Mechatronics undergraduate degree

[qwerty2x]

Hi all! Firstly great site I've been looking for something like this!

I just finished year 12(in australia) and will be going to uni this year doing an undergrade degree in mechatronics engineering at monash uni(4 years). I need some advise on which electives i should take. I am interested in AI, robotics, Math and physics but i heard that there isn't many/any jobs in the robotics field in australia. My concern is that if i decide on taking robotics as an elective i won't find a job.

Here is my course outline:

First year:
compulsory units
ENG1020 Engineering structures
ENG1030 Electrical systems
ENG1040 Engineering dynamics
ENG1050 Engineering materials
ENG1060 Computing for engineers
ENG1091 Mathematics for engineering

Elective units:
need to pick one of the following
ENG1010 Process systems analysis
ENG1061 Engineering profession
ENG1071 Chemistry for engineering
ENG1081 Physics for engineering

Second year:
compulsory units
ENG2092 Advanced engineering mathematics B
TRC2000 Mechatronics project I
TRC2100 Mechatronic design
TRC2200 Thermo-fluids and power systems
TRC2201 Mechanics
TRC2300 Digital electronics
TRC2400 Computer programming
TRC2500 Electronics

third year:
compulsory units
MTE2544 Functional materials
TRC3000 Mechatronics project II
TRC3200 Dynamical systems
TRC3300 Microprocessor systems
TRC3500 Sensors and artificial perception
TRC3501 Power electronics and drives
TRC3600 Modelling and control
TRC3801 Mechatronics and manufacturing

fourth year:
compulsory units
TRC4000 Mechatronics final year project I
TRC4001 Mechatronics final year project II
TRC4002 Professional practice
TRC4800 Robotics
TRC4801 Digital communications

Elective units:
Need to pick 3 of the following
ECE4054 Electrical energy power converters and motors
ECE4055 Electrical energy - power eleclronic applications
ECE4074 Advanced computer architecture
ECE4075 Real time embedded systems
ECE4076 Computer vision
ECE4078 Intelligent robotics
ECE4084 Biomechanlcs of human musculo-skeletal systems
ECE4087 Medical technology Innovation
MEC4418 Control systems
MEC4425 Micro-nano solid and fluid mechanics
MEC4426 Computer-aided design
MEC4428 Advanced dynamics
MEC4444 Industrial noise control
MEC4446 Composite & structures
MTE3545 Functional materials and devices

I got highest in my school for math and physics but i heard that this is a very difficult course so should i be reading anybooks to get prepared or anything?
also what type of jobs can a mechatronics engineer do?

thanks

 

[PhysicalAnomaly]

Hi,

I go to Monash too and would like to extend a welcome. Straight to the point - take whatever electives that interest you. As far as I've heard, electives don't make much of a difference to your employability. When you start your first job, you get some form of training anyway. As long as your marks are good, you'll have nothing to fear.

You can take your time deciding all your electives except for your first year elective. I'd advice you to take physics or process since the former will be most useful later on and the latter is supposed to be one of the most challenging first year ENG units (however I found it easy so I'm not convinced). It also gives you more flexibility in case you take an interest in chemical engineering.

Don't worry about reading ahead - all the first year units are very basic introductory ones. If you did things like uni maths and had good physics and spesh maths marks, it'll be a piece of cake (in fact, that's what turned me away but that's another story).

Well, you'd be able to do any job that requires electrical engineering or mechanical engineering degrees. From what I've read though, the ideal job would be a factory automaton and systems designer - you know, those mechanical arms that make cars and such...

Hope that helps.

(I think there's someone else on the forum who's in monash doing electrical engineering but I don't think he checks the place much)

 

[qwerty2x]

Thanks for that reply!

Yeah i put physics for my first year elective just cause it sounded more interesting and i'll most likely leave it at that. If i take process systems does that allow me to do chemical engineering if it interests me more that mechatronics?

In terms of jobs, is there many/any places in australia that do robotic projects and how employable am i if i wanted to join large robotic firms or large scale companies overseas(NASA would be awesome lol). So a mechatronics degree doesn't restrict me to only working on robots, what are some of the things and kind of work i can get into with such a degree?

 

[PhysicalAnomaly]

As I've said, any job that requires a mechanical or an electrical engineering degree will be open to you. The CSIRO is there if you want to do industrial type research.

Yes, ENG1010 Process Systems Analysis will allow you to switch to chemical engineering if you change your mind. You don't strictly need it in fact (I'd check with a course advisor on that) but it'll expose you to it. I'd definitely say that physics will be more bang for your buck but a little warning - it's going to be express physics, going through each topic very quickly - at least by the looks of the syllabus anyway.

Enjoying the heatwave?

 

[qwerty2x]

ok thanks again,

yeh its too hot to get any sleep here lol.