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Undergraduate research (UR) in engineering education is an important active learning strategy, and it is widely used through various implementation styles. Several studies have been conducted to assess the contribution of UR experience in the career path of alumni from an academic point of view and based on graduate studies. This paper is focused on the assessment of UR experience gained through a two-semester long "Undergraduate Research Projects" course sequence, on the professional career of mechatronics engineering alumni. The results of a survey-based investigation show that such UR experience is considered beneficial by the alumni in three main aspects: employment, entrepreneurship and the effect of the obtained knowledge and skills on the professional career. The feedback from the alumni has revealed that this experience contributes significantly to the development of their research abilities. In addition, many graduates emphasized that the UR experience is beneficial for employment as well as for their academic and professional development. The suggestions from the alumni concerning collaboration with the industry, course methodology, and selection of project topics form a basis for systematic UR model development by faculties in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechatronic design is based on the integration of mechanical, electronic, software and control elements starting from the very early stages of the design process, particularly conceptual design phase. In this article, a research study is presented to model mechatronic systems. In this approach, required operational behaviour of a mechatronic system is modelled at the most abstract level of conceptual design, independent of any physical realization/component. Formal structuring of this modelling approach is based on Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism and it is applied to bioinspired robot design process. A case study is also presented on DEVS modelling of the cockroach climbing behaviour on a vertical plexiglass surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]