From cybernetics to mechatronics: Seven decades of interdisciplinary engineering

Cybernetics is a transdisciplinary approach for exploring controlled systems. Norbert Wiener defined cybernetics in 1948 as “the scientific study of control and communication in the animal and the machine”. Mechatronics unites the principles of mechanics, electronics and computing to generate simpler, more economical and reliable systems. An industrial robot is a prime example of a mechatronic system, it includes aspects of mechanics, electronics, and computing to do its day‐to‐day jobs. The high reputation of mechatronics as a science was recently underlined by a mark of distinction for Kurt Magnus with a commemorative plaque erected by the foundation Stiftung‐Werner‐von‐Siemens‐Ring and unveiled 2018 at the Technical University of Munich. The Stiftung Werner‐von‐Siemens‐Ring honored the scientific work of Kurt Magnus with respect to “gyroscopes and vibrations as well as co‐founder of mechatronics” including nonlinear oscillations, too.


Cybernetics History
Thus, as far back as 1944, the group of scientists about physiologist A. Rosenblueth and mathematician N. Wiener had already become aware of the essential unity of the set of problems centering about communication, control, and statistical mechanics, whether in the machine or in living tissue. "After much consideration, we came to the conclusion that the existing terminology has a too heavy bias to one side or another to serve the future development of a field as well as it should. We have decided to call the entire field of control and communication theory, whether in the machine or in the animal, by the name Cybernetics what means the Greek word steersman". The subdivisions of Cybernetics include Biology, Computer Science, Engineering Cybernetics, Management, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology, Education, Art, Architecture and Design, Earth System Science, Sport and Law.
On Engineering Cybernetics H. S. Tsien [4] published 1954 the following statements: The "cybernetics" of Wiener is the science of organizing of interdisciplinary components for stability and purposeful actions. In fact, the primary concern of cybernetics are the qualitative aspects of the interrelations among the various components of a system and the synthetic behavior of the complete mechanism. The purpose of "Engineering Cybernetics" is then to study those parts of the broad science of cybernetics which have direct engineering applications in designing controlled or guided systems. And Z. Dao [5] celebrated 2014 the 60th anniversary of Engineering Cybernetics.
One of the trailblazers of Mechatronics was Kurt Magnus, a former student of gyroscopes and vibrations with Ludwig Prandtl and Max Schuler at the University of Göttingen. After WW2 in 1946 Magnus was deported to the USSR for 7 years. During this time he read the books of W.W. Solidownikow on control theory and noticed the close relationship between vibration and control systems as documented in his report [6]. Mechatronics emerged as a separate discipline from a marriage between mechanics and electronics. In 1957, the first computer numerical control (CNC) machine tool was developed at MIT in the US. CNC technology paved the way for computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) thus accelerating to the grand growth of mechatronics. The recent book of U. S. Dixit [7] summarizes this success story. The subdivisions of Mechatronics include Smart Sensors, Machine Vision, Unmanned Vehicles, Flexible Robotic Manipulators, Harmonic Drive Transmission, Direct Drive, Magnetic Bearings, Mobile Robots, Automated Guides Vehicles, Cloud Computing, Household Robots, Self-driving Cars and Trucks.

Interdisciplinary Engineering
The basic principle in Engineering Cybernetics and Mechatronics means feedback with control and communication by sensing and acting. Some examples are presented.
Kurt Magnus explains in his book [8] in detail a horizontally stabilized platform used in inertial navigation systems. Fig. 1 shows the feedback control by sensors of acceleration and angular velocity.
Eveline Gottzein developed in her Ph.D. thesis [9] supervised by Kurt Magnus the magnetic wheel for magnetically levitated trains (MAGLEV). In Fig. 2 the separately controlled magnetic elements are shown providing lateral and vertical guidance without any friction while the longitudinal propulsion is generated by a frictionless linear motor. A MAGLEV vehicle does not have any contact with the non-existing trolley wire. At the time being, the maximum speed the Japanese L0 Series trains is 603 km/h. Wolf Stadler describes in his book [11] the relation between analytical robotics and mechatronics. Typical robot components and actions are shown in Fig. 3.

Interdisciplinary Curricula
Sciences have to take care not only for research but also for the academic education of the upcoming generation. The roots of Engineering Cybernetics Curricula point also back to Kurt Magnus, 1958  Worldwide, there are many more interdisciplinarry curricula offered, however, the total has not been published up to date. It can been estimated as 200 or more. For example, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology has its own Department of Engineering Cybernetics with 42 professors, 15 postdocs and 70 PhD students.
The roots of Mechatronics curricula point also back to the curriculum Automation in Production (autip) founded 1997 by the Institutes of Engineering and Computational Mechanics, and Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units at the University of Stuttgart.
The autip curriculum was established for interdisciplinary generalists not interested in early specialization in mechanical engineering. The founders, Günter Pritschow represented communication theory while I by myself was dealing with multibody system dynamics, a tool most useful for vehicle dynamics, robotics and biomechanical problems including hearing and walking. Furthermore, a general introduction to electrical engineering, computer science, manufacturing and control theory was included. The curriculum autip with Diploma degree was renamed in Mechatronics with Bachelor/Master degree by October 1, 2008.

Commemorative Plague
The Werner-von-Siemens-Ring is one of the highest awards for engineering sciences in Germany. It is awarded since 1916 about every three years to remind on the 100th birthday of Werner von Siemens.