Students

MTRN8068 – Wireless Mechatronics

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer
Subhas Mukhopadhyay
subhas.mukhopadhyay@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
44WR 134
Thursday 1:0pm to 3:0pm
Tutor
Alice James
alice.james@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
50WR
Thursday 3:0pm to 6:0pm
Tutor
Avishkar Seth
avishkar.seth@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
50WR
Thursday 3:0pm to 6:0pm
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 6000 level or above including MTRN6026
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
MTRN4068
Unit description Unit description

In the era of rapid technological advancement, particularly with the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and intelligent sensors and actuators, the development of wireless mechatronic devices, services, and systems is gaining significant traction across various domains like manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare. This unit provides a comprehensive study of both the theoretical and practical aspects involved in the design of wireless mechatronic systems. This encompasses the integration of smart actuators, sensors, interfacing electronics, embedded controllers, wireless communication protocols, and security measures, all coupled with the incorporation of adaptive intelligence, including machine learning techniques.

Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Quality Education; Affordable and Clean Energy; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities and Communities

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Implement wireless mechatronics systems including smart sensors, actuators and wireless communicating devices in the context of wireless mechatronics
  • ULO2: Apply advanced knowledge of data storage, security and cloud computing in the context of wireless mechatronics.
  • ULO3: Design and implement software for wireless mechatronics systems
  • ULO4: Design and implement systems for remote monitoring and control
  • ULO5: Design, implement and analyse of a project configured around the principle of wireless mechatronics
  • ULO6: Exhibit adeptness in communication and collaboration through skillful conveyance and exchange of ideas, utilizing verbal, written, and digital methods in a professional context.

General Assessment Information

The details of the assessment, report and demonstration will be discussed during the lectures as well as during the practical activities. The guidelines along with due dates will be provided in iLearn.

The F2F lectures will start from Week#1.

The pracs activities will start from Week#2 and will be held at 13 RPD.

Grading and passing requirement for unit

In order to pass this unit a student must obtain a mark of 50 or more for the unit (i.e. obtain a passing grade P/ CR/ D/ HD).

Supplementary Exam: If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled by the faculty during a supplementary exam period. This is typically 3 to 4 weeks after the normal exam period. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. Approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Late submissions and Resubmissions

Online quizzes, in-class activities, or scheduled tests and exam must be undertaken at the time indicated in the unit guide.  All other assessments must be submitted by 5:00 pm on their due date. Should either of these assessments be missed due to illness or misadventure, students should apply for Special Consideration.

Assessments not submitted by the due date will receive a mark in accordance with the late submission policy as follows:  A 12-hour grace period will be given after which the following deductions will be applied to the awarded assessment mark: 12 to 24 hours late = 10% deduction; for each day thereafter, an additional 10% per day or part thereof will be applied until five days beyond the due date. After this time, a mark of zero (0) will be given. For example, an assessment worth 20% is due 5 pm on 1 January. Student A submits the assessment at 1 pm, 3 January. The assessment received a mark of 15/20. A 20% deduction is then applied to the mark of 15, resulting in the loss of four (4) marks. Student A is then awarded a final mark of 11/20.

Resubmissions of work are not allowed.

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through ask.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Project Demonstration/Presentation 50% No Week 13
Final Exam 40% No Exam Period
Problem solving 10% No Week 7

Project Demonstration/Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 32 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 50%

 

Practical project demonstration: Students will provide an explanation and demonstrate the outcome of the project.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Implement wireless mechatronics systems including smart sensors, actuators and wireless communicating devices in the context of wireless mechatronics
  • Apply advanced knowledge of data storage, security and cloud computing in the context of wireless mechatronics.
  • Design and implement software for wireless mechatronics systems
  • Design and implement systems for remote monitoring and control
  • Design, implement and analyse of a project configured around the principle of wireless mechatronics
  • Exhibit adeptness in communication and collaboration through skillful conveyance and exchange of ideas, utilizing verbal, written, and digital methods in a professional context.

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 40%

 

This exam will test all topics covered in the unit

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Implement wireless mechatronics systems including smart sensors, actuators and wireless communicating devices in the context of wireless mechatronics
  • Apply advanced knowledge of data storage, security and cloud computing in the context of wireless mechatronics.
  • Design and implement software for wireless mechatronics systems
  • Design and implement systems for remote monitoring and control
  • Design, implement and analyse of a project configured around the principle of wireless mechatronics

Problem solving

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 10%

 

Students will submit a report solving a problem to be completed in the first half of session.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Implement wireless mechatronics systems including smart sensors, actuators and wireless communicating devices in the context of wireless mechatronics
  • Apply advanced knowledge of data storage, security and cloud computing in the context of wireless mechatronics.
  • Design and implement software for wireless mechatronics systems
  • Design and implement systems for remote monitoring and control
  • Exhibit adeptness in communication and collaboration through skillful conveyance and exchange of ideas, utilizing verbal, written, and digital methods in a professional context.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

The lecture materials, guidelines and other necessary information will be uploaded in iLearn.

The lecture will start from Week#1. The lecture will be on zoom.

The practical activities will start from Week#2.

The details will be uploaded in iLearn.

Unit Schedule

Tentative plan for the unit delivery

MTRN4068- Wireless Mechatronics

 

Week#1

Introduction to Wireless Mechatronics, Unit Introduction, Assessments, and a Guest Lecture

 

Subhas

Week#2

Speed Control of car and Sensing of parameters

Subhas

Week#3

Mobile Robot and Kinematics

 

Shadman

Week#4

Projects on Wireless Mechatronics (Report)

Subhas

Week#5

Actuators for Wireless Mechatronics

Subhas

Week#6

Communication for Wireless Mechatronics Systems

 

Subhas

Week#7

Powering and Thermal Design for Wireless Mechatronics

Subhas

Week#8

AI and ML in Wireless Mechatronics, especially in the context of Drones

 

Alice/Avishkar

Week#9

Wireless Protocols

Subhas

Week#10

Wireless Security

Subhas

Week#11

Guest Lecture

Prof. Dikai Liu

Week#12

Design Consideration of WM System

Subhas

Week#13

Review of the unit

Subhas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pracs plan for MTRN4068 Wireless Mechatronics 2025 S2

Higher Level Overview of Lab

The goal or aim of the lab sessions is to provide students with hands-on experience in designing, building, and programming mobile robots using ROS. The lab sessions aim to develop their skills in sensor integration, motor control, ROS, computer vision, mapping, localization, and navigation. The ultimate goal is for students to apply their knowledge to successfully complete a mobile robot project and gain practical experience in robotics and autonomous systems. A breakdown of the themes of the lab sessions:

  1. Perception/ Sensing | Driving Straight
  2. Understanding ROS | Setting up the Mobile Robot
  3. Driving in a loop | Visual Inertial Odometry
  4. Autonomous Mobile Robot | Mapping, Localization, and Navigation

 

General Prerequisites for the lab:

  • Math & Kinematics: Basics of Math including linear algebra and trigonometry
  • Basics of Electronics, Systems, Circuits, Sensors, Motor Drivers, etc.
  • Basics of Python/ C++
  • Basics of Linux (Ubuntu)

 

Week

Activity

Comment

#1

(31/07/25)

Optional

Students may plan to come to get some basics about motor control

#2

(07/08/25)

 

 

Motor and hardware Assembly

Components Identification

Introduction to speed control of motor

Arduino - MEGA

PWM generation

 

From this week onwards, students will commence work on their project

Project Guidelines and Requirements

 

Assemble the mobile robot and identify main components

Basic understanding of speed control of DC motor.

Generation of PWM

#3

(14/08/25)

 

Introduction to Sensors interfacing

Speed encoder

Ultrasonic sensor

Interfacing techniques

I2C, SPI, Interrupt based

Understanding on different interfacing techniques

Digital I/O, Interrupt, ADC/DAC, Interfacing protocols

Speed measurement

Relationship between PWM and Speed

(Speed as a function of Duty Ratio)

#4

(21/08/25)

 

Differential Drive

Turning the Robot to Left and Right

Relationship with angle of turn and overshoot

Forward movement; Reverse movement

Moving Left; Moving Right

Relationship between Difference of Duty Ratio and Angle of Rotation

Check for different speed of car.

#5

(28/08/25)

 

PID Controller Design for Speed and Distance

Maintaining speed for the car, Distance Measurement. PID control for reaching a target point. Error calculation.

#6

(04/09/25)

 

Introduction to ROS

ROS Basics

Perception ROS Basics

Turtlesim
  • Introduction to ROS and mobile robotics
  • Setting up the development environment (ROS Noetic, Raspberry Pi, etc.)
  • Introduction to the hardware components of the mobile robot project
  • Continue some more ROS Concepts.
  • Perception: Capturing and using computer vision

#7

(11/09/25)

Some more ROS Concepts
  • ROS topics, publishers, and subscribers
  • Continue some more ROS Concepts.
  • Perception: Capturing and using computer vision

(18/ 09 to 25/ 09)

Mid-sem break

 

#8

(02/09/25)

 

Wireless Setup
  • Wireless headless setup for Raspberry pi

#9

(7/09/25)

 

Navigation: Mapping, Localization, Control
  • Localization: Visual Inertial Odometry using Camera and IMU Sensor
  • Creating and visualizing maps using ROS tools

#10

(16/09/25)

 

 

Mobile Robot

Navigation Continued
  • Visual Odometry
  • OpenCV
  • Introduction Trajectory Planning/ Path Planning

#11

(23/09/25)

Advanced topics in mobile robotics
  • Autonomous Navigation and Path planning to complete the map given

#12

(30/09/25)

Checking all Functionalities of robot

Checking all Functionalities of robot and getting ready for the Demonstration

#13

(07/11/25)

Demonstration of project work

 

 

Each student group needs to demonstrate their project using 10-12 minutes slot

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

This will be the first time for the unit to offer to Master students.

EA Competency Standard

EA Competency Standard

Unit Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Skill Base

1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline.

1.2

1.2 Conceptual understanding of underpinning maths, analysis, statistics, computing.

 

1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge

1,2,3,4

1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions

2

1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice

4

1.6 Understanding of scope, principles, norms, accountabilities of sustainable engineering practice.

 

Engineering Application Ability

2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex problem solving

2,3

2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.

2,3,4

2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.

 

2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects.

 

Professional and Personal Attributes

3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability.

4

3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.

1,2

3.3 Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour.

 

3.4 Professional use and management of information.

 

3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct.

4

3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership

 

Unit information based on version 2025.03 of the Handbook