Mechatronics Innovation Project

After completing the module, students are able to:
- systematically develop technical solution concepts collaboratively as part of a team.
- identify and describe key product development methods for different phases of the development process.
- apply methods for developing a product.
- analyze technical problem statements and derive concrete requirements.
- develop and evaluate technical solution concepts.
- translate selected solution concepts into detailed designs.
- rapidly test key hypotheses using prototypes and validate them while involving relevant stakeholders.

1. Application of a systematic approach and methodological product development methods for developing new, innovative mechatronic products.
2. Dealing with constraints from different disciplines.
3. Systematic concept development and design of mechatronic products, from the initial product idea through concept elaboration to implementation.
4. Dealing with different primary objectives of product development, addressed in terms of Design for X, e.g., topics such as safety and reliability, weight, ease of assembly, product variety, and sustainability.
5. Implementation of product concepts into initial prototypes across the different phases of the progressing product development process.
6. Iterative application of different prototyping methods, ranging from concept representations and targeted validation of individual operating principles to prototypes that represent the entire product as a fully functional mechatronic system.
7. Evaluation of hypotheses within a development project using experiments.

Prior knowledge from modules comparable to “Machine Elements”, as well as a willingness to engage with new approaches and ways of working, is required.
Experience in project management, product development, and interdisciplinary teamwork, as well as strong communication skills, creativity, and problem-solving ability, is an advantage.
Practical experience is highly valued. Prior experience in design engineering, manufacturing, prototyping, CAD/CAM, embedded systems (e.g., microcontrollers, sensors/actuators, Arduino, Raspberry Pi), backend/frontend development, and machine learning is also beneficial.
The number of participants is limited, and an application process is required.

MIP is a practice-oriented and interdisciplinary teaching format. The module consists of a lecture and an exercise session. In the lecture, the theoretical foundations of a systematic approach to product development are taught—starting with requirements and progressing to solutions at the functional, principle, and component levels—including Design-for-X approaches as well as methods for prototyping and testing.
The ability to apply these contents in practice (hands-on learning) within a development team is acquired and deepened through interdisciplinary group work based on a realistic technical problem statement.
Students are given access to mechatronic hardware and can implement their own ideas in real prototypes, thereby bridging the gap between thinking and making.
The group work is supported by the exercise sessions, in which the application of the taught content is practiced and demonstrated. In particular, students are supervised by tutors during the exercise sessions, can ask questions regarding the group work, and receive support with prototyping.
At the end of the course, the teams present their results, further developing their ability to communicate outcomes and products.

The module assessment is conducted in the form of a proect assignment. It comprises five written tasks, the submission of a prototype, and a final presentation, all of which must be completed over the course of the semester. The tasks are generally carried out as group work. Individual performance is assessed based on the ability to apply appropriate methods, develop suitable prototypes, and validate them.By completing these tasks, students are expected to demonstrate that they are able to verify the relevance of a problem and, together with an interdisciplinary team, systematically develop technical solution concepts. In addition, they can name and describe key product development methods for different phases of the development process and apply them purposefully to develop a product. Furthermore, students are able to analyze technical problem statements, derive concrete requirements, evaluate results, and, based on these, select the next steps, as well as develop technical solution concepts and refine them into designs. Moreover, they can quickly test essential hypotheses using prototypes and validate them while involving relevant stakeholders.All submissions except the final presentation are graded. The module grade is calculated as the average of the individual submissions, with the submitted prototype weighted twice.

Ponn, J.; Lindemann, U.: Konzeptentwicklung und Gestaltung technischer Produkte: Optimierte Produkte systematisch von Anforderungen zu Konzepten. Berlin: Springer 2011 (2. Aufl.).
Lindemann, U.: Methodische Entwicklung technischer Produkte. Berlin: Springer 2007 (2. Auflage).
Ehrlenspiel, K.: Integrierte Produktentwicklung - Methoden für Prozessorganisation, Produkterstellung und Konstruktion. München: Hanser 2003.
Ponn, J.; Hutterer, P.; Braun, T.; Birkhofer, H.; Ehrlenspiel, K.: Methoden der integrierten Produktentwicklung. München: Hanser 2024
Matthiesen, S.; Grauberger, P.: Konstruktionswissen für Ingenieure. Berlin: Springer 2024.