Mechatronics engineering is the design of computer-controlled electromechanical systems. The design of the mechanical system must be performed together with the design of the electrical/electronic and computer control aspects that together, comprise a complete system.

Examples of mechatronic systems include: a CD or DVD player; a computer hard disc drive; a fly-by-wire aircraft control system; and an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Each of these products is essentially mechanical in nature but could not function without the integral design of the electrical and computer control systems that are critical to their operation.

Future mechatronics is shifting from systems based around the interconnection of physical components in which transmitted data has been used to facilitate control systems in which information is at the heart of the system and serviced by smart objects. An underlying concept of such cloud based, or Internet of Things system models is treating information as a commodity whose value is determined by user or system need or context, allowing for negotiation between system components as required.