About Mechatronics:

The Career Academy is home to the State of Georgia's first Mechatronics Engineering program, a career pathway developed in partnership with local business and industry partners. With a team of engineers and community members, the curriculum was written and submitted to GADOE for approval.  The Georgia Department of Education approved the curriculum and then Shaw Industries in partnership with Whitfield County Schools, worked to ready the lab for Mechatronics for students in 2013-2014 school year. The curriculum consists of standards in; Introduction to Mechatronics - DC Theory, Pneumatic Systems, and Programmable Logic Controllers; AC Theory, Electric Motors, and Hydraulic Systems; Semiconductors, Mechanical Systems, and Pump and Piping Systems.

Mechatronics is a diverse field. It encompasses many inter-related disciplines including:  Electronics, Mechanics, Fluid Power, Electrical Control Systems, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Computers, and Robotics.  People employed in the Mechatronics Engineering field deal with automated systems in a wide variety of applications.  They also deal with related professional and technical support activities such as production planning and control, maintenance, and engineering.

Mechatronics employers face recruitment difficulties because many potential employees do not possess the needed skills.  With the advances in automation and robotics, it is necessary that students acquire a broad range of technical skills to be competitive in the job market.  Mechatronics skillsets are in high demand across the northwest Georgia region and also across the state and nation; meaning students with these skillsets have many options for finding high-wage jobs.  Students also have many post-secondary options including furthering their education at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Southern Polytechnic State University, and many other colleges that offer engineering programs.

Job opportunities in Mechatronics can be found in most modern industries, including: advanced manufacturing, materials processing, aviation/aerospace, automotive, refining, logistics, and power generation.