The degree in the bag

In mid-August, Mr. Luis Felipe Galindo Lopez defended his Bachelor thesis on robotics at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.

He had come to Zittau as an exchange student—along with four other classmates from the German-Mexican university “Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey”—to study mechatronics for two semesters.

Luis Lopez became the first student from Mexico to graduate from the university with a degree in the mechatronics degree programme. For his Bachelor thesis, he programmed a function block to control a robot—a task made more challenging by the requirement that the solution be standardized for later use with various robot types.

Using simulation tests, he was first able to verify the functional module; he then moved on to its practical implementation and validation using robots from a major automation company in the region.

“In particular, the good support I received during my time at the university, the opportunity to get to know the country and its people, and the chance to work here in the field of research and development made my two semesters abroad a complete success,” said Lopez. He continued: “I am absolutely certain that the entire exchange program has transformed me into a new person, and I will cherish every moment I spent at the university.”

Supervision was provided by Prof. Kratzsch on behalf of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and by Mr. Christian Vogel on behalf of the IPM. In the 2019–2020 winter semester, the university expects to welcome 13 students from Mexico to the mechatronics program. Students from our university are also welcome to travel across the Atlantic to broaden their horizons and expand their technical knowledge in Mexico.

In the coming semester, Mr. Lopez will complete his studies at Tec de Monterey and then begin his professional career as a good specialist. His advisors would be delighted to welcome him back to the region at that time.