Mechatronic Systems Design is a master’s track in the Mechanical Engineering Master’s Program. This means that you apply for the Master’s Program in Mechanical Engineering (CROHO: 60439) and specialize in MSD. This master’s track offers a two-year program (120 ECTS), with the first year revolving around courses. The second year is dedicated to the internship and graduation project. After completing the program, you receive a Master’s diploma in Mechanical Engineering stating your specialization in Mechatronic Systems Design.
Year 1 | Core program | 20 ECTS |
| Specialization courses | 20 ECTS |
| Free electives | 15 ECTS |
Professional skills | 5 ECTS | |
Year 2 | Internship | 15 ECTS |
| Graduation project | 45 ECTS |
Year 1
Core program of the MSD Master’s track
A core program of 20 ECTS is mandatory for students in this master’s track. Four core courses must be selected from:
- Control Engineering
- Multibody and Non-linear Dynamics
- Experimentation for Mechanical Engineering
- Scientific Computing for Mechanical Engineering
- Engineering Optimization
- Applications of Design Principles
For more information on the core program, please consult the Education Guide*.
Specialization courses of the MSD Track
For the specialization courses, you choose a total of 20 ECTS from the following list:
- Structural Dynamics and Vibro-Acoustics
- System Theory for Control
- Integrated System Design
- Advanced Motion Control
- Optimal control and reinforcement learning
- Technical Optics
- Non-linear Control
- Supervisory Control of cyber-physical systems
- Physical and data-driven modelling
- Opto-mechatronics
- Modelling and Control of Manufacturing Systems
- Hybrid Systems and Control
- Optics for Mechanical Engineers
- Advanced and Additive Manufacturing
More information can be found in the Education Guide*.
Year 2
The second year is all about learning how to apply the disciplinary knowledge and skills acquired through your course program. In your internship (15 ECTS) you apply your know-how in an industry project or at a research institute. Being an ambassador of the MSD Master’s track, you gain an impression of your professional future. After your internship, you work on your MSD graduation project (45 ECTS). This graduation project revolves around academic or industrial research, enabling you to specialize in the MSD aspects of multidisciplinary design and related analysis.
Graduation project
In your graduation project you also apply the know-how and skills acquired through your course program and internship project to a research project. Research topics can focus on detailed aspects of mechatronics – for example precision design or opto-mechatronics. Your graduation project comprises two phases. In the first phase of the project, together with your MSD project supervisor, you detail your research questions and methodology including timeline. In the second phase, you perform your research under the supervision of an MSD researcher. This second phase results in a Master’s thesis. You defend your thesis before a panel of experts and present your findings in public.
Examples of recent MSD graduation projects
Active vibration isolation system for cryogenic conditions
In this project, a compact active vibration isolation system has been designed and realized for potential application in the Einstein Telescope. The novel mechatronic concept is based on an inertial mass (seismometer) mounted on top of an isolated mass. They both consist of monolithic flexure-based straight guide mechanisms compatible for cryogenic conditions. By using the relative displacement in a feedback loop with a Lorentz actuator, the effective isolation performance can improve to 0.2 Hz, compared to about 7 Hz for an equivalent passive isolation system with similar parameters.
Control system development for a surgical robotic needle placement under patient breathing
In this project, a control system is developed and experimentally validated with a prototype for the purpose of CT-guided surgical procedures under respiratory motion.
Smart diagnostics of rolling element bearings based on acoustic imaging
Example of a series of master thesis projects where images of sound are used for non-intrusive detection of faults in systems, like rolling bearings in this case. Here we combine knowledge on rolling bearing dynamics, acoustics, signal processing and machine learning to not only detect and localize faults but also identify de type of fault and its severity.
System architecture margin model
In the high-tech mechatronics industry customer requirements are typically not fixed and will change over time. For a manufacturer of opto-mechatronic systems in the Brainport region, an MSD student has developed a dependency structure matrix technique to model and visualize the design margins present in the system architecture representing the flexibility to future design changes.
The Mechanical Engineering pre-Master’s program
The Mechanical Engineering (ME) pre-Master’s program is intended for students who have not been granted direct admission to the MSD Master’s track. These students include:
- Bachelor graduates from TU/e programs (or other Dutch universities) who did not obtain a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
- Graduates from University of Applied Sciences (HBO) Mechanical Engineering programs or equivalent
The ME pre-Master’s typically takes one semester and is worth 30 ECTS. You acquire the necessary background to enable a seamless and successful transition into the MSD Master’s track. Included in this ME pre-Master’s are courses in calculus, thermodynamics and Heat & Flow. For further information please consult the Education Guide*. The course 4CC10 – Mechatronic design is highly recommended.
The TU/e bachelor course Design Principles – an elective course after the curriculum revision – is a prerequisite for the MSD master track within DSD. If you do not have this course in your bachelor program, you may include it as a homologation course in your master course list. (Please note that for homologation purposes a maximum of 15 ECTS bachelor courses may be selected). Consult your mentor from DSD for advice and final approval of your course list. The bachelor elective course Mechatronic Design is also highly recommended but not compulsory.
*Note: current students use the Education Guide as a source of information. It contains detailed, practical information that is important during your study program. Prospective students can consult the Education Guide for additional information.