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MTE 481Mechatronics Engineering Design Project 1

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Mechatronics Engineering

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course is intended to reinforce the concepts learned in MTE 380 and to extend the significant design experience obtained. Students work individually or in small groups applying the principles of engineering design and problem-solving to a design project of their own choosing. The project must incorporate all elements of mechatronics, namely, mechanical design, electronics, computers and software. In exceptional circumstances, one or more elements may be exempted by the course instructor. The students are required to consider a need analysis, search for prior art and present alternate designs. The course ends with the selection of a final design. Projects are selected, approved, monitored, and marked by a course co-ordinator.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • MTE380 - Mechatronics Engineering Design Workshop (0.50)
    • Students must be in level 4A or higher
    • Enrolled in H-Mechatronics Engineering

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • ME481 - Mechanical Engineering Design Project 1 (0.50)

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
PRJ 001476058 / 65TTh 16:00–17:20
PRJ 002525560 / 65TTh 16:00–17:20
PRJ 003525661 / 65TTh 16:00–17:20
PRJ 004525759 / 65TTh 16:00–17:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

73% liked it58% easy59% useful

From 37 ratings and 9 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • The first practical course you will take in Tron. If you made it this far choose a cool project and have fun. You earned it.

    Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Purpose of this course is to complete your capstone project design/planning stuff. Easy to get an 80. Tougher to get anything higher since you're graded against others. Make sure your group is aligned on how much effort/time each person is expected to put in.

    Dec 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Weekly check-ins with a pair of profs that you're assigned to, there's a PDP worth 25% of your mark, FDP worth 25%, a report worth 40%, and you have to maintain a website that logs your work, which is another 10%. You don't actually have to have anything built this term although it's highly recommended that you start early. This course is mainly just for project planning and stuff like that. So if all you care about is getting a good mark, this is by far the easiest one.

    Dec 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • You have the opportunity to pick the direction and amount of effort you want. Seeks pretty cool so far

    Nov 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Make sure you choose a good group, and search for external advisors if you need technical assistance. Professors are only here to help with the logistics. Workload and dificulty really depend on the project you choose

    Nov 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

One post or comment in 1 thread mentions MTE 481, October 2017 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 2017

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 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 226 MUSIC 227 MUSIC 232 …”

View on RedditRemove this

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar