David Ball works as a postdoctoral fellow studying mechatronics at QUT in Brisbane. Mechatronics uses electronics, computers, and other technologies to create integrated mechanical and electrical systems to solve problems that are too difficult or dangerous for humans. There is high demand for mechatronics engineers in fields like defense, aerospace, mining, and agriculture. Ball's current project involves designing small autonomous robots to manage herbicide-resistant weeds, which cost Australian farmers billions each year, in a way that prevents soil compaction issues caused by large tractors.

1. PLANTIC;ISTOCKPHOTO;MICHAELCLARKEATMONASHUNIVERSITY
F
OR DAVID BALL, a postdoctoral fellow
at CyPhy, the Robotics, Vision and Sensor
Networking Lab at QUT in Brisbane, the
reason he works on mechatronics is simple:
robots are cool.
One of the great things about technology
today is that if we can’t complete a job
ourselves, we can get a machine to do it.
That’s exactly where mechatronics and robotics
engineering comes in. It’s a cutting-edge study
area where graduates and undergrads develop
intelligent products to improve functionality
and design.
According to Ball,
it s about finding
solutions to problems
that are too “dirty,
dangerous and dull”
for human beings
to solve alone.
Mechatronics
uses electronics,
computers, advanced
control, and sensor and actuator technology
to create integrated mechanical and electrical
designs. Ball says there’s no shortage of
technologies to choose from: “It’s a massively
gro ing field, ith everything from autonomous
cars to washing machines and robots
for agriculture.”
There’s high demand for engineers in
public and private sectors, and graduates
are found in far-reaching fields including
medicine, mining, defence and aerospace.
An interest in programming and electronics
meant that engineering was an obvious choice
for all. echatronics is a relatively ne field,
so he studied a computer systems engineering
degree, minoring in mechatronics. Mechatronics
has seen enormous growth in universities over
the past five years.
The increasing pressure on Queensland’s
drought-affected industries has triggered growing
interest in robotics to solve issues in agriculture.
Weeds, for example, are a threat that the federal
government estimates costs Australian farmers
around $1.5billion a year to control, and a further
$2.5billion a year in lost
agricultural production.
A boost in government
investment over the past
five years has secured
a $3million grant for the
Queensland Agricultural
Robotics Centre,
generating excellent
research opportunities.
Ball and team have made quick headway two
years into their project, called Robotics for Zero
Tillage Agriculture. They are designing small,
autonomous ground robots that effectively
manage herbicide-resistant weeds and can
navigate field obstacles. ventually, the robots ill
replace large tractors, which cause soil compaction
issues. In addition to lifting productivity and
reducing weed control costs, Ball says the robot
tractors will increase the yield from crops, without
sacrificing human obs. Sophie Schmidt
Mechatronics and robotics
engineering are redefining o r
ability to tackle the gritty challenges.
Plus, they’re a lot of fun!
MECHATRONICSMECHATRONICS
IN FOCUS QUT
BUILD A
SMARTER
FUTURE
“It’s a massively growing
field ith e er thing rom
autonomous cars to
washing machines and
robots for agriculture.”
17
STUDYING A BACHELOR of Engineering
(Mechatronics) at QUT involves a robot
soccer tournament in third year in which
teams design and build robots for competition.
Fourth-year student Jasmin James says
what you choose to do for the project is
your own idea. “There’s a lot of freedom
— and generally, it’s just a heap of fun!”
There continues to be a severe shortfall
of women applying to engineering courses
and or ing in the field. nitiatives to address
this include the Women in Engineering
scholarship and Queensland organisation
Women in Technology.
Jasmin’s advice to female students who are
interested in engineering is to “see what it feels
like to build something and make it work.”
SOCCERBOT STUDIES
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