Mechatronic
engineers design, develop and build products that combine mechanical and
electronic engineering for a range of practical applications. Mechatronics
also incorporates computer, control and systems design engineering, and can
be used to create intelligent machines and advanced manufacturing and
processing systems. Mechatronic engineers create engineering systems that
automate industrial tasks, develop mechatronic solutions and electronic
control systems for existing products or processes, and investigate the cost
and performance benefits of mechatronic engineering solutions.
Mechatronic engineers design and maintain machinery
with electronic and computer control systems, such as aircraft, robots,
motor vehicles, cameras, power generators and mining and chemical plant
machinery.
Workplaces range from laboratories and processing
plants to engineering design offices.
ANZSCO ID: 233999
Alternative names: Mechatronics Engineer; Product Design Engineer
Knowledge, skills and
attributes
To become a mechatronics or robotics engineer, you would
need:
a flair for maths,
science, technology and IT
enjoy technical and engineering activities
able to work as part of a team
interested in mathematics, physics and mechanical equipment, such as
robotic and production equipment
the ability to think
creatively and analyse problems
strong decision-making
skills
excellent communication
skills
the ability to
prioritise and plan work effectively
Mechatronics engineers normally work standard weekly hours, but you may work
longer to meet project deadlines.Most of your
work would take place in an office or in a lab. Occasionally, you may have
to work on site in factories, workshops or outdoors.
Mechatronic engineers work mostly in the laboratories, workshops, processing
plants and offices of engineering design firms. Their work is usually split
between administrative and organisational tasks, and design and development
work. They usually work regular hours, but may be expected to work longer
hours at times, especially when working to a deadline. Mechatronic engineers
may be required to travel to view new design ideas or technologies, or to
present at or attend conferences.
Tools and Technologies
Mechatronic engineers use computers and computer-aided
design (CAD) and other engineering software that is used specifically for
modelling, simulating and analysing complex mechanical, electronic or other
engineering systems. They use numerical computing environments and may also
need to be familiar with programming languages.
Education and Training
To become a mechatronics engineer you usually have to study mechanical,
electrical or electronics engineering, with a major in mechatronics or
robotics. Some universities now offer specialised mechatronics engineering
courses. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your senior
secondary school certificate or equivalent. English, mathematics, chemistry
and physics would be appropriate subjects to study prior to university.
More senior roles in mechatronics engineering usually require a master's
degree in mechatronics and relevant experience in the field, especially
experience working with robots and artificial intelligence systems.
Employment Opportunities
Employment of mechatronics and robotics engineers is projected to grow
faster than the average for all occupations.Job
growth is expected because of the broad range of industries in which
mechatronics engineers can apply their knowledge in developing and applying
emerging technologies.
Job growth will occur in engineering services firms, as more companies
contract engineering services rather than directly employing engineers.
Mechatronics engineers will also be employed by large engineering
manufacturing companies which make robotics systems once they are designed
and developed.
The rapid pace of technological innovation and development will also drive
demand for mechatronics engineers in research and development, with the
increased appetite for new developments in automation of a broad range of
tasks across a wide range of industries.
Mechatronic engineers are employed in firms where it is necessary to design
and maintain automatic equipment. This includes a variety of industries,
such as manufacturing, mining, aviation, robotics, defence and transport.
Some mechatronic engineers are employed by large manufacturing companies
that are involved in high-volume production.
New opportunities are becoming available due to technological advances.
Mechatronic engineering can lead to management positions, including project
management. Mechatronic engineers have broad multidisciplinary skills, so
they are able to move into more traditional engineering disciplines.
Did You Know?
Origins of "robot" and "robotics"
The word "robot" conjures up a variety of images, from R2D2 and C3PO
of Star Wars fame; to human-like machines that exist to serve their
creators (perhaps in the form of the cooking and cleaning Rosie in
the popular cartoon series the Jetsons); to the Rover Sojourner,
which explored the Martian landscape as part of the Mars Pathfinder
mission.
Some people may alternatively perceive robots as dangerous
technological ventures that will someday lead to the demise of the
human race, either by outsmarting or outmuscling us and taking over
the world, or by turning us into completely technology-dependent
beings who passively sit by and program robots to do all of our
work. In fact, the first use of the word "robot" occurred in a play
about mechanical men that are built to work on factory assembly
lines and that rebel against their human masters. These machines in
R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), written by Czech playwright Karl
Capek in 1921, got their name from the Czech word for slave.
The word "robotics" was also coined by a writer. Russian-born
American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov first used the word in
1942 in his short story "Runabout."
Asimov had a much brighter and more optimistic opinion of the
robot's role in human society than did Capek. He generally
characterized the robots in his short stories as helpful servants of
man and viewed robots as "a better, cleaner race." Asimov also
proposed three "Laws of Robotics" that his robots, as well as sci-fi
robotic characters of many other stories, followed:
Law One: A robot may not injure a human
being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
Law Two: A robot must obey the orders
given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict
with the First Law.
Law Three: A robot must protect its own
existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the
First or Second Law. (Source: Stanford University)