<p>Biomechatronics is this really integrated field, combining biology with mechanical, electronic, and computer engineering for the design of nerve-connected prosthetics and other devices that can be temporarily or permanently attached to living things (namely, people). It's a great field, with the potential to let the blind see, the deaf hear, and the wheelchair-bound walk.</p>
<p>How do I get there? A small handful of universities offer it as a graduate degree. What would you recommend in terms of potential universities, undergrad engineering majors?</p>
<p>And is there any actual work in the industry?</p>
<p>well first off, when engineers make prosthetics and devices, they work as a team. it might include bioengineers, electrical engineers, mechanical eng, specialists in kinesiology, etc… so that means that one person isn’t necessarily in charge of everything, therefore it’s best to aim for one specialty at which you’re good at or are interested in. if you want to design the overall product, go with mechanical; if you want to make the product operate and function properly, go with electrical; if you want to integrate the product into, let’s say, the nerve endings of a patient, go with bioengineering.</p>
<p>as far as the major is concerned, I think bioengineering is the way to go. a) you’ll learn way more about biology than ME’s or EE’s, and b) there will be opportunities to take basic classes in EE or ME that will aid you in biomechatronics</p>
<p>universities like Johns Hopkins, UCSD and MIT should be among the top of your list (though I think UCSD is relativley easier to get into). however, to find a program that fits your interests, be sure to investigate research facilities via college websites.</p>
<p>I’m not very sure of this industry’s current progress, but I think it will definitely come up within the next 4 years (since the Obama administration has opened the gates for stem-cell research). most of the “work” will be in research, prototyping, and conducting experiments and tests.</p>
<p>you’re likely to find programs that have that if they have “biomimetics”. the two fields are quite similar in terms of biology-engineering interfacing, though they have different objectives.</p>
<p>Im actually very interested in the same field. The Biomechatronics Lab at MIT provides a wealth of information and is a great place to start when deciding what engineering discipline to pursue (see what degrees the researchers have and what they are working on). This site also has some really cool videos on the R&D taking place there. From what I’ve read, it is extremely interdisciplinary. When I finally figure out where im going to go to college, I think im going to do mechanical engineering with hopes of eventually being involved with the design of the prosthesis and the mechanisms that control it. This is still a young field and I think it will definitely increase in the industrial sector within the next decade.</p>