What is mechatronics about?
Mechatronics connects the huge fields of electrical and mechanical engineering. An essential part of mechatronics deals with the development of modern sensors and actuators. Every modern industrial process environment needs sensors to calculate physical chemical or biological quantity for example: electricity, mechanical tension, temperature, etc. After amplification and analog-digital-conversion these are provided to a computer.
The Computer evaluates the recorded measured data. To intervene into the process Signals are generated for example by a regulation algorithm which control actuators over power electronics. These sensor-actuators-systems are not just in industrial facilities but in all kind of technical devices (digital camera, smart phone, speaker, washing machine, microwave, vacuum cleaner, etc.). For example is the part of sensor-actuators-systems the fastest growing area in automotive industry.
Focus
In the design of modern mechatronics sensors and actuators, such as piezoelectric force sensors, ultrasonic array antennas for the Acoustical Imaging in medical, non-destructive material testing or controlled capacitive accelerometers for airbags, the developer relies on a reliable computer support. The alternative (experimental- or empirical development) is far too time-consuming and costly. This means that one needs very accurate numerical methods for these transducer. Thus, a very close connection to computational engineering is given.
Both essential Focuses could be described like following:
1. Design of mechatronics sensors and actuators
A major focus is on modeling and numerical simulation of mechatronic sensors and actuators. On the one hand side it is about the physical description of the transducer principles and on the other hand side on the efficient solution of the obtained equations on the computer. Herewith its possible to unterstand the complex Interactions of the individual physical fields (mechanical, electromagnetic, acoustic, thermal) and use this in the development of modern sensors and actuators.
2. Production and characterization of sensors and actuators
After the sensor or actuator has been developed on the computer, the next step is to produce it with corresponding modern technologies. From a prototype, several key parameters are to gather (e.g. Signal-to-noise ratio, dynamics). This requires good knowledge in the fields of metrology, data logging and data evaluation.
Contents
Bachelor-Part
In the bachelors program the student gets a extensive knowledge of the physical principles of modern mechatronic sensors and actuators. They also have the possibility to gain experience with modern, computer based data logging and signal processing. Furthermore the student learns essential production processes of modern sensors and actuators.
Master-Part
In the masers program the focus is on the mathematical modeling and the numerical simulation of mechatronic sensors and actuators.
Job description and field of activity
After the CE Bachelor / Master program with TAF mechatronics, a postgraduate can work in many different fields of activity. Depending on the orientation of the completed study, these include for example:
- Sensor- und actuator development
Development of new sensors and Actuators with improved dynamic properties based on modern computer simulations and experimental studies of automated setup (e.g. piezoelectric stack actuators for the Common Rail Diesel Injection)
- Automation engineering
Development of new applications for existing and newly developed sensor and actuator principles. Consulting for designers and consumers about the optimal use of mechatronic sensor-actuator systems.
- Hardware-related software development
Development of e.g. ECU software in the automotive industry, ABS, ESP, and motor control. Successful graduates have best opportunities to find employment in many industrial fallows, from automotive over aerospace to medical engineering.
Study concept
To find on the CE Homepage under important documents