50 years of Mechatronics - what is next?

This paper discusses the character of teaching mechatronics and the mechatronics engineer, ground in a case study of an industrial mechatronic systems development project. The paper gives an overview of the development of the subject during the first 50 years of Mechatronics. Based on the results of the presented case study, the paper concludes with a discussion regarding future research directions for investigating the evolution of the subject, with industrial and academic implications.