question

[alphy]

How is Systems Engineering different from Mechatronics Engineering?

[russ_watters]

If you mean how is it different from mechanical, mechanical is kinda a catch-all. Systems is more specialized and deals mainly with controls (if I understand it correctly).

[enigma]

My take of systems engineering is the top-down design approach needed to accomplish large scale engineering projects comprised over many different disciplines and engineering teams (like spacecraft).

[Zantra]

Ivan may be able to shed some light on this- I believe he's a systems engineer.

[Ivan Seeking]

Originally posted by Zantra
Ivan may be able to shed some light on this- I believe he's a systems engineer.

Sorry, I just spotted this. Really my degree is in physics. I do systems integration for a living. I think multidisciplinary is the correct adjective. Also, formal studies include systems failure analysis [pre and post] and failure modes, in addition to error detection and recovery schemes. As is evident in the recent power outage in the Eastern US, failures in large systems can be quite complex; a field of study in its own right.

[Zantra]

Originally posted by Ivan Seeking
Sorry, I just spotted this. Really my degree is in physics. I do systems integration for a living.

Which is why I referred you. While degrees are great for academia, in the real world, who do you want programming the space shuttle? Someone who has worked on space shuttle systems for over 10 years,or someone who read a few books on proprietary systems?

nuff said.