Mechatronics = Mechanical engineer who knows some electronics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the definition and scope of mechatronics, particularly in relation to its components of mechanical engineering, electronics, and other engineering disciplines. Participants express their experiences and perceptions of mechatronics education and its application in industry, exploring the balance of different engineering fields within the mechatronics framework.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant cites a Wikipedia definition of mechatronics, emphasizing its interdisciplinary nature but expresses dissatisfaction with the heavy focus on mechanical engineering in their studies.
  • Another participant argues that it is unrealistic to expect mastery of multiple engineering disciplines within a single program, suggesting that mechatronics should not exist as a standalone field.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that in industry, collaboration among specialized engineers (mechanical, electronics, computer, etc.) is more effective than relying on mechatronics engineers alone.
  • One participant shares their experience in mechatronics, highlighting a focus on control systems and the integration of electronic systems with mechanical systems.
  • Another participant discusses the need for knowledge in nanoelectronics for specific applications, like brain-computer interfaces, and suggests that individuals with an electronics background may find mechanical aspects challenging.
  • A participant reflects on their mechatronics education, noting a broadening of their understanding and the importance of seeing the bigger picture before pursuing a first degree.
  • One participant provides an industry perspective, describing their experience in motion control and automation, emphasizing the blend of mechanical, electrical, and programming skills required in mechatronics applications.
  • Another participant characterizes mechatronics as a mixture of various engineering disciplines, suggesting that it often requires teamwork among specialists rather than a single individual mastering all areas.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the effectiveness and structure of mechatronics education and its application in industry. There is no consensus on whether mechatronics should exist as a distinct field or how it should be structured within educational programs.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in their educational experiences, such as an emphasis on mechanical engineering at the expense of other disciplines, and the challenges of mastering multiple engineering fields simultaneously.

Femme_physics
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechatronics

According to the definition, "Mechatronics is the combination of Mechanical engineering, Electronic engineering, Computer engineering, Software engineering, Control engineering, and Systems Design engineering in order to design, and manufacture useful products."

I'm studying in Israel.

As I look over at the course details mechatronics appear to be heavily focused on mechanical engineering, ranging anywhere from mechanics of materials, characteristics of materials... strength of materials, machining...all the way down to the tiny little details. I already studied a bunch of it, and the future looks to forebode more. I am a little upset my mechatronics studies are aimed so heavily towards materials strength, and so little about the synergy of the 5 trades the wiki article talks about.

False promises...what's new.

What's your view of this? Is mechatronics different in other places? (Not talking about 2nd degree students)...
 
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You can not have all of those engineering disciplines at the same place and expect to grab every detail of them. Evidently the subject will be a mess.

This engineering should not be existing in the first place. Its something interdisciplinary and needs one to learn five other engineering branches.

In industry we have Mechanical engineer, Electronics engineer, Computer engineer, Control engineer, and Systems Design engineer working together. Not just five Mechatronics engineers.
 
In industry-- it's better, then, IMO.
 
I see you want to make a brain-computer interface. Well, in my opinion it will require nanoelectronics. You may have to learn some QM things. But don't worry, its just a part of physics and can be easily learnt, as you already have interest in electronics.

My guess is you don't like mechanics that much. I think its better to leave mechanical and material aspect to others experts on those fields. After all significant progress is made in those fields and for a person with electronics background it may not be easy to learn a "working" knowledge of those things (or to recognize what may be the "working" knowledge in the first place.)
 
My first degree was in Mechatronics it was mostly geared towards control systems i.e. electronic systems controlling mechanical systems.
 
You're right, Kholdstare-- it does require nanoelectronics, or neuroelectronics knowledge one might say. I like theoretical mechanics, physics stuff, purely for its elegance. But when push comes to shove electronics is more what I see myself working in. I will say this-- it is always good to broaden your horizons. Luckily I'm not studying for a first degree yet, so getting a broad mechatronical background before I start on a first degree isn't so bad. It helps me as a human to see the bigger picture, and be more informed about my decisions.

Thank you :)
 
Here's another perpective on "mechatronics", from the "manufacturing automation engineering" point of view.

Dr Bwts' comment is very close to reality.

My experience was predominately motion control & automation predominately applied to assembly engineering tasks: robotics, and other types. It involved analysis of mechanics of objects (velocities, accelerations, inertias, torques, forces, etc.) and also application of the devices to apply those torques & forces, which is mainly the province of physics I suspect. Servo & stepper motor controllers, pneumatic elements, and so on. Then how to issue commands to start & stop those motions via a variety of programming methods in a variety of devices. So there's electrical engineering skills involved, and programming skills too. But then also it was necessary to properly size & select the mechanical elements to survive the loads and reduce deflections & vibrations, and that is a function of mechanical engineering (with a little bit of materials). How to make it affordable (business) and deploy everything to the shop floor (ergonomics, human factors, human relations). Quite a gumbo of skills.

Mechatronics is what you make of it. To me it is a salad-bowl mixture of mechanical, electrical, systems, materials, programming/CompSci, and business. Most folks can't do it all, and the typical corporate response is teams of people with bits & pieces of the different technologies forming the total package.
 

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