Nowadays, Mechatronics Engineering is at the forefront of multi-disciplinary departments and systems. This department, which has been very popular, recently, was established later than other engineering departments, students and their parents with interest welcome it. Although many people show interest in this department, this department, which is still unknown to many people, will increase its awareness in the near future since it is multidisciplinary and its field of study is very wide.
What is Mechatronics Engineering?
Mechatronics, also called mechatronics engineering, which literally means "technology combining electronics and mechanical engineering", is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering that focuses on the integration of mechanical, electronic and electrical engineering systems, and also includes a combination of robotics, electronics, computer science, telecommunications, systems, control, and product engineering.
As technology advances over time, various subfields of engineering have succeeded in both adapting and multiplying. The intention of mechatronics is to produce a design solution that unifies each of these various subfields. Originally, the field of mechatronics was intended to be nothing more than a combination of mechanics and electronics, hence the name being a portmanteau of the words "mechanics" and "electronics"; however, as the complexity of technical systems continued to evolve, the definition had been broadened to include more technical areas.
Evolution of Mechatronics
If you are exploring the study of engineering, you may have stumbled across afield called mechatronics. What is mechatronics engineering and what exactly do mechatronics engineers do?
Mechatronics began as an A to Z kind of engineering for a new technological age. It has caught on with students who want to learn all of the skill sets required to build a whole machine by themselves. Mechatronics is a crossover form of engineering born out of the need for engineers with both electrical and mechanical knowledge. Before the 1970s, most household products relied on mechanical engineering alone in their design. Even large manufacturing plants were powered by people controlling mechanically driven devices. The early 1970s saw a shift towards incorporating electrical power with mechanical features into our tools and machines.
Think of all of the items in your home that move and are powered by electricity: your washing machine, your ceiling fan, your food processor, your power drill. Designing and building all of the moving parts in your washing machine required mechanical know-how, someone who could make the parts spin just right. But to power the device, that engineer also had to have electrical skills too.
In the 1980s, with the boom in microprocessors, mechatronics grew more popular. By the 90s, the field began to incorporate aspects of computer science and programming, creating almost endless possibilities to the usefulness of mechatronics engineering.
With all of that crossover knowledge, mechatronics engineers have brought amazing features into the products they work on. Cars are a great example. Backup cameras, sensors, and anti-lock breaks all required crossover engineering skills to design and implement. Areas like automation and robotics are also full of mechatronics engineers.
Mechatronics Engineering Job Opportunities
Mechatronics engineers are in charge of designing and developing electro-mechanical systems and mechatronic devices. They build smart machines, improve existing ones and create software to control the mechatronic systems they build. What does a mechatronic engineer do?
Mechatronics engineers design and develop electro-mechanical systems as well as computer control systems for manufacturing equipment. They develop programming logic for manufacturing equipment and also select the required tools and materials for the manufacturing process.
They develop project specifications and recommend modifications when needed and also identify areas of weakness in the production line or finished products.
They study the viability and performance benefits of new mechatronic equipment and attend workshops and training sessions to stay on top of field advancements.
These engineers present reports at internal technical meetings and are sometimes asked to assist with recruitment, onboarding, and training of junior engineers or apprentices.
What Are the Responsibilities of A Mechatronics Engineer?
· Design and develop electro-mechanical systems
· Design computer control systems for manufacturing equipment
· Develop programming logic for manufacturing equipment
· Select the required tools and materials for the manufacturing process
· Develop project specifications
· Recommend modifications when needed
· Identify areas of weakness in the production line or finished products
· Study the viability and performance benefits of new mechatronic equipment
· Attend workshops and training sessions to stay on top of field advancements
· Present reports at internal technical meetings
· Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and training of junior engineers or apprentices.
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