Mechatronic Engineering (MECA)

See Course Description Symbols and Terms for an explanation of course description terminology and symbols, the course numbering system, and course credit units.

MECA 140  Introduction to Design and Automation  2 Units  
Prerequisite: MATH 119 or GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning Ready, first-year freshmen who successfully completed trigonometry and precalculus in high school can meet this prerequisite by achieving a score that meets department guidelines on the calculus readiness exam.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
Introduces the design process and fundamentals of automation. Hands-on use of sensors, pneumatics, stepper motors, bearings, couplings, gears, belts, pulleys, and framing materials. Topics include AC and DC motor control, simple electrical circuits, machine controllers, PLC programming, testing and analysis of results, budgeting, and bills of materials. Teams design and build a proof-of-concept system to verify their design. 1 hour discussion, 3 hours laboratory.  (005401)  
Cross listing(s): MECH 140  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 2 units  
Course Attributes: Lower Division  
MECA 198  Special Topic  1-3 Units  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
Special topic generally offered one time ony. Different sections may have different topics. See the Class Schedule for specific topic being offered. 3 hours lecture.  (005652)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course more than once  
Course Attributes: Lower Division  
MECA 298  Special Topic  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: To be established when course is formulated.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
Special topic generally offered one time only. Different sections may have different topics. See the Class Schedule for specific topic being offered. 3 hours lecture.  (015849)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course more than once  
Course Attributes: Lower Division  
MECA 380  Measurements and Instrumentation  3 Units  
Prerequisite: EECE 211 and EECE 211L or EECE 215; and CSCI 111, MECH 208 or AMAR 300.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
Measurement of steady-state and dynamic systems using standard laboratory instruments. Topics include calibration and dynamic response of instruments, statistical treatment of data, and applied feedback control systems. Concepts are reinforced with hands-on laboratory exercises. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory.  (005420)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 389  Industrial Internship  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: Approval of faculty internship coordinator prior to off-campus assignment.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
Engineering experience in an industrial setting. Minimum duration of 400 hours of work under the direct supervision of an onsite engineering supervisor. On completion of the internship, a written report prepared under the direction of a faculty member is required. This course is an elective for the BS in Mechatronic Engineering, a total of 3 units must be completed to receive elective credit. 9 hours supervision.  (005659)  
Grade Basis: Credit/No Credit  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 398  Special Topic  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: To be established when course is formulated.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
Special topic generally offered one time only. Different sections may have different topics. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. 3 hours lecture.  (005653)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course more than once  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 399  Special Problems  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: Approval of supervising faculty member.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
This course is an independent study of special problems offered for 1.0-3.0 units. See the department office for information on registering. 9 hours supervision.  (005654)  
Grade Basis: Credit/No Credit  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 6 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 440AW  Capstone Design I (W)  3 Units  W, GW  
Prerequisite: GE Oral Communication (A1) requirement; GE Written Communication (A2) requirement; EECE 315 (may be taken concurrently); EECE 344; MECH 200; MECH 340W with a grade of C- or higher. Recommended: MECA 380.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
Design methods applied to mechatronic systems in group design projects. Project definition, planning, and management. Design for manufacture, cost considerations, budgets, and teamwork. Oral and written presentation of design results. Initial stage of the capstone design project to be continued in MECA 440B. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours supervision.  (005656)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division; Writing Course; Graduation Writing Assessment  
MECA 440B  Capstone Design II  3 Units  
Prerequisite: EECE 315 and MECA 440AW. Recommended: MECA 380.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
Implementation of the capstone design project from MECA 440AW including fabrication, testing, and evaluation of a working prototype. Impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal context. Ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering including continuing self-education and career development. Must be taken the semester immediately following MECA 440AW. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours supervision.  (005657)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 470  Introduction to Robotics Engineering  3 Units  
Prerequisite: CSCI 111 or MECH 208; MECH 320 (may be taken concurrently).  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
This course introduces students to robotic manipulation design and control. Students apply the concepts in computer simulation and a physical system. 2 hours activity, 2 hours lecture.  (021920)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 482  Control System Design  3 Units  
Prerequisite: EECE 211 or EECE 215; MATH 260. Recommended: MECA 380, MECH 320; either CSCI 111 or MECH 208.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
Modeling and simulation of dynamic system performance. Control system design for continuous systems using both analog and digital control techniques. 3 hours lecture.  (005407)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 486  Motion and Machine Automation  4 Units  
Prerequisite: EECE 211 or EECE 215, MECH 340W; EECE 482 or MECA 482 (may be taken concurrently).  
Typically Offered: Spring only  
Machine automation concepts in electrical circuits, precision mechanics, control systems, and programming. Motor sizing, gearing, couplings, ground loops, effective use of step motors, servo control loops, regeneration, networking, I/O, power supplies, vibration and resonance, mechanical tolerancing, linear bearings and drive mechanisms, and troubleshooting. Labs simulate application concepts such as point-to-point coordinated moves, registration, following, camming, and CAD-to-Motion by combining various motor technologies with various mechanical drive types. 4 hours activity, 2 hours lecture.  (005655)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 4 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 498  Special Topic  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: To be established when course is formulated.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
Special topic generally offered one time only. Different sections may have different topics. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. 3 hours lecture.  (005660)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course more than once  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 499  Special Problems  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: Approval of supervising faculty member.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
Independent study of a special problem. See the department office for registration procedure. 9 hours supervision.  (015851)  
Grade Basis: Credit/No Credit  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 6 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 499H  Honors Project  3 Units  
Prerequisite: Completion of 12 units of upper-division EECE, MECH, or MECA courses, faculty permission.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
Open by invitation to MECA majors who have a GPA among the top 5% of MECA students based on courses taken at CSU, Chico. This is an "Honors in the Major" course; a grade of B or higher in 6 units of 499H certifies the designation of "Honors in the Major" can be printed on the transcript and the diploma. If taken twice, prerequisite to the second semester is a grade of B or higher in the first semester. Each 3-unit course will require both formal written and oral presentations. 9 hours supervision.  (005661)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 6 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
MECA 697  Independent Study  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: Approval of supervising faculty member.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
Independent study of a special problem. See department office for registration procedure. 3 hours lecture.  (015838)  
Grade Basis: Credit/No Credit  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 6 units  
Course Attributes: Graduate Division  
MECA 698  Advanced Topic  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: Specific to the topic being offered.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
Advanced topic generally offered one time only. Different sections may have different topics. See the Class Schedule for specific topics being offered. 3 hours lecture.  (015839)  
Grade Basis: Graduate Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Graduate Division  
MECA 699P  Master's Project  1-6 Units  
Prerequisite: Approval of supervising faculty member.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
Independent study of a special problem approved by student's graduate advisory committee. See the department office for registration procedures. 9 hours supervision.  (015840)  
Grade Basis: Report in Progress: CR/NC  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 6 units  
Course Attributes: Graduate Division  
MECA 699T  Master's Thesis  1-6 Units  
Prerequisite: Approval of supervising faculty member.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
Independent study leading to a Master's Thesis of a special problem approved by the student's graduate advisory committee. See the department office for registration procedure. 9 hours supervision.  (015841)  
Grade Basis: Report in Progress: CR/NC  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 6 units  
Course Attributes: Graduate Division