When the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga launched its mechatronics program in 2018, enrollment began modestly with just five students. By 2021, participation had surged to 65, and in 2023 the program counted 90 students. This rapid growth mirrors the global rise of mechatronics, a discipline that fuses mechanical engineering with electronics, electrical circuits, control systems, and software engineering.
Housed within the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the program now boasts a new facility—the Robotics, Intelligent Systems and Control Lab—which opened on May 4, 2023. It is the second mechatronics laboratory in the college, situated directly across the hall from the first lab that began operations in 2021.
Dr. Ahad Nasab, head of the Department of Engineering Management and Technology and Burkett Miller Chair of Excellence, was instrumental in creating the program. “A lot of the students in the field of engineering and technology are really hungry to work with machines, work with the technology,” Nasab said. He emphasized that while students seek mastery of engineering fundamentals, they are “really longing for hands-on activities, basically touching that technology.”
The first lab’s focus has been on automation systems—such as those deployed in food and beverage industries for preparing, packaging, and shipping products with minimal human intervention. The new lab shifts attention to two tightly connected domains: artificial intelligence and mobile mechatronics, also known as mobile robotics.
Dr. Gokhan Erdemir, associate professor in engineering and a robotics specialist, contributed to the setup of the new lab. He noted that industry now depends heavily on robotics, with many systems controlled through artificial intelligence. The lab’s mobile robots, described as four-wheeled, low-profile machines with capabilities far beyond consumer-grade cleaning robots, can transport loads exceeding a ton, ranging from heavy machinery to small components or even paperwork within manufacturing environments. These robots can learn navigation routes, avoid obstacles, recognize colors, and distinguish between disparate objects—whether differentiating an onion from a crab or identifying specific parts on an assembly line.
Human-like robotic arms form another key area of study. Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu, director of the Biomechatronic and Assistive Technology Lab and associate professor in mechatronics, explained that such arms can grasp and manipulate items, orient them for subsequent manufacturing steps, or assemble other machines. He pointed to the Volkswagen assembly plant in Chattanooga as a real-world example: “At Volkswagen, they use them for their painting shop and body shop. They’re very precise, and they do not get tired,” Kaplanoglu said.
The integration of robotics and artificial intelligence into mechatronics education provides students with a competitive advantage upon graduation. Erdemir underscored this point: “Students are capable of solving problems because they know the essential information about electrical engineering, software engineering, mechanical engineering and computer engineering. So, if there is a problem, they can find the solution very easily because they know the different fields.”
The lab’s opening represents more than an expansion of physical resources; it signals a commitment to equipping students with practical skills aligned with industry needs. Mobile robotics, AI-driven control systems, and advanced automation are no longer niche topics—they are embedded in manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors worldwide. By offering hands-on exposure to these technologies, the program ensures that graduates can navigate complex, interdisciplinary challenges with confidence.
The trajectory from a handful of students to a robust cohort reflects both the appeal of mechatronics and the urgency of preparing engineers who can bridge mechanical design with intelligent systems. For a generation entering industries where autonomous machines and adaptive algorithms are commonplace, facilities like the Robotics, Intelligent Systems and Control Lab provide a crucial training ground.