From fast food to surgery to manufacturing, technology is revolutionizing industries around the world through automation, robotics and smart systems.
A quadruped robot. Image credit: UTC
And mechatronics is at the forefront, equipping the next generation of engineers with the skills to design, build and maintain the systems driving this global transformation.
Integrating software, electrical, mechanical and control engineering, mechatronics was first developed in the 1960s, but its applications have expanded significantly in recent years with technological advancements.
UTC mechatronics major Michael Liles understands this interdisciplinary field’s vast potential and growing relevance.
“Mechatronics is a jack of all trades regarding engineering,” he said. “In 10 years, mechatronics will probably take over most of the market.
“If you were running a business, who would you rather hire, someone that can do it all or someone that can only do one thing?”
According to the U.S. Department of Labour, it also gives mechatronics engineers a lot of flexibility and an average salary of $87,040 in May 2020.
“There’s many different avenues you can go down with mechatronics where you can’t with just mechanical or just electrical engineering,” said Liles, who worked in software engineering at a manufacturing company for a decade before deciding to pursue an engineering degree at UTC.
It was an easy choice for two reasons: the mechatronics program and the city.
UTC has one of only two four-year degree programs in mechatronics in Tennessee, both established by Dr. Ahad Nasab, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Nasab has been at the forefront of launching two cutting-edge labs in the engineering college and growing the mechatronics program from five students to nearly 100 in just five years. Bringing in expert faculty has also been key to the program’s development.
“The No. 1 asset is definitely the professors. They’re great. They’re all completely knowledgeable and very helpful,” Liles said. “Next would be the actual labs that they have, and they’re adding a lot of stuff to it. So I think in a year or two, it’s really going to be fully stocked.”
As for Chattanooga, Liles has always wanted to live here.
He was born and raised in nearby LaFayette, Georgia, and has appreciated the city his whole life.
“I was going to move to either Seattle, Colorado or Chattanooga,” Liles said. He and his wife decided to stay close to family, and they both love Chattanooga even more now that they live here.
“We stay over there in the downtown area, just hanging out. Chattanooga is booming right now,” said Liles, who loves the city’s growing live music and comedy scenes and the restaurants.
As for UTC, “the campus is gorgeous. I mean, it just looks great. I mean, everywhere you go, everything just looks phenomenal.”