Mechatronics programming language?

[Tr33]

Im going to go to a new school this year where I will learn mechatronics. I just wanted to ask: Which programing languages do I have to learn or use in mechatronics?

[alpenwasser]

Probably more than one, but I'd estimate C/C++ to be pretty high up on that list. At least

that's what most projects I've come across at my university use. I wouldn't worry about it

too much before starting your studies though. At least where I go to school the courses are

usually designed so that you can start from scratch even with no prior knowledge. You can

of course delve into it before, but it's not really been a requirement anywhere I've been.

This might of course differ for you.

[Tr33]

Probably more than one, but I'd estimate C/C++ to be pretty high up on that list. At least

that's what most projects I've come across at my university use. I wouldn't worry about it

too much before starting your studies though. At least where I go to school the courses are

usually designed so that you can start from scratch even with no prior knowledge. You can

of course delve into it before, but it's not really been a requirement anywhere I've been.

This might of course differ for you.

I am completely clueless about programing languages. I know NOTHING about them lol. All I have heard is that C plus plus is the most popular and used one?

[alpenwasser]

No problem dude, we all have to start somewhere.

C and C++ are indeed very prevalent, but it depends a lot on what type of programming

you do. Game engines are largely written in C++ afaik, while most operating system

kernels are written in C and assembly languages (at least for the most part). Many

large commercial software projects are also implemented in C++ (or Java :( ), but

there are other languages which are very dominant in some fields. For example, COBOL

is basically the back bone of our financial system, while Fortran is extremely important

in science (for the Large Hadron Collider at Cern, for example).

Then there's lots of other specialized stuff, for example a language which is practically

the standard in aviation, although I've forgotten its name at the moment.

The thing which makes C and C++ so well suited for many tasks is that they allow you

to make extremely fast code (since you can go very low-level if you want to). This is

of course highly desirable in many fields (e.g. graphics, as mentioned). However,

implementing something in C or C++ can be very complex, and if programmer time is

more important than CPU time, then you might want to use something else. Same goes

for languages which are optimized for a specific set of tasks (such as Fortran).

Creating extremely fast numerical code in Fortran is a lot easier than in C or C++

I believe (never used Fortran, so not sure from personal experience).

As for mechatronics, you'll probably be dealing with a lot of integrated circuits and

stuff like that, which are very often programmed using C.

If you want to get a better picture of things, I can recommend a few Wikipedia articles.

Yes, it's a lot of reading, but if you're interested in this sort of thing, it gives

you some very nice background information about computer sciences and programming in

general:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_programming_languages
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programming_language
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_C_Programming_Language: If you want to learn

  C, this is the book I recommend above all others.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programming_language_generations
• There's lots more, but this should give a at least a starting point.

If you want to find information about where you can find tutorials etc. I recommend having

a look at the programming resources thread on this forum.

[P1X3]

I am taking my 2nd term at my college, and I can tell you one thing. Talk to your major adviser, not the general adviser.

They can tell you almost anything, as well as help plan the classes when you stay at their college.

 

Before I started my first term, computer science department had no policy regarding what programming languages teachers have to teach.

Which I assume was horrible because two different CS160 professors could teach different languages.

Now their policy is more strict and teachers are told which languages to teach.

 

So my advice is contact the adviser.

[Xploda]

It might even be a better idea not to look into it before you actually start your studies.

There is a good way and a bad way of writing code. A lot of people at my college learned it the wrong way and they had some trouble changing their habits  :P .

[Tr33]

No problem dude, we all have to start somewhere.

C and C++ are indeed very prevalent, but it depends a lot on what type of programming

you do. Game engines are largely written in C++ afaik, while most operating system

kernels are written in C and assembly languages (at least for the most part). Many

large commercial software projects are also implemented in C++ (or Java :( ), but

there are other languages which are very dominant in some fields. For example, COBOL

is basically the back bone of our financial system, while Fortran is extremely important

in science (for the Large Hadron Collider at Cern, for example).

Then there's lots of other specialized stuff, for example a language which is practically

the standard in aviation, although I've forgotten its name at the moment.

The thing which makes C and C++ so well suited for many tasks is that they allow you

to make extremely fast code (since you can go very low-level if you want to). This is

of course highly desirable in many fields (e.g. graphics, as mentioned). However,

implementing something in C or C++ can be very complex, and if programmer time is

more important than CPU time, then you might want to use something else. Same goes

for languages which are optimized for a specific set of tasks (such as Fortran).

Creating extremely fast numerical code in Fortran is a lot easier than in C or C++

I believe (never used Fortran, so not sure from personal experience).

As for mechatronics, you'll probably be dealing with a lot of integrated circuits and

stuff like that, which are very often programmed using C.

If you want to get a better picture of things, I can recommend a few Wikipedia articles.

Yes, it's a lot of reading, but if you're interested in this sort of thing, it gives

you some very nice background information about computer sciences and programming in

general:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_programming_languages
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programming_language
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_C_Programming_Language: If you want to learn

  C, this is the book I recommend above all others.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programming_language_generations
• There's lots more, but this should give a at least a starting point.

If you want to find information about where you can find tutorials etc. I recommend having

a look at the programming resources thread on this forum.

 

Thank you for clearing this up a bit.

[twod]

I am graduating from SFU in Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSE) next week. To be honest the programming is lacking classes at my university. I wish there was more to program. 

1st year there is a C++ Programming course. Robot C (Programming Lego)
2nd year, MATLAB; but, the prof taught the students minimal. MATLAB was used throughout my degree. No classes were specific to MATLAB which kinda sucks. Can use C++/C to program it but mainly used MATLAB coding.
3rd year: LABVIEW introduced for programming. Its a GUI programming guide for System Applications like Conveyor belt operations on an assembly line.
              VHDL: Programming FPGA's ( using logic).
4th year:Introduction in to C Real time embedded programming. One of the courses I liked. Used C to program a MCU. Wished we could've learned using an actual real time programming like Vector.
PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers)  Programming: Which uses logic and gui interfaces, easiest to program. Used for programming System applications as well.


From my take from Mechatronics, you will have to do a lot of side learning on programming languages; because, programming in MSE  doesn't have a lot of depth . You will learn mechanical, electronics, electrical, systems, and fluid dynamics. What  I found that most people towards the end of my degree excelled in couple of those fields and lacked in others. I wished there was another year or 4th year that honed on specific qualities which you wanted to learn. like stream more into electronics/electrical or Mechanics/Fluid Dynamics.

Programming that I learned outside of school which I ended up using for school:
C# - my time working at Blackberry for 4months (worked 8 months )
Embedded C - Learning to make a driver at Blackberry.
Java - Programming API's for Android program for 4th year end project.
Networking: (not sure if this exactly programming but had to learn it)

Other programming that I wished to learn that wasn't covered:
Python
JavaScript
SQL

Engineering, you will always be learning something new, and it will be happening even after school or at coop/internships. I am planning to learn some script languages which I need for jobs. None of my coop experience had me scripting so I think I need to work on that. However, I am also planning to get into PLC's. It's actually pretty fun to work with PLC's and automation. Other Mechatronic Schools that I know of in eastern Canada do learn towards more on the programming side from what I remember. If you have any questions on Mechatronics I can try to answer. 

Have fun in Mechatronics, study hard cause you won't have a life outside school! lol (its true) 4th year i was at school usually for like 12-14hrs a day sometimes, and all nighters :
 

[alpenwasser]

Have fun in Mechatronics, study hard cause you won't have a life outside school! lol (its true) 4th year i was at school usually for like 12-14hrs a day sometimes, and all nighters :

That sounds very familiar, it's the fate of engineering students. :lol:

[twod]

That sounds very familiar, it's the fate of engineering students. :lol:

Haha yea. 

[Tr33]

I am graduating from SFU in Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSE) next week. To be honest the programming is lacking classes at my university. I wish there was more to program. 

1st year there is a C++ Programming course. Robot C (Programming Lego)

2nd year, MATLAB; but, the prof taught the students minimal. MATLAB was used throughout my degree. No classes were specific to MATLAB which kinda sucks. Can use C++/C to program it but mainly used MATLAB coding.

3rd year: LABVIEW introduced for programming. Its a GUI programming guide for System Applications like Conveyor belt operations on an assembly line.

              VHDL: Programming FPGA's ( using logic).

4th year:Introduction in to C Real time embedded programming. One of the courses I liked. Used C to program a MCU. Wished we could've learned using an actual real time programming like Vector.

PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers)  Programming: Which uses logic and gui interfaces, easiest to program. Used for programming System applications as well.

From my take from Mechatronics, you will have to do a lot of side learning on programming languages; because, programming in MSE  doesn't have a lot of depth . You will learn mechanical, electronics, electrical, systems, and fluid dynamics. What  I found that most people towards the end of my degree excelled in couple of those fields and lacked in others. I wished there was another year or 4th year that honed on specific qualities which you wanted to learn. like stream more into electronics/electrical or Mechanics/Fluid Dynamics.

Programming that I learned outside of school which I ended up using for school:

C# - my time working at Blackberry for 4months (worked 8 months )

Embedded C - Learning to make a driver at Blackberry.

Java - Programming API's for Android program for 4th year end project.

Networking: (not sure if this exactly programming but had to learn it)

Other programming that I wished to learn that wasn't covered:

Python

JavaScript

SQL

Engineering, you will always be learning something new, and it will be happening even after school or at coop/internships. I am planning to learn some script languages which I need for jobs. None of my coop experience had me scripting so I think I need to work on that. However, I am also planning to get into PLC's. It's actually pretty fun to work with PLC's and automation. Other Mechatronic Schools that I know of in eastern Canada do learn towards more on the programming side from what I remember. If you have any questions on Mechatronics I can try to answer. 

Have fun in Mechatronics, study hard cause you won't have a life outside school! lol (its true) 4th year i was at school usually for like 12-14hrs a day sometimes, and all nighters :

 

Aawwww great now you just ruined my whole mood with that last sentence :( :P

[twod]

Aawwww great now you just ruined my whole mood with that last sentence :( :P

In my 4th a i have a 8month project that myself and my team work together from just an idea to an actual proof of concept. The project can be either your own idea, work with a prof or work with industry. My team had to develop a product for a company from the ground up for a proof of concept.We developed the electronic component circuitry schematics and assembly. Programmed MCU in embedded C(i did). Develop a Andriod java app (friend made). Connect MCU to Android tablet via bluetooth( i developed code on the MCU while friend made bluetooth code in Java). Then had to get the whole machine prototyped, by outsourcing to another company that costed a lot (3000$~). Yea last month of my 4th year was bitch just to get it work. This is just short explaination of what i did; it was more complex. 

note: After 1st year some people will dropout of uni or move to another faculty. then after 2nd year there is another wave. if u survive 1st and 2nd year, 3rd year and onwards will have no change to your class. I found 2nd year and 4th year the hardest, though you get use to the work load.

[Tr33]

In my 4th a i have a 8month project that myself and my team work together from just an idea to an actual proof of concept. The project can be either your own idea, work with a prof or work with industry. My team had to develop a product for a company from the ground up for a proof of concept.We developed the electronic component circuitry schematics and assembly. Programmed MCU in embedded C(i did). Develop a Andriod java app (friend made). Connect MCU to Android tablet via bluetooth( i developed code on the MCU while friend made bluetooth code in Java). Then had to get the whole machine prototyped, by outsourcing to another company that costed a lot (3000$~). Yea last month of my 4th year was bitch just to get it work. This is just short explaination of what i did; it was more complex. 

note: After 1st year some people will dropout of uni or move to another faculty. then after 2nd year there is another wave. if u survive 1st and 2nd year, 3rd year and onwards will have no change to your class. I found 2nd year and 4th year the hardest, though you get use to the work load.

I saw that that one of the students in 4th grade at my school that ima go to had a project to make his own car or something like that.