The study of Mechatronics examines engineering systems that link and integrate the classical fields of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer engineering. This option is primarily intended for students in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Systems Design Engineering. It is offered in response to the growing and increasingly visible demands from industry and governments for graduates who can design products and processes that incorporate interdisciplinary skills in mechanical systems, electrical systems and computer systems.
Option Structure and Course Requirements
The Option is defined in terms of three levels of courses. Level 1 courses are a normal part of the student's program (i.e., Computer Engineering) and provide a basic background for the option. These courses are listed in Table 1 for each program.
The Level 2 courses are the four courses that are considered core courses for the option. For each student, some of these are part of their program (i.e., Mechanical Engineering) while others are required as extra courses. It is expected that students will have to shift a Complementary Studies Elective (CSE) or one or more of their normal technical courses in order to complete the Level 2 requirements. These courses are summarized in Table 2.
The third set of courses is the Level 3 courses, which represent elective courses in the different subject areas of the option. The students must take at least one course from each of the five groups presented in Table 3.
Students are encouraged to see the Option Co-ordinator in the event that a course is difficult to enrol in.
Table 1. Level 1 Courses (fundamental) in the Mechatronics Option
Table 2. Level 2 Courses (core) in the Mechatronics Option
According to their program, students taking the Mechatronics Option must take the following four courses.
Table 3. Level 3 Courses (electives) for the Mechatronics Option
Students must take one course from each of the Group Topics given here.
| Group Topic |
Courses |
| Actuators and Sensors |
ECE 463, ME 561 |
| Computer Systems/Software |
ECE 250, ECE 254, ECE 356, (ECE 454 or ECE 455), ECE 458, ECE 459, SYDE 322, SYDE 372, SYDE 475/SYDE 575, or MTE 140 |
| Control Systems |
ECE 481, ECE 484, MTE 460 |
| Robotics and Automation |
ECE 457A, ECE 457B, ECE 486, ME 547, SYDE 422/SYDE 522, SYDE 558 |
| Mechanical Systems |
ME 322, ME 524, SYDE 553 |
Mechatronics Design Project
Each student in the option must undertake a two-term design project/workshop (ME 481 and ME 482, or ECE 498A and ECE 498B, or SYDE 461 and SYDE 462) with a Mechatronics theme, and this must be approved by the faculty Mechatronics co-ordinator. Students must meet the project/workshop requirements of their home department.