About Mechatronic Test

Introduction

Most of modern technical systems are used in the mechanical process control field. The electromechanical power converters, the electronic energy flow controlling and process data acquisition devices, the computerized data transmission, processing and visualisation systems are employed in the control systems of mechanical devices and engines. The wholeness of means and methods of control of the mechanical process (including the mechanism itself) constitute essence of Mechatronics as the new branch of control technology.

Complexity of mechatronic systems created the problem of staff skill improvement. This problem was emerged out of situation that until now the universities, colleges and others vocational institutions prepare the technician specialists of narrow specialisation unable to cover up the wholeness of mechatronic systems. The problem may be resolved in two ways: the first way to implement the new curricula of mechatronics in the colleges and universities preparing the specialist for this purpose; the second one to organise the special training courses for maintenance engineers of these systems.

Before organizing training courses and forming groups it is necessary in quick and objective way to evaluate the customers knowledge in mechatronics field. It is necessary to establish in which area (and in what level) they have a competence to support the mechatronic systems and in which area (and in what level) they must be trained. For this purpose the special test must be created. In one hand this test can allow to interpret in the same way the competence of specialists of different countries and in other hand it must help to develop those fields of mechatronics in witch the specialist has to be trained at first

The structure of the test

It is useful to structure the test in two steps:

The first step there is preliminary rough test enabling to define approximately level of person's ability to work in mechatronics area;

The second step there is more detailed test the purpose of which is to confirm preliminarily defined level and identify specific training demands.

These tests must be adapted to the system of four competence evaluation levels in mechatronics area, accepted in the board meeting of the Leonardo da Vinci project at 14-22 of March 2000.

The first level

The first level specialist must be able to support and adjust the main components of mechatronic system drives and sensor systems; he/she must understand the programmable logic controllers and industrial computers as independent components of mechatronic system and must be able to introduce them into control system. Specialist of this level must be capable to realize troubleshooting on components level.

The second level

The second level specialist must be able to read the documentation of mechatronic systems, to assemble these systems by given documentation, to adjust and test them. He must be able to program the programmable controllers using the given algorithms and must also be able to make diagnostics of mechatronic system using its documentation.

The third level

The third level specialist must be capable to design the control algorithms and write down the logical equations for logical control systems, to program these equations in the programmable logical controllers. The specialists of this level must understand structure of closed loop control technology in the functional level and must be capable to support the control systems of this type. They must be able to make troubleshooting in the whole mechatronic control system.

The fourth level

The fourth level specialists must be able to support not only mechatronic control systems themselves but also the control data transmission media: bus systems, visualization systems, SCADA systems, man-machine interfaces and so on. They must be able to detect the malfunctions in data transfer systems, in interfaces between different control media and in the control programs.

The competence sphere of the any higher level fully covers the competence spheres of all lower levels, so going up from one level to other the competence sphere of specialist grows in the direction of automatic control methods and data processing system application.

The first step common test

Purpose of this step is to evaluate preliminarily personnel professional competence in mechatronics. This test consists of four groups of questions (10-15 questions in each group) derived of disciplines of each level (look proposed curricula in mechatronics). The results of this test allow to define person's level of preparedness in mechatronics (0,1,2,3,4). The sphere of competence is evaluated taking into account common knowledge level; for example, the 2 level of personnel competence may be recognized only in the case if affirmative attestations of 1 and 2 parts of the common test are obtained. The 3 level if affirmative attestations of 1, 2 and 3 parts of the common test are obtained and so on.

The second step preliminarily defined level confirmation test

In the case if a person want to get the certificate confirming his level of preparedness in mechatronics (for example 3 level), he must obtain affirmative estimation of 1,2,3 parts of common test and take the specialised test of third level. Specialised test consists of definite number of questions (30-40) covering all sphere of competence on this level. The questions of disciplines of corresponding level prevail over the questions of the lower levels. In the case if results of the test are not affirmative, according to obtained results and after the individual conversation, the fields of corresponding level in which the pretender should improve his qualification will be defined. Special courses that will fill the gaps of education will be determined.

How to use the database of the test?

This software allows you to use the existing database in three following ways:

The first way - Free use of a typical version of the test running in the Internet site

After you have opened the website http://www.mechatronics.lt and pushed the button "Test" you are able to connect directly to the running test.

If you want to follow the test you must click the button Start the test.

If it is for the first time you want to use this test you must click on the red message string "New users click here" and fill in the registration blanc.

Appeared table requires defining your log in name and password witch will be used in future.

After log in name and password are affirmed you can run the test filling in login table your name and password.

If you want to use the test repeatedly it is enough to fill in login table your name and password.

Now you can use typical version of the test

The second way - Forming own test in your computer using the database being in the Internet site

To form Your own test on Your local network (class) You should inform Vilius Gelezevicius with a leter describing your organization and Your position in organization. He will give you instalation instructions and access to source database;