What is Mechatronics?
Mechatronics is the synergistic combination of mechanical engineering, electronics, control engineering, and computer science, and integrates principles and practices of systems engineering. This is illustrated in the figure below.
Source: Ahm2307 at English Wikipedia
Most modern products are mechatronic systems or include mechatronic modules. Robotics is a subfield of Mechatronics, and any robot is mechatronic system. Therefore, a mechatronics and a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary systems approach to problem solving and design is required for the development of optimal solutions and products, and for innovation.
A mechatronics engineer combines the skills of several engineers in one and is therefore very cost-effective and professionally valuable for employers as well as employees. Training in mechatronics provides a specialty to traditional engineers in the interdisciplinary area of mechatronics that is practiced nowadays in most industries.
There are very few mechatronics engineering programs in the USA even though mechatronics is in great demand throughout modern industries. These include:
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- Biotechnology and life and medical sciences
- Electronics and computer equipment
- Telecommunications and information services
- Aerospace and defense
- Distribution, transportation and logistics
- Heavy and special trade construction
- Energy, mining and related support services
- Petroleum refining and chemical
- Automotive and transportation equipment
- Production support and industrial machinery
- Agriculture, and forestry and food
- The certificates in mechatronics provide the skills necessary for engineers in all fields, and physical and life scientists to design mechatronic systems. This enhances and broadens their respective education and trains them to become interdisciplinary mechatronics engineers.
- The certificate in electromechanical engineering goes further and trains a traditional engineer to become an engineer who can competently perform as an electrical, mechanical, and mechatronics/electromechanical engineer.
- The dual certificates in mechatronics/medical devices and electromechanical/biomedical engineering provide the skills for a traditional engineer to perform effectively in addition as a biomedical engineer.
- The certificates in mechatronics/medical devices, electromechanical and biomedical engineering, and mathematical modeling are open to graduates with a bachelor of science (BS) or bachelor of art (BA) in engineering and science and students having taken the minimum prerequisite undergraduate coursework.
- • These certificates offer significant professional development and career advancement potential.
- For the mechatronics and electromechanical engineering certificates, multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity add significant value to design and project-management as real-life projects require multidisciplinary skills.
Description of the Mechatronics and Electromechanical Engineering Graduate Certificates
Graduate Certificates in Mechatronics
Goal: To train an engineer or scientist with a BS or BA in a specialized traditional engineering or science discipline (or having taken the minimal prerequisite required undergraduate coursework) to become an effective and trained mechatronics engineer, capable of designing a mechatronic system.
Courses:
Students take combinations of the courses listed in the following table, depending on their background
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Courses |
Course Title |
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Analog circuit design: A systems approach |
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Digital systems and logic design |
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Statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials |
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Fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer |
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Mechatronic systems: mathematical modeling and control |
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Mechatronic system design project |
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Robotics: mathematical modeling and design |
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Renewable energy systems |
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Physiology for engineers |
Required courses for mechatronics certificates
|
Certificate |
Background |
Courses |
|
Certificate in Mechatronics |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
MECH 510, MECH 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520 |
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
ELEC 510, ELEC 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520 |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
ELEC 510, ELEC 520, MECH 510, MECH 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520 |
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Certificate in Mechatronics Concentration: Robotics |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
Same as Certificate in Mechatronics with capstone project (ELMC 520) involving design of a robot
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
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Certificate in Mechatronics Concentration: Medical Devices |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
Same as Certificate in Mechatronics with capstone project (ELMC 520) involving mechatronics design of a medical device |
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
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Certificate in Mechatronics Concentration: Renewable Energies |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
Same as Certificate in Mechatronics with capstone project (ELMC 520) involving mechatronics design of a renewable energy system |
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
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Dual Certificate in Mechatronics and Robotics |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
MECH 510, MECH 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520, ELMC 530 |
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
ELEC 510, ELEC 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520, ELMC 530 |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
ELEC 510, ELEC 520, MECH 510, MECH 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520, ELMC 530 |
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Dual Certificate in Mechatronics and Medical Devices |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
MECH 510, MECH 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520, BMED 510 |
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
ELEC 510, ELEC 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520, BMED 510 |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
ELEC 510, ELEC 520, MECH 510, MECH 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520, BMED 510 |
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Dual Certificate in Mechatronics and Renewable Energies |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
MECH 510, MECH 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520, RENS 510 |
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
ELEC 510, ELEC 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520, RENS 510 |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
ELEC 510, ELEC 520, MECH 510, MECH 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520, RENS 510 |
Graduate Certificate in Electromechanical Engineering
This certificate provides a triple status as electrical, mechanical, and mechatronics engineer. The course content satisfies the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) requirements separately for electrical and mechanical engineering. The curriculum is the same as for mechatronics except for an additional course in signals and systems, and digital signal processing (DSP) for students with a BS in mechanical engineering, and a course of continuum mechanics for those with a BS in electrical engineering. A certificate in electromechanical engineering should be considered as including the certificate in mechatronics.
Electromechanical Engineering Certificates courses
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Courses |
Course Title |
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Analog circuit design: A systems approach |
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Digital systems and logic design |
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Signals and systems and digital signal processing |
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Statics, dynamics |
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Continuum mechanics, fluid and solid mechanics |
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Thermodynamics, heat transfer |
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Mechatronic systems: mathematical modeling and control |
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|
Mechatronic system design project |
|
| Robotics: mathematical modeling and design | |
|
Renewable energy systems |
|
|
Physiology for engineers |
Required courses for electromechanical engineering certificates
|
Certificate |
Background |
Courses |
|
Certificate in Electromechanical Engineering |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
MECH 610, MECH 620, MECH 630 ELMC 510, ELMC 520 |
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
ELEC 510, ELEC 520, ELEC 530, ELMC 510, ELMC 520 |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
ELEC 510, ELEC 520, MECH 510, MECH 520, ELMC 510, ELMC 520 |
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Certificate in Electromechanical Engineering. Concentration: Robotics |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
Same as Certificate in Electromechanical Engineering with capstone project (ELMC 520) involving design of a robot and taking ELMC 530
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
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Dual Certificate in Electromechanical and Biomedical Engineering |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
Same as Certificate in Electromechanical Engineering with capstone project (ELMC 520) involving mechatronics design of a medical device and taking BMED 510 |
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
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Dual Electromechanical Engineering Renewable Energy Systems |
Students with BS/BA in electrical engineering |
Same as Certificate in Electromechanical Engineering with capstone project (ELMC 520) involving mechatronics design of a a renewable energy system and taking RENS 510 |
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Students with BS/BA in mechanical engineering |
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Students with BS/BA in other engineering/science/math |
• Dual ce[1] rtificate in mechatronics and medical devices