective use of the relevant research literature

One 2 hour written examation (40%) at the end of semester; four group and individual projects, assignments and lab reports of equal weight (not exceedng 2500 words each), in weeks 4, 6, 8 and 10 (60%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On complation of this subject students should have the following skills -

• Critical thinking and critical judgement of assumptions adopted
• Abstract mathematical reasoning
• Interpretation and analysis of data
• Application of theory to practice
• Ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance
• Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
• Able to clearly communicate the process and outcomes of a technical investigation