Department of Mechatronics Engineering
 
Mechatronics Engineering
simulasiciaMechatronics Engineering is a professional discipline that combines Mechanical Engineering with other fields of engineering such as Electrical and Electronic, Computer Technology and Control Engineering. This engineering discipline draws on expertise and professional skills of various fields to evolve into a very specific specialisation in its own right. Modern industrial and technological development has seen the evolution of complex, intelligent machines that have moving parts, controlled by software-dependent electronic devices that lead to the emergence of this multi-disciplinary engineering profession. In Mechatronics Engineering, new technologies in automation and robotics are explored and utilized, allowing tasks in hazardous environments or precise positioning to be accomplished for the benefits of health, safety, society and economy. There is indeed growing interest and demand in the industry for professional Mechatronics Engineers in recent years.
 
The Department

The Department of Mechatronics Engineering is one of the departments in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, UTeM. The department is formed in 2005 to manage efficiently the increasing number of undergraduate and postgraduate students applying degree in mechatronics field.

 The department which currently consists of 22 Lecturers, 4 Teaching Engineers and 7 tutors to provides teaching, research activities and engineering expertise in the area. 5 laboratories dedicated for teaching and research are equipped with sophisticated and modern facilities. At an undergraduate level, the department is among a few in Malaysia that offers degree in Mechatronics Engineering.

The department research interest encompasses several broad areas, reflecting the multi-discipline nature of the robotics field: Robotic & Automation, Novelty Detection, Embedded System Design & Development, Mechanical Design & Structure, Fuzzy Logic and Neural Network, Vision System, Precision Engineering, Inertial Investigation, Electronic Material, Mathematical Modelling, Quality & Productivity Improvement, Numerical Analysis, Multivariate Statistic, Statistical Quality Control. Over the last three years, the group managed to secure over RM1 million to fund its research activities. In addition, over 100 articles were published. The department has also won medals and awards locally an internationally. The department has also successfully produced a number of postgraduate students.

 
The Program

The Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Honours (BEKM) was initiated and established by UTeM in 2005, bringing exciting opportunities of research, industrial collaboration and learning. This course is a continuation of a long tradition of collaboration with industry by this public university to explore new frontiers not only in Malaysia but all over the world. Many of the modules are taught by highly motivated academic staff in Electrical and Electronic as well as Mechanical Engineering.

Students with a good CGPA at diploma or other qualifications will be considered for direct second-year entry on a case-by-case basis. The principal aim of the Mechatronics Engineering programme is to equip the students to work at professional level in the multidisciplinary, mechatronics engineering related industries. Currently, plans are underway for the final year students to design and build robots as part of their final year projects. The building of a robot requires a significant level of engineering knowledge, analytical and practical skills and undoubtedly, it enhances the quality of the undergraduate programme. An emphasis is placed on the students' ability to learn new things and solve engineering problems, individually or collectively.

The programme had been designed and continually improved as the students are expected to know and be able to apply fundamental knowledge of mathematics, sciences, electrical and mechatronics engineering by the time of graduation. The students would also be able to apply fundamental knowledge of mathematics, sciences, electrical and mechatronics engineering and design a system, component, or process to meet the desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability and sustainability. The student will be expected to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data for practice and applications and identify, formulate and solve engineering problems by using engineering tools necessary for engineering practices.

But technical skills are not all that can be expected from this program graduates. They would be able to practice professional and ethical conduct, in a team effectively with the capacity to be a leader or manager and communicate effectively, not only within the engineering society but also within the community at large. The program had been designed to enable the student to undertake lifelong learning, identify fundamental entrepreneurship skills as applied in the engineering profession and not oblivious from contemporary issues. These are related to the knowledge, skills, and attitude that students acquire throughout the programme.

This is what makes a degree from UTeM special and a graduate with this high class degree qualification will be earnestly sought after by prospective employers. All our graduates are expected to play a major role in developing the relevant technology and shaping the industry of the future.

 
Course Implementation
The degree course would take four (4) years minimum and consist of at least 135 credit hours. The course wills emphasis on Mechatronics Engineering with the composition of the credits is as follows:
 
 

Credit Hours

Percentage

Compulsory University Course

14

10.4%

Core Programme

111

82.2%

Elective

10

7.4%

This course will be conducted with approximately 80% of contact hours that emphasize theory and the remainder 20% meeting hour, involving the practical / laboratory experiments, computer-aided learning, and Problem Based Learning (PBL). It also encourages active and cooperative learning activities other than carrying out assignments, job workshops, industrial training and one final year project based on industrial problem.