| Acknowledgments | vii |
| Preface | ix |
| Executive Summary | xi |
| Chapter One: Recommendations | 1 |
| Observations | 1 |
| Methodology | 2 |
| Recommendations for Community & Technical Colleges | 3 |
| RecommendationfortheTexasLeadershipConsortiumforCurriculumDevelopmentCCD | 6 |
| Texas State Government | 6 |
| Conclusion | 8 |
| Chapter Two: Overview of Mechatronics | 9 |
| Current Status of Mechatronics | 9 |
| Mechatronics Trends-Drivers and Constraints | 22 |
| Chapter Three: Mechatronics Technicians | 25 |
| Mechatronics as a Career | 25 |
| Chapter Four: Initiating Mechatronics Programs in Texas Colleges | 37 |
| Demand for Formal Multidisciplinary Training | 37 |
| Relationship of Mechatronics to Existing CTC Programs | 38 |
| Texas State Technical College Harlingen Mechatronics Program | 39 |
| Challenge of Holistically Integrating Several Traditional Disciplines | 41 |
| Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities | 42 |
| Qualified Faculty | 44 |
| Laboratory Facilities | 45 |
| Importance of "Hands on Training" for Mechatronics Students | 48 |
| Thoughts on Mechatronics Program Initiation | 51 |
| Chapter Five: Support for Mechatronics Program Development | 53 |
| Relevant Information from Government and Trade Association Sources | 53 |
| Relevant Information from Existing Mechatronics Programs | 53 |
| Chapter Six: Conclusions | 67 |
| |
| List of Appendices |
| Appendix A: Survey | 71 |
| Appendix B: Experts Consulted | 79 |
| Appendix C: Recommendation of Texas State Leadership Consortium for Curriculum Development | 83 |
| Appendix D: Mechatronics Company Directory | 85 |
| Appendix E: Select K-12 Mechatronics Programs | 99 |
| Bibliography | 105 |
| |
| List of Exhibits |
| Exhibit 2.1: Mechatronics Applications | 10 |
| Exhibit 2.2: Advantages of Mechatronics Systems | 10 |
| Exhibit 2.3: Robotic Welding Line in Automobile Assembly Plant | 11 |
| Exhibit 2.4: Toyota Prius Hybrid Vehicle | 14 |
| Exhibit 2.5: Cleanway07 Overhead Monorail Wafer Transport | 16 |
| Exhibit 2.6: Inside a Wind Turbine | 17 |
| Exhibit 2.7: Nanobionic Motor from University of Texas at San Antonio | 19 |
| Exhibit 2.8: Bio-Mechatronics Today: Cochlear Ear Implant | 20 |
| Exhibit 2.9: Micro-Mechatronics Today: MIT Nano-Tweezers | 21 |
| Exhibit 3.1: Survey Question: Most Technicians Hired in Recent Years Have Had to Become Mechatronics Technicians, Typically Through On-the-Job Training, in Order to Maintain Job Competency | 26 |
| Exhibit 3.2: Survey Question: What Would These Technicians’ Primary Duties Involve? | 27 |
| Exhibit 3.3: Survey Question: Formal Mechatronics Training Can Materially Decrease the Time Necessary to Gain the Skills Required for Successful Mechatronics Employment | 28 |
| Exhibit 3.4: Survey Question: Anticipated New Mechatronic Hires in the Next 12 Months | 29 |
| Exhibit 3.5: Survey Question: Anticipated New Mechatronic Hires in the Next One to Three Years | 29 |
| Exhibit 3.6: Average Mechatronics Technician Entry-Level Salary at Companies Hiring More Than 50 Mechatronics-Related Technicians in Next One to Three Years | 30 |
| Exhibit 3.7: Texas Statewide Wages, Occupational Employment Statistics Program, 2005 | 30 |
| Exhibit 3.8: Survey Question: Average Mechatronics Technician Entry-Level Starting Salary | 31 |
| Exhibit 3.9: Survey Question: Average Mechatronics Technician Salary After Five Years | 31 |
| Exhibit 3.10: Mechatronics Labor Market Information from the Texas Occupational and Skill Computer-Assisted Researcher | 32 |
| Exhibit 3.11: Regional Estimated Employment by SOC | 33 |
| Exhibit 4.1: On a Scale of 10 (Highest) to 1 (Lowest), How Would You Rate the Employment Attractiveness of Potential Employees with the Following Qualifications? | 38 |
| Exhibit 4.2: Relationship of Mechatronics to Existing CTC Programs | 38 |
| Exhibit 4.3: Increases and Decreases in Employment Caused by Mechatronics | 39 |
| Exhibit 4.4: Course Topics Addressed in Existing Two-Year Mechatronics Programs | 40 |
| Exhibit 4.5: A Properly Designed and Conducted Two-Year CTC Mechatronics Program Can Provide Graduates with the Skills Required for Successful Employment as a Mechatronics Technician | 42 |
| Exhibit 4.6: On a Scale of 10 (Highest) to 1 (Lowest), How Would You Rate the Importance of the Following Capabilities for Mechatronics Technicians? | 44 |
| Exhibit 4.7: Mechatronics 860-Mini-Cim Mechatronics Trainer from Amitrol | 46 |
| Exhibit 4.8: Mechatronics-Flexible Manufacturing System Trainer from Lab-Volt | 47 |
| Exhibit 4.9: Qwerk and TeRK Robot for Education | 48 |
| Exhibit 5.1: Mechatronics Curriculum, TSTC Harlingen | 55 |
| Exhibit 5.2: Sierra College Entry-Level Mechatronics Courses | 60 |
| Exhibit 5.3: Sierra College Capstone Mechatronics Courses | 60 |
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