Career and subject of Mechatronics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the field of Mechatronics Engineering, exploring its academic pathways, career opportunities, and the differences in curriculum across various institutions. Participants share personal experiences and seek information about the subject's practical applications and the nature of work in the field.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant is considering switching from undergraduate physics to either engineering physics or mechatronics engineering and seeks information on career opportunities and typical workdays in mechatronics.
  • Another participant suggests looking into Control Engineering as a related field and mentions a professor's connection to a company in the industry.
  • A participant who is starting a bachelor's degree in mechatronics engineering shares links to resources that may be helpful for understanding the field.
  • One participant recounts switching from mechatronics to physics and raises concerns about the difficulty of transferring into engineering programs at Waterloo.
  • Another participant discusses the curriculum differences, noting that Waterloo emphasizes mechanical systems and electronics, while other institutions may focus more on software.
  • There is a discussion about the level of mechanics taught in mechatronics compared to physics, with questions about whether the focus is more on macroscopic or microscopic mechanics.
  • Participants express uncertainty about the specifics of the mechanics curriculum in mechatronics and how it compares to physics courses, particularly regarding topics like center of mass and angular momentum.
  • Concerns are raised about missing foundational courses in programming and circuit analysis when transitioning between programs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the curriculum and transferability between programs, with no consensus on the best path forward or the specifics of the mechanics curriculum in mechatronics.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention differences in curriculum emphasis across institutions, which may affect career readiness and academic progression. There is also uncertainty regarding the transfer policies of specific engineering programs.

Gogsey
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Hi,

I'm currently in undergaduate physics, and going to be switching to either engineering physics or mechatronics engineering.

I really need a bit more info on both subject areas, but mainly mechatronics.
What areas of work there are available to them? What is a typical workday like?

I've also been researching institutions that have this subject and found that it varies a little depending on where you go. For example, McMaster universities cirriculum puts a lot of emphasis on software courses, whereas the university of Waterloo has much more courses on mechanical systems, electronics, and their integration. Simon Fraser is very simmilar to U of W, Ontarios's tech inst. is quite general, and UBC has an eng phys program that has a mechantronics systems stream.

Are you limited if you choose a program with different emphasies?

Really just looking for any relevant information to the career and subject of Mechatronics.

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org


I apologize. This should probably have went into the academics guidance forum, but I'm looking for both academic and career information.
 


No Mechatronics Engineers?
 


You should look up Control engineering if you want more info on Mechatronics. The professor I had for Mechatronics helped found Innovative Integration Inc. You can google the company and it should give you an idea of what mechatronics can lead to.
 


I will be starting my bachelors degree in mechatronics engineering this year(in australia), did a google search and found some intreresting stuff that might help you.

http://www.mechatronics.canterbury.ac.nz/about.shtml

http://www.memagazine.org/contents/current/features/whoowns/whoowns.html

this was particularly helpful:
http://www.studyplaces.com/answers/i-intend-study-ms-mechatronics-and-therefore-i-needed-expert-guidance-regarding-course-also-
 
Last edited by a moderator:


I just did the opposite. Switched from mechatronics at Waterloo to physics at waterloo. I'm not sure they will allow you to switch into engineering...unless you are starting from year one. Waterloo is quite stringent about their engineering program. Have you talked to anyone about this?
 


No, I actaully need to talk to the department about this.

I'm actually in second year physics, but I will be in engineering 1 for the summer, so I can take a couple of engineering courses.

Looking at the cirriculum, I will be missing only two 1st year courses(Mechatronics engineering and circuits), however I should be able to get credit in three 2nd year courses(Differentiall Equation, Advanced Calculus, and Physics/Dynamics), so hopefully I can combine the 2 first year courses I'm missing with the 2nd year courses.

Could you give me some info on the degree? What are the mechanics like? Are they the same as the type of mechnics you would do in physics? Asking this since my friend in 3rd mech eng has not done anything like centre of mass, moment of inertia, angular momentum, which we are doing in 2nd year, and at the particle and many particle level.

What level of mechanics do you do? Is it all macroscopic rather than microscopic particle-based?
 


Its more macroscopic lol. Take mechanical and throw in a couple of programming courses and you have mechatronics. I'm pretty sure they will not let you switch in because Waterloo is very very stringent about its engineering program. In addition you seem to have missed two co-op terms and two or more PDEng courses, which are supposed to be done while on co-op. Again I'm not sure how it will work out for you, but yeah talk to them. A buddy of mine switched from physics at 'loo to third year engineering at York. I suppose this can be done at Ryerson as well. UofT and Wateroo I'm not so sure about.
Could you give me some info on the degree? What are the mechanics like? Are they the same as the type of mechnics you would do in physics? Asking this since my friend in 3rd mech eng has not done anything like centre of mass, moment of inertia, angular momentum, which we are doing in 2nd year, and at the particle and many particle level.

Hmm..the math is pretty much the same but you are behind on CAD and circuit analysis. You are also behind on programming. There are two programming courses in first year; A lot of people fail or have problems with the second one.
 
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Lol, obviously were care about the macroscopic picture, haha. What I meant was do you use paricle models, eg motion of a particle, to describe what happens at the macroscopic level, kinda like statisical mechanics, but for mechanics rather than thermodynamics.

Is there any difference between mechanics, excluding quantum mechanics, at the microscopic level vs the macroscopic level?
 

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