Identifying the smartness of a mechatronic coiler through the ‘Systems Engineering’

Among the requirements of a mechatronic system those related to its smart functions are crucial for an effective design. Smartness is associated to the system capability of self–adapting when the operating conditions change and usually it resorts to the action of the control system. The occurrence of the ‘Systems Engineering’ greatly improved a suitable definition of the system smartness, by identifying functions, architecture and hierarchy of the control units applied to drive the system operation. This paper briefly summarizes how the requirements related to the smartness of an industrial mechatronic system could be defined. A laying head for coiling the steel rod at the end of the rolling mill was used as an example and properties of its active magnetic suspension were investigated through the typical tools of the Systems Engineering