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Mechatronic engineering is based on elements of mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering and computer science, but is a distinct discipline in its own right.

The word ‘ mechat ro n i c s ’ emerged in Japan in the 1980s as the core engineering discipline associated with robots and automation. Indeed, many mechatronic engineering students have the ambition to build robots, one day. On the way they develop special skills vital for many industries.

Definition of Mechatronics

Leading mechatronic engineering academics across Australia have agreed on the following more formal definition for future revisions of the Engineers Australia competency standards:

Mechatronic Engineering is the engineering discipline concerned with the research, design, implementation and maintenance of intelligent engineered products and processes enabled by the integration of mechanical, electronic, computer, and software engineering technologies. Specific expertise areas can include:

Artificial Intelligence Techniques, Avionics Computer Hardware and Systems Control, Systems Data Communications and Networks Dynamics of Machines and Mechanisms, E l e c t ro m a g n e t i c Energy Conversion, Electronics Embedded & Real- time Systems, Fluid Power and other Actuation Devices, Human- Mach i n e Interface Engineering and Ergonomics Industrial Au t o m a t i o n Measurement, Instrumentation and Sensors Mechanical Design and Mat e r i a l Selection, Mechatronic Design and System Inte g ration, Modelling and Simulation Motion Control, Power Electronics Process Management, Scheduling, Optimization, and Control Process Plant and Manufacturing Systems, Robotics S i g n a l P ro c e s s i n g , S m a r t Infrastructure, Software Engineering Systems. Engineering Thermofluids.

Other areas of specific expertise relevant to the practice of Mechatronic Engineering are found within the disciplines of Aeronautical, Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Communication Engineering, Computer System Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Power Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Manufacturing and Production Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering and Space Engineering.

There are still relatively few job vacancies labelled “mechatronic engineer”. There are still not many mechatronic engineers in senior positions, so most employers would not want to restrict the field of applicants by calling for a mechatronic e n g i n e e r. Mechatronic engineering positions are often advertised as: Asset Management engineer Automation engineer Data Logging engineer Electrical/Electronic engineer Electro mechanical engineer Instrumentation engineer Maintenance engineer Mechanical engineer Plant engineer Process engineer Process monitoring and plant systems engineer Project engineer Software engineer Systems engineer

Mechatronic engineering is a formally accredited branch of engineering in Australia, Japan, France, the Netherlands and Germany and several other countries. However, this is not the case in the USA and Britain where competing professional engineering organizations cannot agree on who should provide accreditation. Mechatronics engineers in these countries tend to emerge from postgraduate masters programmes after a first degree in mechanical or electrical engineering.

It is interesting to observe how well motor vehicle manufacturing industry performance seems to be correlated with availability of Mechatronics engineering gradu- ates. Mechatronics engineering is essential in modern vehicles from the remote door lock to engine and fuel control and monitoring, active braking, steering and suspension controls.

Many Mechatronics engineers work with the electronic and computer control systems which nearly all machinery relies on for efficient and reliable operation. We take it for granted that automatic systems monitor process plants for leaks and faults, and keep the plant operating all the year round. All modern aircraft, cars and appliances rely on Mechat ronics engineering. Mechatronics engineers build and design these systems and need expertise in computing and electronics, core mechanical engineering knowledge, and the ability to bring these together to make working systems which meet the safety and reliability levels we take for granted.

Mechatronics engineers also have established roles in project engineering where their cross-disciplinary knowledge gives them an edge on mechanical or electrical engineers. Mechatronics engineers can work with electrical and mechanical systems together and solve problems that cross discipline boundaries. Their strength in IT, computer hardware and networking as well as software also helps them to be very versatile problem solvers.

Many companies find it difficult to break from their traditional discipline boundaries, whether external or internal. Electrical, instrumentation, chemical and process, mechanical, civil engineering: these remain the typical “vertical” organizational supports for engineering companies. Yet at the same time companies have been pressuring universities to produce engineers with the ability to work across discipline boundaries, to escape the “silo mentality”. Mechatronics engineering is both a discipline in its own right, closely aligned with control and instrumentation, but at the same time graduates have the ability to work across the traditional discipline boundaries.

Some ‘traditional’ engineers still argue that a Mechatronics engineer is one third a mechanical engineer, one third an electrical engineer and one third programmer and can’t do any of them. The reality is quite different. Research shows that nearly all the technical knowledge and nearly all working roles in engineering have to be learned after completing an engineering qualification at university or college. Mechatronics engineers start with different but highly useful foundation backgrounds. Indeed, it is worth remembering that most Mechatronics engineering courses resulted from industry pressure for more adaptable multi-disciplinary engineers.

Reference: www.engineersaustralia. org. au/ sites/.../ Mechatronics/ mech_eng.pdf

There are many Universities in the world offering this degree and Monash University is one of them with Top 100 rankings for engineering majors. If your passion is to become a Mechatronic Engineer, You can now commence your university studies at ANC education under Monash College programmes. Monash University Foundation Year will prepare you for your university studies and transfers to top universities based in Malaysia, Australia and UK to complete your degree. You can complete a world recognized university degree with direction of ANC Education. Contact us for more informa

tion on 077 333 55 22.