Ans: In mechatronic systems, processing and controlling of physical parameters like temperature, pressure, flow, etc. is carried out by converting them into electrical signals by means of suitable transducers. Depending upon the excitation system or requirement of power supply, transducers are classified as passive and active. The excitation source (ac or dc) is necessary for passive transducers like potentiometers, strain gauges, etc. because these transducers do not produce their own output voltage or current. Similarly, amplification stage is also necessary to increase the level of output signal. Active transducers (piezoelectric, thermocouple, etc.) produce their own electrical output when physical quantities are applied to them, but amplifier stage is used to bring the output signal up to a suitable level. In both cases, amplifiers are used because the output is at low level. The output signal is amplified to bring it compatible with control elements, indicating and display devices, recorders, controllers and so on.