Benjamin Finio is a lecturer in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University, where he teaches MAE 3780: Mechatronics. Dr. Finio has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Bucknell University and a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University, where he completed his thesis on the “Robobee” project in the Harvard Microrobotics Lab. He has experience teaching students of all ages, both online and in person, as well as designing electronics and robotics kits for both K-12 and college-level curricula. In addition to teaching at Cornell, Dr. Finio works for a science education website (Science Buddies), where he has written for Scientific American and made educational YouTube videos that have been viewed millions of times by people around the globe.
Course Overview
Motors are a key part of most mechatronic systems. They surround us in the devices we use every day, ranging from the tiny vibration motors in cell phones to the large motors in household appliances. Learning about different types of motors, and how to interface them with a microcontroller to control them, is an important skill that will allow you to build a variety of devices. In this course you will learn how to use and control three different types of motors commonly used in electronic devices. This will prepare you for using these motors in your own projects and other applications outside the classroom.
This program requires the purchase of a kit of electronic components and microcontrollers at a cost of around $600.
You are required to have completed the following courses or have equivalent experience before taking this course:
- Building and Analyzing a Basic Circuit
- Building and Measuring a Time-Varying Circuit
- Programming a Microcontroller
Key Course Takeaways
- Use a motor
- Control a motor and a servo motor
- Control the speed of a motor
How It Works
Course Author
Who Should Enroll
- Engineers (mechanical, software, civil, systems, chemical, biomedical)
- Robotics and automation technicians
- Programmers and computer scientists
- Technology researchers
- High school teachers
- Hobbyists
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