Adaptronics is an interdisciplinary science that describes adaptive technical structures. Adaptive structure systems are characterised by integrated actuator and sensors based on multifunctional materials, which are linked by a suitable control. Exact descriptions are required to develop and construct mechanical structures, actuators and sensors in addition to control algorithms and hardware. To specialise in Adaptronics, a Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics is required. Especially useful are skills in structure dynamics and simulation methods included in the electives section of the Bachelor of Science. The high interdisciplinary nature requires that students visit lectures from other departments than Mechanical and Production Engineering and Electrical Engineering as well.

Spokesperson and supervisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Melz

Homepage Adaptronics

Mechatronics plays an important role in aerospace and aviation. Control and automation are today an integrated part of the design of new aircraft. Unmanned aircraft are not conceivable without mechatronics. In this specialisation, the students learn in-depth methods of control technologies, modelling and simulations and how to design, set up and implement controls with sensors, actuators and real time systems in addition to getting in-depth insight into aerospace and aviation applications.

Spokesperson and supervisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Klingauf

Homepage Aerospace Mechatronics

Mechatronic systems are one of the biggest drivers of innovation in the automotive sector and have become indispensable in modern vehicles. With this in mind, the specialisation Automotive Mechatronics focuses on innovative systems in the drive train and chassis (such as dual clutch transmission, active steering systems, engine control etc.) and new driving assistance and safety systems (such as adaptive speed control, pedestrian detection systems, overtaking assistance, new headlight concepts etc.). In addition, students get the opportunity to expand their knowledge of electrical drive systems, which will increase in importance in the years to come.

Spokesperson and supervisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Rinderknecht

Homepage Automotive Mechatronics

Only the fundamentals are required in this specialisation. Therefore, the modules listed in the course catalogue cover all available modules from other specialisations as well. Hence, you need to determine yourself how you want to customise the contents of your specialisation. In every case the study and examination plan needs to be checked and signed off by the spokesperson of the specialisation to ensure that the selected contents are relevant and reasonable.

Spokesperson and supervisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Konigorski

Homepage General Mechatronics

The specialisation focuses on fundamental scientific knowledge and practical skills and abilities for developing embedded systems in mechatronic systems. Well-known fields of application for the use of such embedded systems are, in addition to communication technology, automation technology and automotive engineering,medical technology, consumer electronics, building technology and the household appliance sector. These are fields of application that are very important for business and manufacturing in Germany.

Spokesperson and supervisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Hochberger

Homepage Embedded Systems

Fluid Systems are used in a variety of products and processes (such as automation technology, water management, wind and water power, heating, ventilation technology etc.). They are characterised by a close interaction of electro-fluidic energy converters. Modern control concepts are particularly widespread in fluid drive technology. With coordinated control and topology, resolved pump concepts offer a high potential for energy savings. Engineers working in this area must understand and optimise these systems consisting of electro-hydraulic converters, sensors and controls.

Spokesperson and supervisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Pelz

Homepage Fluid Systems

Mechatronic drives are characterised by the close interaction of electromechanical, electro-pneumatic and electro-hydraulic energy converters with the power electronics that control them, i.e. the sensors and the higher-level control technology. These systems are noted for their wide range of stationary and non-stationary applications in the processing and automation industry, such as robotics, and in the transport sector in motor vehicles, railways and aviation. In theory and experiment, students gain practical insight into how drive components work and are designed, how they interact both in the system and in open-loop or closed-loop operation.

Spokesperson and supervisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dr. h.c. Andreas Binder

Homepage Mechatronic Drives

Lectures, practicals and workplacements and projects on design, technologies, implementation and testing of microelectronic and micromechanical components and systems, such as sensors, actuators, directly coupled sensor-actuator systems etc., and their application in medical, automotive, automation and microsystem technology. A special focus is on project seminars (ADP) introducing the required development methodology by way of concrete development projects.

Spokesperson and supervisor: Prof. Dr. mont. Mario Kupnik

Homepage Micromechatronic Systems

The specialisation Robotics offers new prospects to graduates on the growing labour market in research and industry. The international Federation of Robotics has documented a global growth of 32% of service robots in the last 12 months in the World Robotics 2020 Report. This includes mobile robots for logistics in warehouses, for industrial service and maintenance and for agriculture, in addition to the private sector (housekeeping) and medical uses (surgery robots, rehabilitation robots, intelligent active prostheses and orthoses) and self-driving cars. Apart from applications in manufacturing, additional in-depth emphasis is laid on services rendered using smart service robots. The specialisation Robotics of the Master’s degree programme Mechatronics includes contents and courses from the Department of Computer Science and, therefore, combines interdisciplinary research and teaching expertise from the Departments 16, 18 and 20.

Spokesperson and supervisor: Prof. Dr. Oskar von Stryk

Homepage Robotics

Control and automation play an important role in the implementation of additional mechatronic functions. In this specialisation, students get to know in-depth methods of control engineering, such as non-linear controls and multivariable controls, also in addition to methods of automatic modelling, automatic setting of controllers and much more. Since knowing the processes to be controlled well is always required for designing controllers, students are encouraged to also attend lectures in the elective area on vehicle dynamics, machine tools, electrical and hydraulic drives and similar.

Spokesperson and supervisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Konigorski

Homepage Simulation and Control of Mechatronic Systems

In 2011, the term 'Industry 4.0' was coined as a future project within the framework of the High-Tech Strategy. In 2013, Acatech – the German Academy of Science and Engineering – presented a research agenda and implementation recommendations that were drawn up at the instigation of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This built on the “National Roadmap Embedded Systems.”

In the meantime, machines and systems for Industrie 4.0 are available today: Industrie 4.0 is making its way onto factory floors.

The next stage of research for Industrie 4.0 follows from the fundamental change in production sequences and work processes. Driving factors here are making production more flexible on the basis of customer data and improving the sustainability of production processes.

The specialization takes into account the growing importance of the digital transformation of production systems by offering interdisciplinary courses from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and information technology, and computer science.