Mechatronics was invented by Mr. Tetsuro Mori, a senior engineer of the Japanese company Yaskawa, in 1969. Mechatronics is the mixture of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and software engineering. The reason of this interdisciplinary engineering field is the study of automata from an engineering viewpoint and serves the purposes of controlling advanced hybrid systems. The word itself is a portmanteau of ‘Mechanics’ and ‘Electronics’. Mechatronics is centered on mechanics, electronics, control engineering, computing, molecular engineering which, shared make possible the generation of simpler, more inexpensive, reliable and versatile systems. Mechatronics may alternatively be referred to as electromechanical systems or less often as control and automation engineering.
Engineering cybernetics deals with the question of control engineering of mechatronic systems. It is used to control or regulate such a system. Through teamwork the mechatronic modules perform the production goals and inherit flexible and agile manufacturing properties in the production scheme. A modern production tool consists of mechatronic modules that are integrated according to control architecture. The most known architectures involve hierarchy, polyarchy, heterarchy and hybrid. The methods for achieving a technical result are described by control algorithms, which may or may not utilize formal methods in their design. Hybrid-systems important to Mechatronics include production systems, synergy drives, planetary exploration rovers, and automotive subsystems such as anti-lock braking systems, spin-assist and everyday equipment such as auto focus cameras, video, hard disks, CD-players, washing machines. A typical mechatronic engineering degree would involve classes in engineering mathematics, mechanics, machine component design, mechanical design, thermodynamics, circuits and systems, electronics and communications, control theory, programming, digital signal processing, power engineering, robotics and usually a final year thesis.
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