Teaching skills for intelligent mechanisms design in theory and practice

A theoretical analysis for mechanism components was carried out based on dynamic and kinematic approaches. A mathematical model has been created to simulate the mobile robotic base. It is necessary to construct a real and practical base to demonstrate these principles. As a teaching aid, a large scale base was designed, and through the use of number of small low cost modules, a very flexible model was developed. Sophisticated processing power was realised through the use of a hierarchical structure of small Programmable Interface Controllers, with the overall task of the mobile base being directed by the user's own programme. This has then resulted in a near ideal teaching model by relating and implementing the theoretical and practical approaches. Several engineering disciplines were crossed in order to create a mobile base having real and practical applications.