I just got a comment regarding the type of engineering that I’m doing and sounding very confused.

I’m not doing mechanical engineering,
I’m not doing electrical engineering

I’m doing Robotics and Mechatronics/Computer Science and Software engineering as a double degree.

Basically Robotics and Mechatronics is really just mechatronics with the robotics bit added so that parents have some idea what the hell their kids are doing.

Mechatronic systems use a processor and hence electronics to control a mechanical system; anything from automatic transmission and the button you press to turn on the air conditioning in your car to robotic submarines which locate and deactivate sea-mines. So I do a whole lot of mechanical engineering subjects and a whole lot of electrical engineering subjects and some software engineering subjects for the first bit and the second bit is almost purely programming.

This is what my desk looks like… Well the bit with any stuff on it. To the right of that I just have a keyboard, mouse and flat-panel monitor. Note some interesting artifacts which, when pieced together prove my classification as a geek.

Exhibit A: Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – A trilogy in four parts that’s still there from when I had to reference a spelling for Golgafrincham.

Exhibit B: Headset. There from fiddling around with Skype last night (ps I have that now)

Exhibit C: Can of V – This is a result of a programming assignment. There are two more empty cans just out of view

Exhibit D: Random Cables belonging to MP3 Players, PDAs etc.

Things that don’t fit in are the wizzfizz wrappers which are there because I have an addiction and the tape measure which is because I’m trying to shift the 2kg which crept up on me when I quit gymnastics.