Mechatronics Basics
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Mechatronics is defined as the combination of mechanics, electronics, computer technologies, sensors, robots, controls, hydraulics, and pneumatics. It is used in the development, maintenance, and design of high-tech, efficient machines and products, and is also used in automated processes for manufacturing and industrial tasks.
Tuition reimbursement may be available to assist with your training in mechatronics as part of the Housing Opportunity & Mobile Education Solutions (HOMES) Grant. To determine if you are eligible, please contact an Admission Advisor. Learn more about this opportunity here.
The Mechatronics Basics program will give students the skills to repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery. Students are also trained on how to lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance. Northwood Tech is a partner school with PMMI, certification tests are available upon request.
Northwood Tech focuses on the skills that are priorities for industry. Not only are students working on real equipment, but they are also gaining real skills. A major focus is on training to troubleshoot. Whether the problem is mechanical, software related, or networking, students gain valuable experience in the theory, logic and process of troubleshooting.
This technical diploma is just 14 credits and can be completed in less than one year. Upon completion, you'll be prepared to get a rewarding career in the exciting and innovative field of Mechatronics.
*Tuition is an estimate and does not include any miscellaneous fees for various courses, tools, books, supplies or uniforms. Program book costs are in addition to tuition and fees and vary depending on course selection and where the books are purchased or rented.
No person may be denied admission to, participation in, employment at, the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any service, program, course or facility of Northwood Technical College because of the person's political affiliation, age, race, creed, religion, color, handicap (disability), marital status, parental status, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, pregnancy, arrest record, conviction record, service in the armed forces, genetic testing, or use or non-use of lawful products off the College premises during non-working or non-class hours.
The 3-year, $9.8 million Housing Opportunity & Mobile Education Solutions (HOMES) project is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Impact Seven will provide an additional $20 million for sustainable affordable housing options within the district. Northwood Technical College will provide an additional $1.25 million to conduct advanced manufacturing training for underemployed, unemployed, and special population individuals.
General demographic and job placement information of program participants will be used and reported to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development as one measurement of success for this grant-funded program.
Northwood Tech is an innovative, nationally top-ranked college that puts your learning first. Connect with Northwood Tech and see how you can experience support and success in your educational and career goals.
Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field that refers to the skill sets needed in the contemporary, advanced automated manufacturing industry. At the intersection of mechanics, electronics, and computing, mechatronics specialists create simpler, smarter systems. Mechatronics is an essential foundation for the expected growth in automation and manufacturing.
Mechatronics deals with robotics, control systems, and electro-mechanical systems Do you like mechanics, robotics, or production equipment? Do you have a knack for creative problem solving? Do you enjoy technical and engineering activities? Can you work well as a member of a team? Mechatronics could be for you. Request information today.
Mechatronics specialists work with massive industrial robots, smaller robots in pick-and-place operations, control systems for bottling or packaging of food and drink products, drones, designing control systems for rides in amusement parks, prototype development.
Some mechatronics specialists are employed in firms where it is necessary to design and maintain automatic equipment. This includes industries such as manufacturing, mining, aviation, robotics, defense, and transport. Other mechatronic specialists are employed by large manufacturing companies involved in high-volume production. Many new career opportunities are on the horizon due to technological advances.
Mechanical Engineering: Mechatronics involves the design and analysis of mechanical systems, such as sensors, actuators, and mechanical structures. This can include anything from robotic arms and automated machinery to consumer products like cameras with auto-focus mechanisms.
Electronics: Electronic components and circuits are used to control and monitor the mechanical aspects of a system. Sensors collect data from the environment, and microcontrollers or microprocessors process this data to make decisions and control actuators. This might involve things like circuit design, PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards), and electronic components.
Control Systems: Mechatronic systems often rely on control theory to regulate the behavior of mechanical components. This can involve feedback loops and control algorithms to ensure precise and desired system performance. Control engineering is crucial to maintaining stability and optimizing the system's operation.
Software and Programming: Mechatronics systems often involve software development to control and coordinate the various components. This can include writing code for microcontrollers, implementing user interfaces, and integrating systems with computer networks.
Sensors and Actuators: Sensors gather information about the system's environment, and actuators take action based on this information. Sensors can include things like cameras, accelerometers, temperature sensors, and more. Actuators might be motors, solenoids, or other mechanisms that move, manipulate, or change the state of the system.
Integration: Mechatronics requires a holistic approach, bringing together experts from various disciplines to work collaboratively. Engineers in this field need to understand and bridge the gaps between mechanical, electrical, and software engineering.
Applications: Mechatronics is applied in a wide range of industries, such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and consumer electronics. Examples include industrial automation, robotics, automated vehicles, smart appliances, and more.
Innovation and Automation: Mechatronics has a strong focus on automation and improving the efficiency and performance of systems. It plays a crucial role in enabling advancements in industries by developing smarter and more capable machines and products.
Many mechatronic engineers use computer-aided design (CAD) and other engineering software for modeling, simulating, and analyzing complex mechanical, electronic, or other engineering systems.
Overall, mechatronics is a rapidly evolving field at the intersection of multiple engineering disciplines, and it plays a vital role in the development of advanced, intelligent systems that make our lives easier and more efficient.
Technical degree programs have changed. Traditional degrees leading directly to closely aligned positions in industry are a thing of the past. Tomorrow needs individuals with advanced technical competencies capable of engaging in interdisciplinary research and industry applications.
Graduates of Michigan Tech's Bachelor's in Mechatronics are key to the digital transformation of our regional and national economy. What sets this degree program apart is the way it brings together engineering and computing to create something entirely new. This convergence is the very essence of "Industry 4.0" and the future of manufacturing and industry.
Graduates of Michigan Tech's Master's of Science in Mechatronics are sought after applied researchers and entrepreneurs, revitalizing the US and global economies in advanced manufacturing and automation. Advised by industrial advisory board members and other industry contacts to meet industry needs and to develop career pathways, our industry-driven curriculum addresses the need for skilled advanced manufacturing technologies.
The 15-credit graduate Mechatronics certificate is available for students looking to enhance a specific skill set, further their career, find a new job, or meet state or national licensing requirements.
Michigan Tech Professor Alex Sergeyev and Chinmay Kondekar, '21 (M.S. in ECE/Mechatronics) discuss the Mechatronics degree programs and Kondekar's final design project, an interconnected machining system that is flexible, reconfigurable, and controlled from a central control interface to emulate a production process.
The Mechatronics Revolution is upon us. Never before has it been easier to build robotic devices and computer-controlled machines. The confluence of low-cost embedded computers, sensors, and actuators has made experimentation and prototyping easier than ever. Course modules will explore the mechatronics design process, fundamentals of microcontrollers, embedded systems programming, actuator control, and sensor interfacing. The mechatronics lab kit, TI-RSLK-Mechkit, provides a robotic device that is simple to use, build, and test. Through several hands-on labs, you will solidify your knowledge of core mechatronics concepts and gain real-world experience building your own mechatronic systems. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be equipped with the fundamental knowledge you need to harness the Mechatronics Revolution.
The Georgia Tech Global Learning Center and Georgia Tech-Savannah campus is compliant under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any individual who requires accommodation for participation in any course offered by GTPE should contact us prior to the start of the course.