Harry Xiao
Mechatronics and robotics engineering
I see Mechatronic Engineering as the future. As the interaction between software and hardware grows, it is the mechatronics engineer who builds the link.
To me, the heart of mechatronics is absorbing information, processing it, and using that data to control or perform an action. What traditionally required elaborate mechanical systems now just needs a simple microcontroller with associated sensors and actuators. What you study in Mechatronics is the key to unlocking all this potential.
As an undergraduate, I found myself in a group of like-minded people who shared the same interests and passions. It made it easy to get along with my classmates. If the academic workload became stressful, we really worked together as a group to build our knowledge and be successful in our courses.
Joining student groups such as Formula SAE and MAVSTAR meant I could apply my theoretical knowledge to real-life challenges of engineering. I also met new people, learned about organisations and gained experience using some amazing equipment.
After graduation, I joined Cochlear’s systems engineering team. My role is highly collaborative and requires interaction with various engineering design teams, as well as business functions such as marketing and clinical.
The mechatronics skills I developed at university allow me to engage with these teams to ensure that we are all on the right track. It is rewarding to see first-hand how our products impact the lives of so many people.