Mechatronics Engineering The Evolution, the Needs and the Challenges

Mechatronics should be seen to represent a synergy and fusion of technologies, and should be regarded as a philosophy supporting new way of thinking and innovation. Thus, mechatronics engineer identifies with systems thinking, and the philosophy that lies behind it. Mechatronics represents a unifying paradigm that integrates, permeates, and comprehends fundamental and modern engineering. It concentrates on achieving the necessary synergy right through from the conceptual stages of the design process. The growth of interest in mechatronics has identified a need for the provision of engineers whose education and training enables them to operate in an interdisciplinary manner. Efficient structure of a mechatronics engineering degree program should integrate theory and practice of the unified paradigm of mechatronics engineering. It should be designed to provide in-depth knowledge in the fundamentals, design, and analysis. Furthermore, implementing the engineering aspects related to utilization, operation, maintenance, management, personal and team based skills that are needed to design and produce modern day mechatronical products and systems