Teaching Mechatronic Systems based on a Physical Model of an Elevator

The article discusses some aspects of teaching mechatronic systems based on a physical model of an elevator. After introducing the major building blocks of a typical mechatronic system, state-of-the-art control approaches are discussed in the paper. They include the software-centric jump table, the hardware-oriented finite state machines, and the use of the modern meta-operating system for robots ROS. The described physical laboratory mock-up and the suggested control methods provide a solid platform for teaching mechatronics in a real or remote environment without loss of realism.