Mechatronics Engineering –

Mechatronics is a synergistic combination of precision engineering, electronic control and

mechanic systems. It is the science that exists at the interface among the other five disciplines:

 Mechanics
 Electronics
 Informatics
 Automation
 Robotics
Mechatronics engineering may be regarded as a modern approach to automation techniques
for the broadly defined needs of engineering and education.

It can be assumed that mechatronics is an interdisciplinary field of science and technology,

dealing with general problems of mechanics, electronics and informatics.

However, it contains too many related mechatronics areas that form the foundation of
mechatronics and cover many well-known disciplines such as electrical engineering, power
electronics, digital technology, microprocessor technology, and other techniques. Mechatronics
engineering provides an opportunity, not only humanization of machines, but also it changes
the mindset and the approach to technological issues and most importantly teaching new
technologies and ways of acquiring knowledge and skills. The most important feature
of mechatronic devices is the ability to process and communicate information accurately in a
form of different types of signals (mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, optical,
chemical, biological), with high level of automation of these devices.

Scope of the Course

The course aims to produce students who can design and develop smart machines and use their
multidisciplinary skills to meet growing demands of an industry.

Mechatronics Engineering is offered with an integrated curriculum to provide a broad-based

education in the basic principles of electrical, electronics, mechanical, control, instrumentation
and computer engineering. Broad range of topic covered include: Design of machine elements,
Analog and Digital system Design, Signal Processing, Measurements, Material Science,
Mechanical Vibration, Kinematics of Machinery, PLC Programming, Control Systems,
Microcontrollers, Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems, Industrial Robotics, Embedded Systems,
Nanotechnology and Computer Integrated Manufacturing.

Application in Industry Sectors

Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field of engineering with far reaching applications on various

sectors of the society. Mechatronics plays a key role in the development of tomorrow’s
products by being at the forefront of cutting-edge designs. Today, Mechatronics Engineering
has gained much recognition and importance in the industrial world and has become an
engineering discipline on high demand. Mechatronics may be viewed as a modern mechanical
engineering design in the sense that it is the synergistic integration of mechanical engineering
with electronics and intelligent computer control in the design and manufacturing that aims at
improving and/or optimizing its functionality.
Career Paths of the Students

In a world being continually transformed by technologies, the field of mechatronics presents

diverse employment opportunities in local, national and global organizations. Mechatronics
Engineering graduates can select from a wide spectrum of industries for career choices and can
also contribute in a variety of roles including design engineer, software engineer, project
planner, product designer, and project manager.

Being an integrated course, Mechatronics has a wide spectrum of possibilities for further
studies. Graduates may pursue their Masters’ in varied fields such as Robotics, Automation,
Aviation, Aerospace, Controls, Manufacturing, Embedded Systems, Communication, Energy. .
The options are endless.

Focus Areas for Skill Development During the Course.

The course aims to produce students who can design and develop smart machines and use their
multidisciplinary skills to meet growing demands of an industry.

Mechatronics department would like to make effective learning a pleasant experience by

making it practice based and research oriented in its basic character.

Impart necessary skills to design, develop, and maintain present day Mechatronics systems and
products.

Prepare graduates who exhibit the desire and potential to develop innovative products to
sustain growth locally and globally.

Prepare graduates who would be innovative and will be sensitive to environmental concerns
and love to learn all through their life.
Examples/ Applications

The following are further examples of Mechatronics systems:

1. Home appliances (e.g. washing machines): Many of the home appliances that are in use
today are Mechatronics systems. They are manufactured in large numbers and typically
require small controllers to be “embedded” within them.
2. Anti lock Braking System (ABS), Engine control unit in Automotives
3. Elevators, Escalators -They have many sensors to detect the position and speed of the
elevator car, as well as any calls registered by the passengers. It has many actuators, the
most important of which is the main hoist motor. Safety is also paramount in these
systems as they carry human beings.
4. Mobile robots and manipulator arms
5. Sorting and packaging systems in production lines
6. Computer Numerically Control (CNC) production machines
7. Aero planes and helicopters: These are complex examples of Mechatronics systems
8. Tank fluid level and temperature control systems
9. Temperature control system in an industrial oven
10. Heat-seeking missiles
11. Using robots for painting windows and doors
12. Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM)
Job Potential in India

Designing, building and operating intelligent products, mechatronics engineers will be

increasingly in demand as more and more industries look to employ evolutionary advances
made in the field of electronics, computers and sensors to improve systems. In this story, we
mainly explore the scope of mechatronics in India, typical job responsibilities and skills
expected by the industry. Mechatronics engineering jobs are focussed mainly on creating
uncomplicated, more profitable and reliable systems. An industrial robot is a good example of a
mechatronics system at work, as it combines mechanics, electronics and computing aspects.

Mechatronics engineering jobs are focussed mainly on creating uncomplicated, more profitable
and reliable systems. An industrial robot is a good example of a mechatronics system at work,
as it combines mechanics, electronics and computing aspects.
Scope
“Mechatronics is a study related to the application of mechanical, electronics and computer
science engineering, and the future belongs to this blend of engineering,” believes Sudhir
Reddy, managing director, Jay Robotix. He says, “When we look at any industry, the
advancements in technology are happening at an extremely faster pace and every innovation
involves advancements in either software or hardware. There is tremendous scope for
automation in industries, which requires research in these combined sciences. There are terrific
career opportunities for students who would like to pursue a career in this direction. We cannot
predict how advanced the technology will be five years from now, but we can confidently
predict that the team that designs it will include computer programmers and electronic
embedded systems experts.”
“There is a lot of scope in the mechatronics sector,” believes Dr S.K. Saha, Naren Gupta chair
professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Delhi. He says, “Today almost everything
we use in our daily life, like mobile phone (it has a motor for vibration and of course other
electronic items inside to show the display, communicate with other users, etc), washing
machine, motor car, etc, is a combination of mechanical and electrical/electronic items. Hence,
the knowledge in that area is a must in case somebody wants to work in companies which
manufacture them,”. Almost every engineering college today, including the IITs and NITs, offer
mechatronics in their UG/PG programme.

Talking about the scope at his organisation, Sudhir Reddy shares, “Majority of the freshers at
Jay Robotix are required to work on areas such as embedded systems engineering roles,
mechanical design roles, software programmer roles, design engineers roles and other
electronics engineering roles. We recruit interns with practical attitude and offer roles which
will help them realise their potential strengths. The student will be given a permanent role
based on the performance. We believe in making it interesting for the students/graduates while
on the job.”
Fig. 1: Top 5 industries hiring mechatronic professionals (Data Courtesy: TimesJobs.com)

Fig. 2: Top 5 geographical locations hiring mechatronic professionals

(Data Courtesy: TimesJobs.com)

Fig. 3: Verticals where mechatronic professionals are hired (Data Courtesy: TimesJobs.com)
Fig. 4: Pay package (Data Courtesy: TimesJobs.com)

To design and develop products in the mechatronics domain in India, 27 per cent engineers are
hired by the engineering/manufacturing sector as per TimesJobs’ statistics. Thirteen per cent
work in the consumer durable/FMCG sector, 12 per cent in the software industry, 11 per cent in
the hardware industry and 9 per cent in construction/cement/steel industry. Remaining 28 per
cent are scattered amongst the other industries.
Talking about the top functional areas and geographical locations where mechatronics
engineers are hired in India, Vivek Madhukar, COO, TBSL (which operates TimesJobs.com)
explains, “People with cross-functional engineering skills are highly sought after across
industries, particularly in the manufacturing and engineering, FMCG and IT sectors. In terms of
the location of these jobs, the three cities, i.e., Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai together
account for almost 50 per cent. This is not surprising considering the concentration of electro-
mechanical and IT industries in these areas.” Adding to that, Pune and Bhubaneshwar, each
share about 10 per cent of the engineers working in the mechatronics sector. And apart from
the engineering and IT sectors, 7 per cent of the mechatronics professionals are into the
teaching/education domain. A mere 2 per cent of each are into marketing/sales and
logistics/supply chain management/procurement sectors.

A good future
Sudhir Reddy says, “According to IFR-International Federation of Robotics—robotics will create
one million jobs by 2016 in consumer electronics industry, energy industry, automotive, SME
and robotics industry itself. Keeping aside the jobs part, I suggest young graduates to take path
of their interest. If it is mechatronics, they should be focussed and it will be highly rewarding.”
Career opportunities in the domain of mechatronics are ceaseless, as the job requires a broad
range of specialist skills that are in demand across many different industry sectors.

Be strong in the fundamental subjects, particularly those covered in the first two years of the
engineering course before diving into core mechatronics subjects/projects, notes Dr Saha. He
adds, “In addition, take up projects which are interdisciplinary in nature. For example, there is a
Robocon India competition every year organised by Doordarshan. Students participating in that
or similar competitions are certainly doing mechatronics.”

All the Best!!