Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary field of engineering at the intersection of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, control theory, and computer science. It focuses on the synergistic integration of the electronic, electromagnetic, mechanical, communications, and control elements that make up the robot body. As the physical embodiment of robot intelligence, mechatronics is the foundational technology that enables robots to move around and physically interact with their environment. Mechatronics is what makes it possible for innovations in AI to perform useful tasks in our physical world.

Mechatronics is a key-enabler in the scope of R&D&I activity for the development of better robotic solutions. Therefore, it is core to numerous applications, with vastly different requirements, and the success of future robotics applications depends on its development. 

The Topic Group on Mechatronics aims to foster interactions between academia, industry, and other practitioners in the field of mechatronics, with the goal of enabling future robotic solutions through the development of better robot bodies. 

Topic Group activities

• Workshops: We organise workshops at the European Robotics Forum. These are also a yearly meeting point for its members.
• Roadmapping: The TG organises roadmapping activities focusing on the state-of-the-art, identifying current technological and commercial barriers, and determining what R&D&I priorities in the field should be, in the near and long (10-15 year) term. Outputs from these activities are contributed towards the euRobotics Roadmap, which is to be shared with the European Commission.
• A forum for mechatronics experts and users: The TG brings together experts in mechatronics and users of mechatronics technology. This 1) enables exchange of domain expertise between experts, and 2) connects users (with application challenges) to experts, to accelerate developments. 

Would you like to stay informed or get actively involved with the Topic Group? Join the Topic Group on Mechatronics, or its events, by contacting the chairs.