Mechatronics System Design

Rating:
Summary: good overview of modeling of physical systems
Review: Despite the other reviews, I found this book to be a good introductory balance of math and practical advice. It examines electrical, mechanical, rotational, translational, and fluid systems. There are nice pictures to accompany the math and text. It is written as a class text with review questions at the end of each chapter. There are good discussions on various transducers and actuators with both theory and practical operation tips. This is a good introductory text. The included software isn't too bad either!

Rating:
Summary: Vague and Inconsistent
Review: I feel that on the whole the material in this book is vague and inconsistent. Some aspects are covered at a highly advanced level, while others are only briefly mentioned in a few sentences. In the same way some aspects are approached from a purely academic point of view while others are only practical. Everything is then combined into one book. The end result is this feeling of inconsistency and vagueness in the subject matter. Some demonstration software is included and some time is spent on the use of this software, but it does not add much to the value of the book. I also feel that the price of the book is much too high when compared to the value of the content of the book. If you want information on mechatronics, I would strongly suggest looking at some other books and reviews before you decide.

Rating:
Summary: Spotty Material Coverage
Review: Very spotty coverage on a couple of key areas including systems modelling/simulation. This area should have been covered with more depth as it is a basis for later chapters. This text is probably better suited to advanced engineers and only as a reference.