Improving Stability in Developing Nations through Automation 2006

Peter Kopacek

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2007
• ISBN:
  9780080467641
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Mechanical Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Technological development has caused profound changes and social stability. Regions which have had stable populations for centuries have experienced enormous population growth leading to the emergence of sometimes unmanageable megaplex cities as well as bringing about macroscopic environmental change. The scope of this IFAC SWIIS Conference is to offer insights into mitigating unwanted side-effects of rapid development and to share methodologies for appropriate ways of managing the introduction of technologies which will alter social stability.

Contributions included in Improving Stability in Developing Nations through Automation 2006 cover a very broad field of interest for subjects such as social aspects of technology transfer, managing the introduction of technological change, ethical aspects, technology and environmental stability, and anticipating secondary and tertiary effects of technological development.

• 3 survey papers, 17 technical papers and a summary of the panel discussion
• Bringing together scientists and engineers working in these subjects to discuss solutions

Part 1

Survey Papers

Mechatronics Education and International Stability: The Development of University-level Education Programmes in Advanced Engineering in Kosovo

P. Kopacek¹ [email protected]; M. Ceccharelli²; E. Hajrizi³; L. Stapleton^{4 1} “IHRT”, Vienna University of Technology
² LARM: Laboratory of Robotics and Mechatronics, University of Cassino, Italy
³ University of Business and Technology, Pristina
⁴ ISOL Research Centre, Waterford Institute of Technology, Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Emerging economies in the midst of fundamental restructuring of higher education can benefit from radical approaches to engineering education programme design. The authors present the case of the development of a Mechatronics Management curriculum in one of the new international universities in Kosovo in order to demonstrate that it is possible to develop higher-education programmes in advanced engineering, which have local economic context in an emerging economy. The authors illustrate how it is possible to use theories of engineering and technology professional competence to develop a coherent higher education programme which has the potential to deliver on aggressive economic and educational objectives.

Keywords

Education

Mechatronics

Economic Development

1 BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Emerging economies in marginalised territories have particular difficulties in building a sustainable, stable programme of social, economic and political activity over time. Rather than leaving local groups to their own devices, it is self evident that the international community can play a role in directly supporting initiatives in these territories. One of the most important strategic activities in which the international community must engage with people ‘on the ground’ is the development of educational infrastructures. As the global digital divide widens between the rich and poor, the need to support programmes specifically aimed at developing leading edge, high-technology-oriented educational programmes in disadvantaged regions provides one of the most significant opportunities for increasing socio-political and economic stability long term. This relationship between education and economic development is a subject of great interest to policy-makers, economists and educationalists and the linkages are well established (Cheong Cheng, et. al, 2002).

The authors present an international educational project directed to one of the most troubles regions in the European zone, Kosovo. It demonstrates the tremendous and exciting educational work that can be achieved in such marginalised communities, where there is will and determination to do so. It also sets out a theoretical basis for the programme centred around recently developed competency frameworks. The paper then sets out, in broad terms, the design of the programme and finishes with a review of the particular difficulties encountered in launching a technology management course in Kosovo.

The key propositions of this paper are as follows:

P1: Is it possible to develop an advanced technology programme for higher education in an emerging economy which has, until quite recently, experienced high-levels of instability?

This gives rise to two other secondary propositions:

P2: If P1 is true, is it possible to develop such a programme so that it has both internationally recognised unique selling points.

P2: If P1 is true can such a programme provide a basis for knowledge-based economic activities which have local economic context?

2 MECHATRONICS & ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT

Mechatronics consists of integration of mechanical engineering with electronics, computer systems, and advanced controls to design, construct, and operate products and processes. Mechatronics is one of the newest branches of engineering with far-reaching applications to any sector of society. Generally, a mechatronic system can be seen as a mechanism, which is driven by actuators that are controlled via microelectronics and software using feedback from one or more sensors. Mechatronics is therefore the title given to the sub-discipline of engineering which studies the integration of mechanical and electronic technologies to create ‘intelligent’ machines, systems and controllers. High levels of automation in manufacturing environments require designers with skills in mechanical sciences since machinery and robotic equipment is fundamentally of mechanical nature (Ashley, 1997). The actuation, monitoring and control of mechanical devices are, however, achieved by electrical and electronic means.

An example of a mechatronic system is the operation of the landing gear of an aircraft. When the system is activated, it is the actuator, driven by hydraulic forces, that moves the landing gear, consisting of struts and wheels, down into the correct position for landing. If the landing gear were under automatic control then various sensors (perhaps of altitude or wing-flap angle) would indicate to the controlling computer that the aircraft was about to land and the computer would activate the mechanical system. Su...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright page
• Preface
• Part 1: Survey Papers
• Part 2: Mechatronics
• Part 3: Various
• Part 4: Privacy, Security and Ethical Issues
• Part 5: Energy
• Part 6: Robotsoccer
• Part 7: Panel Discussion
• Author’s Index