MS in Mechatronics Engineering

Program Description

The Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Haripur-KPK is established with the vision to address the gap of Automation in Manufacturing Industry in Pakistan by producing competent engineers who would play their role in the Automation of Manufacturing industry using modern/state of the art techniques like Industry 4.0. To achieve this goal, the Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering has started MS program in Mechatronics Engineering. Mechatronics blends mechanical, electrical, computer, and robotics engineering, connecting the many stages of industrial design and production into a single, streamlined system. Mechatronics is an essential foundation for the expected worldwide growth in automation and manufacturing. Mechatronics is used in a range of industries, and it supports many applications. Most prevalent in the manufacturing industry, consumer goods, industrial goods, automotive products, and electronics. Mechatronics also plays an important role in healthcare, transportation, aerospace/aviation and many other fields.

The industry-driven MS Mechatronics Engineering curriculum addresses the need for professionals skilled in advanced manufacturing technologies. The students will learn the core technical skills, advanced technical design skills, and core technical implementation/instrumentation skills used in the design and manufacturing of control systems and devices in consumer products, aerospace and military, automotive, and other advanced manufacturing industries.

Graduates of the MS Mechatronics Engineering program will work in controls and system dynamics, sensors and actuators, autonomous systems, CAM/CAD engineering, automotive engineering, robotics, industrial automation, navigation systems, agriculture, energy, artificial intelligence, internet of things, cyber security, consumer products and packaging, and more.

Objectives of the Program

The MS in Mechatronics Engineering will provide a comprehensive coverage of Mechatronics Engineering to sharpen the skills of graduates and for those with experience of the industry, who wish to acquire the modern skills/expertise which are necessary to meet the changeless of 21st century. The program aims to provide an in-depth knowledge in the fundamentals, design, analysis and operation of mechatronic systems. A graduate of this program will be equipped with a mixture of complex knowledge and concepts across various disciplines and will have a considerable advantage in seeking employment in research and technology companies with computer-integrated manufacturing systems, as well as with research centers that develop and use advanced automation equipment. The key objectives of the program are as follows:

Build national capacity to carry out R&D in the emerging field of Mechatronics Engineering by solving challenging problems in academic and industrial domains.
Solve local problems and take solutions to market through technology commercialization and licensing.
Provide high-value shared services to academia, startups and industrial partners.

Key Research Areas

Controls and System Dynamics
Sensors and Actuators
Prosthetics
Autonomous Systems
Industrial Robotics and Manipulation
Aerial Robotics
Emerging Technologies
- Artificial Intelligence (Computer Vision/Machine Learning)
- Data Science
- Blockchain
- Internet of Things

Entry Requirements

HEC recognized Bachelor education (i.e., minimum 130 credit hours)/ Equivalent Sixteen-years education in the following disciplines: Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Control Engineering, Systems Engineering, Automation Engineering, Robotics, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Communication Engineering, Software Engineering, and other relevant disciplines.
Candidates with a foreign degree equivalent to Bachelor program are also eligible for admission in MS, however they need to obtain HEC equivalence certificate.
Minimum CGPA of 2.00 on a scale of 4.00 or Equivalent in Bachelor program/16-years education is required for admission.
Candidate must have passed GRE/GAT test with minimum 50% marks.
Applications shall be scrutinized by the Departmental Admission Committee (DAC) along with all documents including equivalence certificate for the foreign certificates/degrees issued by the HEC, to determine the eligibility for admission.

Career Prospects:

Mechatronics Engineering spans a broad spectrum of engineering topics such as: Computer Aided Design (CAD); Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM); Numerical Control (NC); Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM); Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS); Robotics & Automation; Product Design; Tools and Machines; Internet of Things; Structural Health and Condition Monitoring; Manufacturing Processes and Quality Control.
After the MS degree in Mechatronics Engineering, the graduates will have a choice of jobs in different industries, that include mechanical, electrical, control, automation, and computing related industries. The choice could range from:

Advanced Manufacturing and robotics
CAM/CAD engineering
Research organizations
Defense sector
Technology based industries
Transportation and Vehicle Systems
Aerospace/Aviation
Robotics
Oil and gas industry
Computer Industry
Industrial automation
Renewable Energy
Power.

Key Features:

Research-led teaching

The students will benefit from a research-led culture with the expertise in applying engineering science to solve problems of industrial and societal significance.

Industry links

The students will benefit from the excellent links with industry to gain real-world experience during their study.

Foreign Qualified PhD Faculty

The faculty at PAF-IAST is foreign qualified and is instrumental in fostering academic, research and innovation strengths in students.

Exchange Program to Foreign Universities

After completing the coursework at PAF-IAST, the students will have an opportunity to carry out the research thesis at our partner foreign universities and industrial collaborators..

Blended Learning Approach

The blended learning approach will be adopted for MS in Mechatronics Engineering program, allowing and stimulating the students to be active, and bringing about a shift from lecture to student-centered learning. The physical classes will be held on weekends in combination with the online classes on weekdays in evening.

Technology Park

The MS in Mechatronics Engineering program is closely integrated with a parallel program for the development of technology-driven enterprises. For this purpose, a state-of-the-art technology park is being developed at PAF-IAST.

Core Courses:

Research Methodology

Robotics Technology and Applications

Modern Control Theory and its Application in Robotics

Data Acquisition and Control

Mechatronic System Design

Elective Courses:

Sensor and Sensing Technology
Advanced Manufacturing Design Techniques
Finite Element Methods
Advanced Mechanical Design
Modern Design Process
Tribology
Multibody Dynamics
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Advances in Mobile Robots
Discrete Time Control Systems
Manufacturing Automation
Introduction to Micro-Nanofabrication Technology
Industrial Control Technology
Robust Control
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Design Optimization and Analysis Techniques
Gears and Gear Drives
Mechanical Vibrations and Condition Monitoring
Renewable Energy Systems