What trend for mechatronics ? - R&D teams mechatronics design engineering approach for research and self-learning competence in mechatronics and fluid power

The paper deals with R&D teams mechatronics design engineering and education. The focus is on need of teams members research skills as well as experimental hardware skills. A key to improve the analysis, modelling, synthesis and hardware skills is based project organised didactic self-learning within the area of design of mechatronic products and systems, in particular intelligent control, mechanical and fluid power components and systems. Experiences with interactive methods for improving of MSc- and PhD-students¿ research and self-learning competence at the Technical University of Denmark and the Aalborg University are presented and discussed. The didactic approach has two legs: (1) Analysis and IT-modelling of products and systems from day one at the university, and (2) Synthesis and hardware implementation with increasing project activities focusing on product development and design engineering, including testing, evaluation and validation. The objective is to educate candidates with high-level professional engineering skills for research and integrated product development teams working within mechatronics and fluid power in order to make successful business in companies as well as at universities. Most of the projects are in cooperation with companies. The trend covers micro- and nanotecnology, optical components and pervasive computing.