Basics of mechatronics

The term “mechatronics” came about as a made-up word from mechanics and electronics, where electronics means “hardware” and “software”, and mechanics is the generic term for the disciplines of “mechanical engineering” and “hydraulics”. It is not a question of replacing mechanical engineering by “electronification”, but of a synergistic approach and design methodology. The aim is to achieve a synergistic optimization of mechanical engineering, electronic hardware and software in order to project more functions at lower cost, less weight and installation space, and better quality. The successful use of mechatronics in a problem solution is dependent upon an overall examination of disciplines that were previously kept separate.