Robotics and Automation in Electrical Engineering Explained: Control Systems, Sensors, Actuators and AI

Abstract

Robotics and Automation in Electrical Engineering Explained: Control Systems, Sensors, Actuators and AI is a publication-grade Open Educational Resource (OER) module covering the electromechanical, power electronic, embedded computing, and real-time communication architectures governing robotic manipulators and autonomous mobile platforms. Serving as an integral core module within the Electrical and Electronic Engineering curriculum on Prep4Uni.Online, this text bridges low-level H-bridge switching, optical encoder feedback, and industrial fieldbuses with contemporary AI-era robotic paradigms and multi-axis motion control. Key Features & Pedagogical Additions:• Theoretical Grounding & Contemporary Paradigms: Integrates classical electromechanical drive theory (PWM H-bridge switching, back-EMF sensing, quadrature decoding, fieldbus determinism) with Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) solving rigid-body manipulator dynamics for adaptive feedforward torque compensation, Lie-group SE_2(3) Invariant Extended Kalman Filters (IEKF) for robot odometry, and Fourier Neural Operators (FNOs) for soft robotic continuum modeling.• Systems Engineering Architecture & Trade-Off Analysis: Structured comparison matrix contrasting Field-Oriented Control (FOC) against trapezoidal commutation, EtherCAT against CAN FD, Quasi-Direct Drive (QDD) actuators against strain wave gearings, and Visual-Inertial Odometry against 3D LiDAR.• Interactive Simulation & Hardware Synthesis: Embeds real-time closed-loop motor drive dynamics modeling PWM duty cycle variation, mechanical load torque disturbance, proportional feedback gains, speed trajectories, and armature current draws.• Curricular Assessment & Analytical Inquiries: Contains 25 fully resolved foundational review questions, deep analytical design inquiries, and step-by-step numerical calculations spanning PWM average terminal voltages and armature currents, quadrature optical encoder resolution and velocity conversions, operational amplifier strain gauge sensor scaling, microstepping pulse rate sizing, ADC quantization limits, H-bridge power dissipation, and CAN bus transmission latency.