Where can Mechatronics Take You?
Do you have a knack for tinkering with mechanical equipment? Do you also have some computer skills and some understanding of electronics? If so, you could put all those skills together when you pursue a degree in the fascinating field of mechatronics. This is a growing technical discipline with applications to every sector of society, including electronics, product design, computer systems, and sensor and actuator technologies for smart consumer products.
Working in the Mechatronics Field
Mechatronics isn't exactly a household word, but to those individuals who are interested in how various automated products that most of us rely on are developed, it could be the path to a rewarding future designing, implementing, and maintaining such equipment. Think about all the formerly mechanical products and systems that are now being integrated with computerized equipment, including cameras, cars, aircraft, security systems, tools, and many others.
As electrical engineers and designers expand the ways that mechatronics are used, the need for technicians to help design, service, implement, and repair these products will increase. Some of the areas where a mechatronics technician might be needed are:
- servicing equipment and systems
- medical equipment design
- robotics systems control
- machine tool building
- hardware/software integration for autonomous driving
- mechanical systems design, repair
- scientific instrumentation design and building
- automatic suspension and braking systems design and building
- product development in mining, aerospace, and defense work
The fact is, experts in mechatronics can work in any field where there is a need to integrate electrical and computer hardware with mechanical systems.
Your Career in Mechatronics
You can improve your chances of getting hired by focusing on the field where you want to work while you study. That may mean accepting an internship or apprenticeship with a company while you're a student. You also might want to take an entry-level job in the field so you can learn the ropes and be well prepared by the time you're ready to look for a higher-level job.
Above all, you should start networking early on. You can do this as you attend your classes by talking to your instructors, joining trade organizations, attending conferences, and even seeking interviews with companies to discuss possibilities about future work. Some companies may be open to meeting with you and giving you an idea of what they are looking for in an employee.
Perhaps at this point, you're not really sure what a career in any of the above listed fields would be like, so here's a look at a few of them, to see if they might be the right fit for you.
Robotics Systems Control Technician: Technicians in this field service and support automated robotics systems. A technician would need to know robot programming, and have the ability to diagnose, service, and repair equipment. A background in mechanical and electrical maintenance would likely be needed. The technician would probably work with and train new customers, schedule and work with site contractors, and schedule installations and maintenance appointments.
Machine Tool Builder: Today's machine tool builders must strive for reduced operating costs, higher level of safety, and high output. With a background in mechatronics, the builder will help design and implement tools that synthesize single-purpose gears and cams with multipurpose machines featuring modern control systems. To work on these increasingly complex machines technicians should study networking, master control logic, and human machine interfaces (HMI) as it applies to automated equipment.
Medical Device Builder. Mechatronics encompasses the building of intelligent medical devices that utilize sensing technologies, feedback sensors, actuators, mechanical devices, and processing and control systems. These might have applications for MRI, CT scan, nuclear imaging, and ultrasound, or be applied to robotic surgery. Applications that are more specific might include the magnetic coupling for a cerebrospinal fluid regulation valve, electric motors driving medical pumps, and drive and actuation systems for blood glucose monitoring systems.
Getting Your Start in Mechatronics
The best way to launch your career in mechatronics is by obtaining a degree. You may find an entry-level job with an associate's degree, but a bachelor's with a specialty in Mechatronics will provide you with even more impressive credentials once you start your job search.
Your education should give you a grounding in electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering, while electives should cover areas such as communications, business, and various computer topics.
Are you interested in the field of mechatronics? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology with a concentration in Mechatronics, ECPI University offers this degree program. For more information, connect with a friendly admissions counselor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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