Book excerpt: This book, the first in the Woodhead Publishing Reviews: Mechanical Engineering Series, is a collection of high quality articles (full research articles, review articles and cases studies) with a special emphasis on research and development in mechatronics and manufacturing engineering. Mechatronics is the blending of mechanical, electronic, and computer engineering into an integrated design. Today, mechatronics has a significant and increasing impact on engineering with emphasis on the design, development and operation of manufacturing engineering systems. The main objective of this interdisciplinary engineering field is the study of automata from an engineering perspective, thinking on the design of products and manufacturing processes and systems. Mechatronics and manufacturing systems are well established and executed within a great number of industries including aircraft, automotive and aerospace industries; machine tools, moulds and dies product manufacturing, computers, electronics, semiconductor and communications, and biomedical. - A collection of high quality articles with a special emphasis on research and development in mechatronics and manufacturing engineering - Presents a range of views based on international expertise - Written by a highly knowledgeable and well-respected expert in the field