Mechatronics

Teaching

In teaching the Mechatronics Design group is responsible for several key courses in the School of Engineering B.Sc programme and its Mechanical and Structural Engineering major respectively. On M.Sc level the group´s course selection is included in the Master´s programme in Mechanical Engineering. Please see the table below with links to more detailed course descriptions and course responsible teacher contact info.

Biotribology

Biotribology research studies the properties and development of prosthetic joints. Biotribology is an established top expertise special area in the Mechatronics group.

The wear of prosthetic joints, especially total hip and knee prostheses, poses a significant clinical problem. The wear products of implants cause adverse tissue reactions, which may  lead to substantial loss of bone around the implant and consequently the loosening of the fixation. This requires a revision operation, in which the loose implant is replaced with a revision prosthesis. Revision operations are complicated and expensive, however, and their results are often poor. 

Research aims to improve the tribological evaluation methods for prosthetic joints and their materials. Two examples of this activity are the design, building and validation of the 12-station anatomic hip joint simulator HUT-4 and the 100-station pin-on-disk hip wear simulator Super-CTPOD. These two simulators are now commercially available from Phoenix Tribology Ltd (TE 86 and TE 87).

The latest additions to the selection of test devices are RandomPOD, a 16-station, computer-controlled, servo-electric pin-on-disk wear simulator that can be programmed to produce virtually any type of motion and load, even random; and HF-CTPOD, a 3-station, dual motion pin-on-disk device for accelerated wear testing.

The study of tribology (friction, wear and lubrication) of orthopaedic biomaterials started in the Laboratory of Machine Design in 1987. The principal source of funding has been the Academy of Finland. In addition, contract studies have been conducted for the orthopaedic industry and for the National Agency for Medicines.

Key personnel

• Senior Scientist Vesa Saikko

TUTLI-projects

Several TUTLI-projects have accumulated special expertise in the group. More information coming soon. 

Industrial internet research focuses on applying and developing of digital methods to improve the efficiency and quality in both product design and product use. Essential elements include the identification of new development and application potential and competitive advantages offered by IoT including 5G applications in II. Digital disruption of industry is recognised as a common future challenge and possibility. Aalto Industrial Internet Campus is the primary research environment. 

Key personnel

• Professor Petri Kuosmanen
• Professor Matti Pietola
• Professor Kari Tammi
• Staff Scientist Jari Juhanko

Integrated fluid power research focuses on energy efficiency, covering a broad spectrum in the areas of control, component and systems development and energy management. Topics of interest include digital hydraulic valve development and new manufacturing methods, hybrid systems and autonomous actuators and energy management focused on regenerative systems in general, using external and renewable energy, pressure accumulators, pumps and compressors, and also benefitting from new manufacturing technologies. As fluid power technology is tightly integrated with other technologies, such as electronics, mechanics and thermodynamics, these aspects are also considered in most research.

Digital hydraulics enables realising hydraulic systems that are robust, more fault-tolerant, have better controllability and operational characteristics and are also more cost- and energy-efficient than the hydraulic systems commonly used today. Research focuses on valve development and new manufacturing methods. Due to its advantages, digital hydraulics is expected to seize the hydraulics market in the near future.

Hybrid systems enable using different kinds of energy sources, thus improving their energy economics. The research focuses on autonomous actuators, which are expected to replace some of the central hydraulic systems in various machines due to their clear advantages in e.g. self-sufficiency, fewer design constraints, an optimised selection of components and better maintainability.

Energy management research is focused on regenerative systems in general, using external and renewable energy, pressure accumulators, pumps and compressors, and also exploiting new manufacturing technologies. The market for energy-efficient systems is increasing due to the rapid increase in global energy usage and risks posed by global warming.

Key personnel

• Professor Matti Pietola

Mechatronic machine systems research covers a wide range of mechatronic machines, focusing on two major areas of interest.

Mechatronic applications in vehicles include vehicle dynamics in Arctic conditions and the electric powertrains of mobile machines. In electric powertrain research, the focus is on heavy vehicle powertrains and robust design methods. These design methods aim at high overall performance and energy efficiency, taking into account driving cycles and other loads.

Industrial internet provides a new source of data for research and further improvement of the machines. For instance, electric vehicle research uses data measured on-line during machine operation. On-line data collection makes it possible to study machines in their normal operating environments. Powertrain research is also carried out on multiphysics systems that include mechanical, electric, and thermal power systems, such as ship energy systems. 

Mechatronic industrial systems include machine dynamics, machinery for bioproduct production and machining and measurement of large machine components. Aalto Industrial Internet Campus and the mechatronics laboratory serve as primary research environments in this area.

Key personnel

• Professor Petri Kuosmanen
• Professor Matti Pietola
• Professor Kari Tammi

Aalto University Engineering Design group has a history of research activities in metrology and manufacturing of rotating machinery from over two decades. Facilities at the ARotor laboratory include a full-size rotor test bench with versatile measurement equipment and support for rotors, bearings and other drivetrain components up to 25 000 kg.

Research topics include rotor dynamics, geometry measurement, measurement of harmonic and subharmonic vibration and bearing excitations.

Key personnel

     • Professor Petri Kuosmanen
     • Professor Raine Viitala

See also

Aalto ARotor laboratory