Mechatronics

Overview

Mechatronics includes mechanics, pneumatics, electronically controlled systems, programming, robotics, systems integration and development. It is the job of the mechatronics technician to combine these areas to design, build, maintain, and repair automated equipment, and programme equipment control systems.

As well as factory assembly lines, mechatronics is used in everything from bottling machines to cash dispensers and automated production lines.

This is a practical competition, for a team of two. This will test your understanding of logic circuits, design and fault-finding skills in a challenging environment. To complete the tasks competitors are expected to apply their theoretical knowledge of fundamental principles of automation, pneumatic, electro-pneumatic, sensor and PLC technologies.

Competitors who are age eligible and have achieved the benchmark score will be invited to opt into Squad UK during December 2022 for the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 cycle.

The skills that are tested in the practical competition include:

Designing, building and testing pneumatic, electro-pneumatic circuits and PLC programmes for sequential and non-sequential tasks; system building and process optimisation
Mechanically assembling a given set of components and sub-systems to a specification
Adding new functionality and operations to a given application.
System integration of multiple modular production systems and optimisation
Integrating distributed devices using appropriate industrial protocols.

The skills you need to demonstrate

Analytical skills
Problem-solving
Time-management
Critical thinking
Decision-making
Logical
Technical skills
Judgement

Useful resources

Contact details

M.Karamanoglu@mdx.ac.uk

Entry criteria

This is a team activity (teams of two).
Team of competitors must have their own PLC and programming software for National Qualifier and National Final stages.
Competitors must be available for the National Qualifiers and National Finals.
There is no limit to the number of entries per organisation
Competitors must be familiar with the core competencies (these can be found in the Technical Handbook within the useful resources section).
This is a practical competition that will test your logic, design and fault finding skills in a challenging environment.

How it works

1. Register

Registrations open 09:00am Monday 3rd of March and will close midnight Friday 28th of March.

2. Entry Stage

Entry Stage will be released between Monday 3rd of March with a final deadline of 2nd of May 2025 (Exact dates will vary by competition).

3. National Qualifiers

Qualifiers will take place between 5th of May 2025 to 27th of June 2025 (Exact dates will vary by competition).

4. Training and Development

To help finalists prepare ahead of the UK Final, we will provide relevant technical training and share mindset development techniques, to support them to remain focused on achieving success.

5. National Finals

National finals will take place during a week in November 2025 in Wales.

6. Squad UK

Competitors who are age eligible and have achieved the benchmark score will be invited to opt into Squad UK during December 2024 for the WorldSkills 2026 Cycle, subject to the skill progressing to the international competition cycle.