Foundation mechatronics laboratory course for mechanical engineering students

This paper presents an assessment of recent development that targets an introductory mechatronics hands-on course taught within the mechanical engineering program at the United Arab Emirates University. In particular, the development attempts to enhance the students' cognitive as well as their psychomotor skills by integrating the knowledge taught in the lectures with the hands-on skills attained in the lab. Twelve well considered lab experiments were added to the lab manual of the course. Microcontroller-based experiments were introduced to walk students, who have never been exposed to microcontroller use before, through the learning journey using a number of mini projects. A survey among students to assess the development was conducted. It showed 63% of the 35 students strongly agreeing that, the course has trained them well in building microcontroller-based systems. It also highlighted the areas that still need further attention by the instructors.