MTE 380Mechatronics Engineering Design Workshop
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Mechatronics Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
In this course, students study the design process, including needs analysis, problem definition; design criteria and critical parameter identification, generation of alternative solutions; conceptual design, detailed design, optimization; and implementation. Most of the term is devoted to a significant design project in which student groups work independently and competitively, applying the design process to a project goal set by the faculty co-ordinator. The design project typically includes construction of an electro-mechanical prototype, and part of the course grade may depend on the performance of the prototype in a competitive test. In exceptional circumstances, the requirement for a prototype may be replaced by a computer simulation, or may be waived. This course includes individual assessment of technical communication.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 3B or higher
- Enrolled in H-Mechatronics Engineering
Antirequisites
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
- ME380 - Mechanical Engineering Design Workshop (0.50)
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4894 | 103 / 117 | F 08:30–09:20 |
| PRJ 101 | 4929 | 103 / 117 | W 08:30–12:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4608 | 0 / 110 | F 13:30–14:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1864 | 93 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| PRJ 101 | 4609 | 0 / 110 | F 14:30–16:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
55% liked it33% easy59% useful
From 74 ratings and 7 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
We had to build our own car to pick up and drop a lego figure. You set your own difficulty. This can be a very easy course if you just want to meet requirement without trying to improve for top speed or best time.
May 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Easy project but very vague requirments
Nov 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Pre-FYDP course, make sure you're in a competent group as this will likely be the group you'll be working with next year. Reports, presentations, and design checks throughout the term are worth just as much as the project demonstration itself, so make sure you reach the deadlines. The prof William Melek sucked and boasted about being the director of MTE for the entirety of each lecture. Skip class if you don't want to hear that
Dec 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
It was a fantastic course. The difficulty is really what you make of it. You can put a ton of effort in and build a really good robot, or you can put in minimal effort and still scrape a pass. Teaching staff, particularly the professor, will help a lot but you have to seek them out and actually ask. Pick a good group without any assholes. You don't wanna be stuck working 6-10 hours a week with someone you don't like for 4 months.
The course is definitely what you make of it.Jan 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
This was a fun course that helps prepare you for FYDP.
Dec 2020 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
12 posts and comments in 11 threads mention MTE 380, September 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2021
Tron eng exchange program in 3rd year 1 point, 2 comments
u/uw_tron_eng_guy: “… Is it even possible for someone in Tron to go on exchange in 3B since there's a design workshop that seems pretty specific to Uwaterloo in MTE 380?”
Winter 2020
[Serious] What should I expect from TRON? 36 points, 34 comments
u/tron_or_ece_hmm: “… I've linked a similar one that's actually from UW (MTE 380) in the comments. Maybe I'm setting my standards too high and it's unfair to expect too much from the program. …”
u/scinortahcem: “… (1A has MTE 100, 2A has MTE 219, 2B has MTE 220/MTE 241, 3A has MTE 325, 3B has MTE 380). If you despise working with others, well you're gonna have a tough time. …”
Fall 2019
How is 3B Tron going? 11 points, 9 comments
u/3btron: “Is it fun? Is Mechatronics a mistake? How is it? ME 351 Fluid Mechanics MTE 322 Electromechanical Machine Design MTE 360 Automatic Control Systems MTE 380 Mechatronics Engineering Design Workshop MSCI 261 Engineering Economics: Financial Management for Engineers”
Spring 2019
mechatronics or computer engineering 8 points, 4 comments
“I’m a first year computer engineering student and i feel that i’m not going to be satisfied with the courses i’m taking throughout my degree. …”
u/alt-goldgrun: “… There is MTE380, where you build a robot to do some tasks (climb a wall, etc) but it doesn't use any of the skills from the previous mechanical courses.. and became painfully clear how few people in the class were into mechanical design.. like <5? …”
Winter 2019
Is Tron really as bad as all upper years make it out to be? 22 points, 16 comments
“I'm currently in 2nd year Tron and all I ever hear from upper year trons is "switch out before it is too late". Is it really that bad? …”
u/Tron_Saltshaker: “… Our design projects and FYDPs can be incredibly complex and wide ranging, so you can certainly flex your knowledge in 4th year and MTE 380. There is a great group of people here who I can say with all honesty are some of the best I've known. …”
Fall 2017
What's your proudest mark? 20 points, 59 comments
“not necessarily your highest but the one you worked hardest to get”
u/SometimesICryAtNight: “Whatever I get in MTE380 (Robotics Project course) this term will be well worth it since my robot fucking caught fire 20 hours before the due date and still managed to be mostly functional on demo day. …”
Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments
“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”
u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”
u/Jackhofmann: “… MTE 201 MTE 202 MTE 203 MTE 204 MTE 219 MTE 220 MTE 241 MTE 262 MTE 300B MTE 322 MTE 360 MTE 380 MTE 400A MTE 420 MTE 481 MTE 544 MTE 545 MTHEL 131 MTHEL 300 MUSIC 100 MUSIC 110 MUSIC 111 MUSIC 116 MUSIC 117 MUSIC 121W MUSIC 140 MUSIC 181AW MUSIC 216 MUSIC 217 MUSIC 222 MUSIC …”
Spring 2017
What courses are you taking this fall? 28 points, 129 comments
“With course selection and add/drop happening this week I figured this would be a cool discussion post. …”
u/SometimesICryAtNight: “3B Tron MTE322 - Electromechanical machine design MTE360 - Control Systems MTE380 - Project Course ME351 - Fluid Dynamics MSCI261 - Engineering Economics MUSIC140 - pop music it's gonna be a fun term! …”
E5 Machine Shop hours? 0 points, 5 comments
“Anyone know the hours for the machine shop in e5? I'm looking to use some equipment, and was wondering if they might have an angle grinder, and welder. Also, how busy does it usually get past 6 pm?”
u/qyy98: “https://uwaterloo.ca/engineering-machine-shop/ Haven't acutally used the machine shop yet but I hear its not too busy unless its the end of the term.”
u/viperrules24: “There's also ME/MTE 380 students you have to fight with at the end of the Fall and Winter terms!”
Spring 2016
What is MTE really like? 7 points, 15 comments
“In the vein of that other thread, what do you think of your program? How is the environment of the cohorts? The Profs? What are the coops like? …”
u/wanTron_Soup: “… The MTE 380 design project course was probably my favourite course in the whole program and it was the only time I've been at the top of the class for anything. They don't have anything like that in ECE that I'm aware of. …”
Fall 2015
Transferring from Mechatronics to Systems (1A) 6 points, 10 comments
“Contemplating transferring from mechatronics to systems design. Love the electrical and programming components of mechatronics, but the mechanical design portion (especially mte100) is something I …”
u/annihilatron: “they're not that mechanically based. About 1/4 of your courses will be grounded in mechanics/kinematics only, 1/4 will be pure electrical/controlsystems, 1/4 will be motors and the mix of …”
u/annihilatron: “everyone has to take a thermodynamics course. Trons get this condensed version which is two courses in one. actually a programming course for hardware. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them