Mechatronics Coevolution with Its Enabling Technologies for Design and Fabrication Advancements

Abstract In this study, coevolution approach rather than evolution is considered to analyse how enabling technologies influence mechatronics progress, advancements and innova-tions. Attention of this work is given to reveal the mutual interaction between mecha-tronics technology and its enabling technologies, since mechatronics methodologies, engineering tools and applications support their advancements, along their coevolu-tion with mechatronics. With their coevolution mechatronics technology reach new maturity levels to fulfil the demand of many industrial domains and other economic sectors for new advanced innovative equipment. For systematic reasons, the impact of each enabling technology on the evolution of mechatronics is investigated and the support of mechatronics to the advancement of the considered enabling technology is examined using carefully selected publications after an exhaustive and focused search. The coevolution of mechatronics is considered through the progress and synergy of its enabling technologies in a reciprocal mode. The investigated and demonstrated co-evolution of mechatronics with its enabling technologies is expected to contribute to identifying the future challenges of mechatronics that are briefly presented in the sec-tion of discussion. The paper concludes with hints for future research and develop-ment work under the proposed coevolution conceptualization and investigation.