Designing Educational Systems to Illustrate Mechatronic Principles

Authors

Željko Šitum
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0268-6500 (unauthenticated)
Tomislav Drašković
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
Fran Hruškar
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
Lovro Meštrić
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
Mateo Šego
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
Eros Stemberger
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
Magdalena Antolković
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Synopsis

This article presents six innovative laboratory mechatronic systems developed as educational prototypes to illustrate fundamental mechatronic principles to engineering students. The first prototype is an oncooscillator that generates oscillating magnetic fields via a rotating magnet driven by a DC motor, potentially demonstrating biomedical applications such as tumour cell disruption. The second is a robotic fire-fighting system ("firebot") connected to a water tanker for fire suppression. The third prototype models a cargo transport vehicle facing challenges of load instability on uneven terrain. The fourth is a mini-vessel equipped with a gyroscopic stabilization mechanism to minimize lateral rolling during navigation. The fifth is an automated chessboard capable of autonomous gameplay, piece movement, and board state recognition. The final system is a compact underwater vehicle (submarine) designed for submerged exploration and operational tasks. These prototypes serve as practical tools for bridging theoretical knowledge with hands-on learning in mechatronics education.

Author Biographies

Željko Šitum, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Zagreb, Croatia. E-mail: zeljko.situm@fsb.unizg.hr

Tomislav Drašković, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Zagreb, Croatia. E-mail: td206264@stud.fsb.unizg.hr

Fran Hruškar, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Zagreb, Croatia. E-mail: fh239918@stud.fsb.unizg.hr

Lovro Meštrić, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Zagreb, Croatia. E-mail: lm227775@stud.fsb.unizg.hr

Mateo Šego, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Zagreb, Croatia. E-mail: ms23475@stud.fsb.unizg.hr

Eros Stemberger, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Zagreb, Croatia. E-maila: es214728@stud.fsb.unizg.hr

Magdalena Antolković, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Zagreb, Croatia. E-mail: ma242350@stud.fsb.unizg.hr

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Published

September 16, 2025

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Šitum, Željko, Drašković, T., Hruškar, . F., Meštrić, L., Šego, M., Stemberger, E., & Antolković, M. (2025). Designing Educational Systems to Illustrate Mechatronic Principles. In D. Lovrec & V. Tič (Eds.), & (Ed.), International Conference Fluid Power 2025: Conference Proceedings (Vols. 2025, pp. 79-92). University of Maribor Press. https://doi.org/10.18690/um.fs.7.2025.7