MechaTronics Career Discovery Challenge

For passionate students from Region 9 middle - high schools and colleges 

IUPU Campus, Columbus, Indiana--

Discover: Learn about career opportunities, potential employers, equipment, hardware, and projects available in the field.

Challenge: Program a robot to compete in a dynamic challenge with emphasis on time & functionality. Present team concept, process, and results to a panel of professional engineers and qualified judges. For passionate students from Region 9 middle - high schools and colleges


November Press Release from The Republic, Columbus, IN:

MotoTron is very proud to be supporting the inaugural year of the Mechatronics Career Discovery Challenge  in Columbus, Indiana. Mechatronics requires skills and knowledge that includes Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, and Mathematics.
 
All of these skills come together to create very complex vehicles that we see everyday. Your family car is full of mechatronic systems such as the engine controller, ABS braking system, and stability control system. Most of these valuable and complex systems are very transparent to the user. In a panic stop situation, you simply notice the pulsing of the brake pedal but don’t probably realize that the ABS system is stopping your car as quickly as possible and the stability control system is trying to avoid letting the car spin around.the field of aerospace, mechatronics is integral to making modern aircraft easier and safer to fly. The launch of the space shuttle Discovery is an example of one of the world’s most complex mechatronic systems.addition, Mechatronics is largely responsible for earth saving technologies that lower tailpipe emissions and improve fuel economy.

 
MotoTron believes in the need to train future technologists to address future challenges. To meet this need, the Columbus office of MotoTron has developed the Mechatronics Career Discovery Challenge. This Challenge involves the design of a robotic vehicle using professional grade components and tools to help introduce the field of Mechatronics.

These robots are built on a toy chassis but indeed employ the same sensors, actuators and embedded computers to drive the robot around the course that we use on million dollar yachts. Much of the theory taught during the 16 hours of class is the same theory used in vessel autopilots to navigate the boats automatically through all sorts of sea conditions. In fact, the robots will be performing better course keeping than the majority of yachts and pleasure boats available today…truly the Career Discovery Challenge is teaching state of the art skills and using state of the art tools.

MotoTron  employees have pitched in to create the vehicles and the  Mechatronics curriculum. Much of the employees’ efforts were done on evenings and weekends to make this possible. MotoTron prides itself on passionate technologists and believe the Mechatronics Career Discovery Challenge will inspire that same passion in a whole new crop of future technologists.
    
Eric and Kathy Bradley are the leaders behind the Mechatronics Career Discovery Challenge and were recognized by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and received the Innovation Award as part of the Maverick Awards. The Maverick Awards highlight entrepreneurs in the community who create an entrepreneurial spirit.

Media Contact:
Rich Swortzel
Phone: 734-822-7710
Email: \n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Website: www.mototron.com 

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