Mechatronics Engineering
The rapid spread of automated systems into most aspects of life has dominated technological innovations in the 21st century. Mechatronics engineers are trained to be masters of intelligent machines and work across many industries, making the latest “Smart Systems” work for us.
The Mechatronics programme from the University of Waikato School of Engineering has a strong focus on integrating agriculture and infrastructure with software-hardware interfacing technology. The emphasis on design-and-build projects and on a truly interdisciplinary approach combining computer science, electrical & electronic engineering and mechanical engineering will equip you for jobs of the future.
The demand of workers well-versed with intelligent and networked robotics, electronics and mechanical engineering systems is increasing both nationally and internationally. Mechatronics engineers are skilled in creating innovative solutions to overcome the challenges of the information-age society. The close working relationship between the School of Engineering and industry partners means you will have a broad range of options available for required work placement, but also for applied research projects, potential competitions and international exchange.
You'll work on major research design projects, creating products with commercial applications, which are then showcased at our annual Oji Fibre Solutions Engineering Design Show. Importantly, there is also a focus on developing well-honed transferable skills that are such a vital part of the profession.
At Waikato all existing Engineering programmes are fully accredited by Engineering New Zealand (formerly IPENZ); meaning your degree is internationally recognised under Washington Accord and you can work just about anywhere in the world. The new Mechatronics Engineering programme has been developed with the support of ENZ, and is scheduled for accreditation review in 2022.
Facilities
Students can work in specialised laboratories including the Mechatronics Engineering Lab and the Large Scale Lab complex that features a suite of workshops and laboratories dedicated to engineering teaching and research, such as 3D printing, a mechanical workshop and computer labs with engineering design software. Students who demonstrated outstanding performance and dedication will be offered opportunities to take part in the development of the latest technology host by WaiRAS research group.
Build a successful career
Industry 4.0 will create a stable global demand for Mechatronics Engineering graduates. As a Mechatronics Engineering graduate you could work in a range of exciting fields that covers mechanical, electrical, electronics or software design and development. You may be building and operating intelligent robots, implementing the latest artificial intelligent algorithm for automation, be a specialist in instrumentation and control engineering, overseeing large engineering projects as system engineer; or use your outstanding inter-personal, numeracy and data processing skills to become an effective professional manager.
New Zealand, in particular, will benefit from the application of the “smart” technology in high-value food production (dairy, meat and horticulture), forestry, various high-value manufacturing, infrastructure upgrade and large-scale environment surveillance.
Key information
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Study Mechatronics Engineering in these qualifications
Study Mechatronics Engineering as a specialisation of
Career opportunities
- Mechatronic Engineer
- Robotics Engineer
- Automation Engineer
- Control Engineer
- System Engineer
- Instrumentation Engineer
- Computer Aided Engineer
- Product Design and Development
- Project Manager
Study in Tauranga
Year 1 of the BE(Hons) in Mechatronics Engineering can be completed in Tauranga. Years 2 and 3 of the degree need to be completed in Hamilton. Year 4 will be taught in Tauranga from 2023.
Papers
Available Mechatronics Engineering papers
Year 1
Students must take the following papers: ENGEN101, ENGEN102, ENGEN103, ENGEN110, ENGEN111, ENGEN112, ENGEN170 and ENGEN180.
Year 2
Students must take the following papers: COMPX203, ENGEE231, ENGEE233, ENGEN201, ENGEN270, ENGEN271, ENGME251, ENGMP213 and ENGMT280.
If you are studying the Diploma in Engineering Professional Practice, concurrent with the BE(Hons), you must complete ENGEN272 (in place of ENGEN271).
Year 3
Students must take the following papers: COMPX310, COMPX349, ENGEE358, ENGEN301, ENGEN370, ENGEN371, ENGME353 and ENGMT380.
Plus 15 points from: ENGEE331 or ENGME380.
If you are studying the Diploma in Engineering Professional Practice, concurrent with the BE(Hons), you must complete ENGEN372 (in place of ENGEN371).
Year 4
Students must complete the following papers: ENGEN570, ENGEN582 and ENGMT558.
Plus 45 points from: COMPX521, COMPX529, COMPX550, ENGEE531, ENGEE532, ENGEE580, ENGME540 or ENGME580.
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| ENGEN101 | Engineering Mathematics 1A | 20A (Hamilton), 20A (Tauranga) & 20B (Hamilton) |
| A study of the fundamental techniques of algebra and calculus with engineering applications. | ||
| ENGEN102 | Engineering Mathematics 1B | 20B (Hamilton), 20B (Tauranga), 20C (Hamilton) & 20G (Hamilton) |
| A further study of the fundamental techniques of algebra and calculus with engineering applications. Includes an introduction to relevant statistical methods. | ||
| ENGEN103 | Engineering Computing | 20A (Hamilton), 20A (Tauranga) & 20G (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces computer programming in languages such as Python. It provides the basis for the programming skills required in more advanced papers. | ||
| ENGEN110 | Engineering Mechanics | 20A (Tauranga), 20B (Hamilton), 20B (Tauranga) & 20X (Hamilton) |
| Statics and dynamics of rigid bodies. Application of freebody diagrams and equations of equilibrium to calculate internal and external forces and moments on/in structures and mechanisms. Kinetics and kinematics of particles. Geometric properties of areas. | ||
| ENGEN111 | Electricity and Electronics | 20A (Hamilton), 20A (Tauranga), 20B (Tauranga) & 20X (Hamilton) |
| Students are introduced to underlying concepts in electricity such as current, voltage and power, and apply these concepts in a laboratory by making circuits and measuring them with common laboratory instruments. | ||
| ENGEN112 | Materials Science and Engineering | 20B (Hamilton) & 20B (Tauranga) |
| Introduction to engineering materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, semiconductors and biomaterials) and their atomic structure and mechanical properties. Includes; elastic and plastic deformation, fracture mechanisms, failure in service, iron-carbon phase diagram, redox reactions in corrosion, production of polymers, ce... | ||
| ENGEN170 | Engineering and Society | 20B (Hamilton) & 20B (Tauranga) |
| Introduction to the role of engineering in society in particular understanding of Treaty of Waitangi, history of science, engineering and technology, philosophy and ethics and public participation, participatory design, sustainability. | ||
| ENGEN180 | Foundations of Engineering | 20A (Hamilton) & 20A (Tauranga) |
| Introduction to the engineering design process and computer aided design, fundamental principles of engineering analysis, open ended problem solving, engineering economics and the skills of a successful engineer. Includes a design-build-test experience. | ||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| COMPX203 | Computer Systems | 20A (Hamilton) & 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides an overview of the operation of computer systems. The central theme is the way in which the hardware and software co-operate to allow the execution of programs written in a high-level language. | ||
| ENGEE231 | Electrical Circuits | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper covers theory, analysis and frequency response of electrical circuits involving passive elements, complex impedance, complex gain, and feedback. | ||
| ENGEE233 | Digital Electronics and Microprocessors | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides students with an introduction to digital electronics and microprocessors. It covers combinatorial and sequential logic, hardware description languages, and processor architecture and construction. | ||
| ENGEN201 | Engineering Mathematics 2 | 20B (Hamilton) |
| Calculus of Several Variables and its Applications. Vector calculus (Green's, Gauss' and Stokes' theorems). Taylor's Theorem in n dimensions. Introduction to ordinary differential equations and methods to solve them. | ||
| ENGEN270 | Engineering and Business | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper focuses on empowering students to become “business savvy” and prepared to enter the workplace and solve real-world problems. Topics covered include; team formation, design thinking, Lean Canvas, project management, Agile, risk management, project finance, professional ethics, preparing for the workplace, and business... | ||
| ENGEN271 | Engineering Work Placement 1 | 20X (Hamilton) |
| First work placement involving 400 hours of work experience at an approved engineering organisation relevant to your studies. Typically undertaken during the summer semesters at the end of second year. | ||
| ENGEN272 | Engineering Work Placement 1 | 20X (Hamilton) |
| First work placement for the DipEPP involving 400 hours of work experience at an approved engineering organisation relevant to your studies. Typically undertaken during the summer semesters at the end of second year. | ||
| ENGME251 | Dynamics and Vibration | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper covers dynamics of rigid bodies and fundamentals of vibration. Topics in rigid body dynamics are planar kinematics, mass moment of inertia, and planar kinetics including force, acceleration, work, energy, impulse and momentum. Vibration topics include single, two, multi-degree of freedom vibration systems and forced vibr... | ||
| ENGMP213 | Mechanics of Materials 1 | 20A (Hamilton) |
| Calculation of displacements (translations or rotations) and stresses in skeletal structural members (bars, beams and shafts). Stresses in structural connections. Critical loads of struts under standard boundary conditions. Transformation of normal and shear stresses through use of Mohr's circle. | ||
| ENGMT280 | Mechatronics Design and Manufacturing | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper covers the system approach to design and development of mechatronics systems. Modern computer aided tools will be used to design, develop and test the systems. This is the key 200-level integrative mechatronics design paper. The use of characteristics mechatronics design tools/methods such as multi-domain simulation, har... | ||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| COMPX310 | Machine Learning | 20A (Hamilton) & 20A (Tauranga) |
| This paper introduces Machine Learning (ML) which is the science of making predictions. ML algorithms strive to be fast and highly accurate, while processing large datasets. This paper will use standard Python-based ML toolkits to teach the fundamentals of ML. | ||
| ENGEE331 | Signals | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper covers communications signalling and modulation, and signals fundamentals. Wired and wireless, baseband and passband, the Fourier representation of signals, bandwidth, and transmit filtering, are taught. | ||
| ENGEN301 | Engineering Mathematics 3 | 20A (Hamilton) |
| Introduces numerical methods and statistical ideas relevant to Engineering. | ||
| ENGEN370 | Engineering and Environment | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper covers sustainability in engineering design within the context of environmental impact, risk and resilience, emissions and standards, carbon accounting and life cycle analysis. | ||
| ENGME353 | Mechanical and Electrical Machines | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper builds on the fundamentals taught in ENGEN110, ENGEN111 and ENGEN180; it covers application of electromechanical machine characteristics in drive design, selecting suitable power sources and matching transmission components. Problem-based learning is used in conjunction with experimentation to compare theory to real mach... | ||
| ENGME380 | Design and Manufacturing 2 | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper uses problem and project based learning methods to help students gain knowledge and skills in design and manufacturing. Students will be taught how to apply dirty prototyping to a design project, and use modern manufacturing methods to design and produce a complex machine. | ||
500 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| COMPX521 | Advanced Machine Learning | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper exposes students to more advanced topics in machine learning. Rule induction, numeric prediction, clustering and state-of-the-art ensemble learning methods are among the topics covered. | ||
| COMPX529 | Engineering Self-Adaptive Systems | 20B (Hamilton) |
| Software needs to manage itself to fullfill dynamic requirements in a changing environment. Self-adaptive software is currently employed in clouds, networks, IoT, autonomous robots, etc. Adaptation challenges include self-configuration, self-optimization, self-healing and selfprotection. | ||
| ENGEE531 | Advanced Signal Processing | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces advanced methods for digitally processing signals. It covers signal transforms with applications in 1D and 2D, principles and practical methods of digital filter design, statistical signal processing. | ||
| ENGEE532 | Image Processing and Machine Vision | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper is an introduction to image processing and machine vision in the context of machine automation and control and includes noise suppression, object recognition and tracking, and camera technologies and geometries. | ||
| ENGEE580 | Mechatronic Projects | 20A (Hamilton) |
| The paper brings together electronic, programming, and mechanical skills into projects where real-time systems are designed, constructed, and demonstrated. Timing of actuators and sensor inputs from fastest to slowest limits of a real-time controller imparts an appreciation of scheduling what is possible in any given mechatronic pr... | ||
| ENGEN570 | Engineering and the Profession | 20D (Hamilton) |
| The roles and responsibilities of professional engineers are examined. Topics include; project management, leadership, negotiation, ethical responsibilities, legal duties, Treaty of Waitangi, intellectual property and professional communication. | ||
| ENGEN582 | Honours Research and Development Project | 20D (Hamilton) & 20X (Hamilton) |
| This is the final year Honours, research and design "capstone" project. | ||
| ENGME540 | Finite Element Analysis | 20A (Hamilton) |
| Theory of finite elements analysis using variational methods. Numerical modelling for finding the stresses and displacements of bars, beams and plates, and the temperature distribution of 1D heat transfer. Matlab code development assignment for simpler problems and assignments using commercial software to solve more complicated pro... | ||
| ENGME580 | Product Innovation and Development | 20A (Hamilton) |
| ENGME580 teaches students the innovation and product development process; levels of innovation, how to screen ideas, Intellectual Property and how to develop a Business Plan. Students will be required to start with a basic product brief, produce a product idea, design and develop a prototype and 'pitch' it to 'investors'. | ||
Scholarships and prizes
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Practical experience
Expand to read practical experience
Work placements are a major feature of the Mechatronics Engineering programme and you will complete 800 hours of relevant work experience during your degree.
Our Cooperative Education Unit actively seeks and oversees your industrial work placement, ensuring a good fit for your area of study and career goals, and monitoring the quality of your work experience. They are the leader in New Zealand for co-operative education programmes, with an average 350 students placed in industry every year.
By the time you graduate you will have the credibility of paid experience to take to your interviews.
Contacts
School of Engineering
Phone:
Email: contact-hecs@waikato.ac.nz
Website: sci.waikato.ac.nz
Facebook: facebook.com/WaikatoEngineering