Title: Building Robots: Electrical Drives

Location: US

Company: Delft University of Technology

About this course:
Mechatronic systems are transforming our world, with robots as some of the most impactful examples. These versatile machines enhance efficiency across diverse fields, from manufacturing and agriculture to household tasks and space exploration.
At the heart of robotics, electrical drives enable controlled motion, forming the backbone of these systems.
This course equips you with the fundamental knowledge to implement the hardware and control loop of an electrical drive in mechatronic systems. It will be your gateway to implementing electrical drives in robotics.
Who is this course for?

Designed for engineering students and young engineers with little or no experience in electrical drives, this course is also ideal for experienced professionals looking to expand or refresh their expertise. Through hands-on learning with practical examples and simulation models, you will develop the skills to model, simulate, implement, and test an electrical drive.
A hands-on approach: build your own robot

One of the course's unique features is its use of modular mechatronic educational hardware.
This hardware facilitates a systematic approach to designing robotic applications, guiding you through the entire process of mechatronic system integration – from conceptualization and analysis to construction and control.
The open-source hardware and firmware enables customization, making it adaptable for various applications, including student thesis projects. Additionally, the course integrates knowledge of other robotics components, such as sensing, communication, and system integration, highlighting their role in electrical drives.
Full Program

This course is an initiative of the Erasmus + project GEMS (Graceful Equalizing of Mechatronics Students). It is part of the online program Building Robots: From Mechatronic Components to Robotics , developed by GEMS partners, with Delft University of Technology leading the part about robotics through motion control.

What You’ll learn:

Understand how electrical drives play a role in robotics

Explain the system and control architecture of an electrical drive

Describe how power, sensing and control components work together in an electrical drive

Model and simulate a DC-motor-based electrical drive

Tune the control loop of an electrical drive

Experience the implementation of a practical DC drive

After taking this course, you will be able to:

Make critical design choices for a practical electrical drive within given specifications

Model an electrical drive as a component for system integration in robotics

Work with other disciplines to develop motion control using electrical drives

Deploy motor drive hardware and implement the control loop

Learn the fundamentals of electrical drives, including hardware and control systems, and how to implement and control a DC drive in robotic applications.

Duration: 6 weeks

Curriculum:
- Understand how electrical drives play a role in robotics
- Explain the system and control architecture of an electrical drive
- Describe how power, sensing and control components work together in an electrical drive
- Model and simulate a DC-motor-based electrical drive
- Tune the control loop of an electrical drive
- Experience the implementation of a practical DC drive
- Make critical design choices for a practical electrical drive within given specifications
- Model an electrical drive as a component for system integration in robotics
- Work with other disciplines to develop motion control using electrical drives

- Deploy motor drive hardware and implement the control loop