As society advances technologically, there is a higher and higher demand for mechanical devices with embedded electronics, sensors, actuators and related systems. The Mechatronics Option in Mechanical Engineering provides an interdisciplinary, tightly focused approach to designing such devices, producing professionally trained Mechatronics engineers who can have an immediate impact in industry.
The Mechatronics Option combines core undergraduate mechanical courses, selected electronics and software engineering courses, and several option-specific courses in an interdisciplinary approach to Mechatronics design. Students in the option graduate with professional skills in classical machine design and analysis, as well as electronic instrumentation, computer control systems, and software engineering.
Second year students take the same courses as regular Mechanical Engineering students, with a project concentration in mechatronics systems. During the third and fourth years of the program, an integrated approach combines specially designed mechatronics courses with those in electrical and mechanical engineering.
Students in the option enjoy a closely-knit community, moving through standard timetable classes with other Mechatronics students. Mechatronics option-specific courses have a class size limit of forty students, encouraging student-teacher interaction. Students also work together to put on an annual Mechatronics industry night, providing them a chance to interact with industry. Other opportunities come through the Co-op program, which all students are encouraged to register in.
Students who qualify for graduate studies can continue from the option into a M.Eng. or M.A.Sc. (subject to the availability of a departmental supervisor and the approval of the Faculty of Graduate Studies). Students should apply for either Masters program by January of their final undergraduate year. M.Eng. students complete a twelve-month project involving mechatronics system design. The projects are solicited from industry, and are jointly supervised by a faculty member and a designated senior engineer from the sponsor company. M.A.Sc. students follow the regular course of studies for Mechanical Engineering students.
Students will be admitted to the option at the end of first year by permission of the program directors, based on a demonstrated interest in mechanical engineering and electronic design, and the grade point average obtained in the first year of engineering.
