Automation & Mechatronics Project Report & Presentation Guide: Develop Your Skills & Convince Stakeholders

During the last decades, we witnessed a massive development of automated and mechatronics systems. Systems such as automatic vending machines, Amazon automatic warehouses, automated parking, and car manufacturing lines can be mentioned as examples.

These projects aim to provide examples of automation and mechatronics projects you may have to work on in your future career. Indeed, the project briefs will be written as a client or company need, and you will have to work in groups to propose solutions. As in an industrial context, your solution will have to be convincing and original.

To present your solution, you will have to write a report. This report is the document you would share with your CEO, CTO, client, investors, or other colleagues to help them understand your solution and to convince them to invest, buy, or select your solution depending on the context.

A final written project report will contain:

1. An introduction
2. A description of the solution, including technical details, function, requirements, etc. (You can, for instance, use design tools such as the Functional Analysis System Technique (FAST) diagram).
3. The key elements of the system and subsystem (Sensors, actuators, controllers, programming diagram/structure/logic, etc.)
4. Costings
5. A description of the network connectivity
6. The relevant engineering analysis, considerations, and specifications. Focus in particular on the challenging aspects of the project.
7. Appendix can be used to add information such as quotes or datasheets. The appendix is just there to support, and the report must contain the essential information.
8. Conclusion and recommendations.

It is important to note that the report should be well-structured, concise, and clear. It should be easy to read and understand, even for non-technical people. Therefore, it is recommended to use graphics, images, and diagrams to illustrate the solution and its components.

In addition to the report, a presentation may be required to present the solution to stakeholders. The presentation should be clear, concise, and engaging. It should highlight the key points of the report and provide a visual representation of the solution.

Overall, the project report and presentation are important tools to showcase your skills and knowledge in automation and mechatronics. They demonstrate your ability to analyze a problem, propose a solution, and communicate it effectively to others. Therefore, it is essential to take the time to prepare them carefully and to ensure that they are of high quality.