Mechatronic engineering in car body design

Most of the research in the field of mechatronics focuses on the subject of controlling technical systems - its aim is to realize functional improvement. Another, just as important spin-off of a mechatronic approach to system design, should be a reduction of production costs. To achieve this goal, system development should concentrate on optimizing the integration of mechanical, electronic and software subsystems. The following paper sets out a team-oriented strategy, based on attaining technical and economical benefits, through further integrating mechanical and electronic systems. This strategy evolved during a project within the car industry, which was aimed at applying mechatronic principles to the design of car bodies. In this case, the attention of the team was focused on the car door. This system integrates a wide variety of functions realized by mechanical, electronic and software components.