This paper presents the process of designing, fabricating, assembling, programming and optimizing a prototype nonlinear mechatronic Ball-Plate System (BPS) as a laboratory platform for engineering education STEM. Due to the nonlinearity and complexity of BPS, the task presents challenges such as: (1) difficulty in controlling the stabilization of a particular position point, known as steady-state error, (2) position resolution, known as specific distance error, and (3) adverse environmental effects—light-shadow error, which is also discussed in this paper. The laboratory prototype BPS for education was designed, manufactured and installed at Karlovac University of Applied Sciences in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics program. The low-cost two-degree BPS uses a USB HD camera for computer vision as a feedback sensor and two DC servo motors as actuators. Due to control problems, an advanced block diagram of the control system is proposed and discussed. An open-source control system based on Python scripts, which allows the use of ready-made functions from the library, allows the color of the ball and the parameters of the PID controller to be changed, indirectly simplifying the control system and performing mathematical calculations directly. The authors will continue their research on this BPS mechatronic platform and control algorithms.

All EU nations and the rest of the globe have been undergoing a massive digital transformation since Germany introduced and put into practice the Industry 4.0 concept in 2011. This entails not only boosting production by incorporating all current means of production, such as modern ICT solutions and robotics, but also introducing new expert profiles and ways of working. And, as that process became increasingly intensive, a new phrase, Industry 5.0, emerged in 2015. This concept focuses on the human potential as well as various IoT and Big Data applications to enhance human job and talent. Its objective is to connect individuals who work with robots in automated industrial settings. It is obvious that protecting worker safety and wellbeing at work entails not just maintaining physical health but also maintaining mental health, autonomy, dignity, privacy, and inclusion. Thanks to new technologies and the concept of Industry 5.0, we can have safer and more productive workplaces where the skills and creativity of workers come to the fore.

This paper presents the process of designing, fabrication, assembling, programming and optimizing a prototype of a nonlinear mechatronic Ball-Plate System (BPS) as a laboratory platform for STEM engineer education. Due to the nonlinearity and complexity of BPS, task presents challenging issues, such as: 1) difficulties in controlling the stabilization of a given position point known as steady state error, 2) position resolution known as specific distance error and 3) adverse environmental effects - light shadow error, also discussed in this paper. The laboratory BPS prototype for education was designed, manufactured and installed at the Karlovac University of Applied Sciences at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Study of mechatronics. The low-cost two degrees BPS system uses a USB HD camera for computer vision as feedback and two DC servomotors as actuators. Due to controlling problems, an advanced block diagram of control system is proposed and discussed. An open-source control system based on Python scripts that allows the use of ready-made functions from the library allows changing the color of the ball and the parameters of the PID controller, thus indirectly simplifying control system and directly the mathematical calculation. The authors will continue their research on this BPS mechatronic platform and control algorithms.

The work in the technological sewing process is carried out on machine systems characterised by machine–hand work, where the worker and the machine work simultaneously. Such a work system requires a high level of responsibility in terms of quality, quantity, and the correct and timely execution of work, which requires workers to have fast and accurate reflexes, as well as exceptionally good psychomotor and visual skills. By applying the basic movements of the Methods-Time Measurement (MTM) system, the elaborated standard sets of hand sub-operations included in technological sewing operations, and the method of determining normal times for straight seams (RAV) and curved seams (ZAK), it is possible to determine the working method and time norm of individual technological sewing operations. The MTM Calculator software was developed to facilitate the determination of working methods and time norms on the basis of the MTM system. It can be used to quickly calculate the production time for a technological sewing operation.

Prilikom rada u proizvodnim procesima radnici su izloženi statodinamičkim naporima koji mogu biti uzrokom mišićno-koštanih poremećaja i nastanka profesionalnih bolesti. U cilju analize radnih scenarija i unapređenja radnih mjesta oblikovan je projekt čija se metodologija zasniva na izboru i korištenju specijalizirane programske podrške za analizu i simulaciju radnih procesa. Programska podrška i računalna oprema mora biti funkcionalno i cjenovno prihvatljiva. Na temelju dosadašnjih mjerenja i iskustava, kao polazni proizvodni proces odabrana je odjevna industrija. U proizvodnim procesima odjevne industrije rad se izvodi u stojećem ili sjedećem položaju pri čemu radnici podnose psihofizičke i statodinamičke napore koji mogu biti uzrokom mišićno-koštanih poremećaja. Postavljeni ciljevi projekta obuhvaćaju: u prvoj fazi sagledavanje ergonomskih karakteristika i prisutnih problema pri izvođenju radnih scenarija u procesima proizvodnje, na temelju prethodno navedene analize izbor prikladne programske podrške koja će omogućiti detaljnu analizu i mogućnosti unapređenja radnih mjesta, na temelju prikupljenih rezultata i iskustava izrada priručnika za rad na siguran način te paralelno uz razvoj projekta u industrijskoj primjeni, unaprijediti nastavni proces i kompetencije studenata na stručnom studiju zaštite na radu.