Track Opto-Mechatronics
The track Opto-Mechatronics is currently offered as a focus within the ME-High-Tech Engineering track. Opto-Mechatronics covers the fundamentals of optics in theory and practice as well as understanding and design of high-end optical systems and digital mirror devices. This expertise is combined with mechatronic system design treating dynamics and motion control, adaptive optics and design principles for precision positioning and thermomechanical stability.

Introduction week
Late enrolment
Students that enrol in the program after the start of the academic year, will be required to join the introductory week the next year.
The introduction week for the Master Track Opto-Mechatronics will take place in the first week of the academic year.
The introduction is obligatory and includes:
- Introduction to the department and different focus groups
- Explanation of the curriculum
- Introduction to the staff
- Lab tour and hands-on sessions
- Lunches, drinks, BBQ
- Games & Sports day
Start studiejaar / Start Academic year
4 september 2023Focus areas
By nature the Opto-Mechatronics course programme is a multi-disciplinary programme. We offer a curriculum which will educate you to become an excellent opto-mechatronics engineer. The track will teach you the fundamentals of optics in theory and practice, as well as understanding of high-end optical systems like microscopes, telescopes, interferometers and digital mirror devices. This expertise is combined with mechatronic system design treating dynamics and motion control; micro-system design expertise covering lithography-based micromanufacturing and optical fibres; adaptive optics on actively deformable mirrors and their integration in an opto-mechatronic system; and a course on design principles for precision positioning and thermomechanical stability. In addition, there is room for electives, such as for instance on more generic topics like engineering dynamics or sensors and actuators, or more specialized ones like space instrumentation or quantum optics, the choice is yours. The combination of these areas forms an excellent basis to becoming an opto-mechatronic scientist or system designer of high-end optical equipment. Experts from different faculties are involved in the curriculum. The programme has been developed in close collaboration with partners outside the university. Therefore, several guest lectures and many of our graduation assignments are defined together with the companies involved, TNO or other research groups.
Optomechatronics is a very wide and multi-disciplinary field. Many specialties come together and one of the challenges is to combine all of these in functional systems that satisfy high performance demands. In the OM track we distinguish two main research areas, Micro-optics and Opto-mechatronics, each encompassing the above characteristics, yet each at a different length scale:
Optomechatronics
The field of opto-mechatronics deals with High-Tech systems where optical units dominate the speed and precision of operation. High end lenses and mirrors tend to be large and heavy yet need to be moved and positioned with extreme accuracy and repeatability. This is true for light operated manufacturing processes like lithography for semiconductor production and for 3D metal printing, as well as extreme accuracy measurement systems and telescopes for astronomy. Opto-mechatronics by nature is a multi-disciplinary field integrating optics and mechatronic system design, using actuators, sensors and control techniques for building smart and adaptive optical systems.
Micro-optics
An emerging trend is evolving towards micro-optics, providing solutions in high-capacity telecommunication, distributed measurement, as well as integration of optical and mechatronic elements for micro opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS), and advanced optical elements for biological and chemical sensing. Of special interest are flexible photonic systems, with links to adaptive optics and compliant mechanisms, with application in flexible displays, and in waveguides for flexible integrated optical circuits. This entails many challenges in numerical modelling, design, materials such as polymer or (silicon) semiconductor nano-photonics, and production.
The new Track OM is currently offered as a focus area within the track HTE. This has no consequence on the content or formalities whatsoever but gives students more flexibility in choosing electives and liaising with a larger student population.
First Year
During the introduction week the Opto-mechatronics course program and research opportunities will be explained to the students. At the end of the week students have a more clear idea about the different opportunities and research focuses within the Opto-Mechatronics track. This helps them in making the right elective choices. With the help of the MSc coordinators and different supervisors of the organizing department (PME), students make their preliminary student program. At that point students have a clear idea of their course load during the first year.
The new Track OM is currently offered as a focus area within the Track HTE (link). This has no consequence on the content or formalities whatsoever but gives students more flexibility in choosing electives and liaising with a larger student population.
Second Year
The second year of the program consists of three parts that are preferably and in almost all cases related to the same research topic, so the student can use the full year to develop the knowledge and skills to actually go beyond the current status in that topic.
These three parts are an (optional) internship at a company or other research group, a literature survey / design assignment, and the MSc-project.