LEAD In high-tech systems development, a decision made within one discipline can have consequences throughout the entire system. Electronics architect Newton Fonseca encounters this throughout his work at VDL ETG Technology & Development. He found the same system-level perspective running through three High Tech Institute courses, from broad mechatronic design to the more specialized field of actuation. VDL ETG Technology & Development (VDL ETG T&D) is often asked to develop machines for which no proven design exists yet. Customers may arrive with requirements close to the limits of what’s feasible, while the resulting system must eventually be validated, integrated and produced in larger numbers. Choices made within one discipline can create problems elsewhere. The electronics may affect the mechanical design, while the selected actuator can introduce heat or complicate the control system. Engineers must understand these interactions early enough to prevent a local solution from becoming a problem for the system as a whole. Newton Fonseca, electronics architect at VDL ETG T&D has been working at the intersection of these disciplines for the last four years. Originally from Brazil, he completed his PhD in Brazil and France before moving to the Netherlands. “As an electronics architect, I bridge the different branches that stem from electronics: electromechanical engineering, electronic design and PCB design,” Fonseca explains. His work takes him through different stages of development, from defining a new system and building a proof of concept to solving integration problems and improving machines already in the field. Broad perspective Working at different stages of development has taught Fonseca to think ahead: “A decision made while defining a system or building a proof of concept may cause difficulties much later, during integration, validation or production. So, in the design stage, you already need to think about this.” That requires an understanding of more than just the field of electronics. Although he already had a strong theoretical background in systems engineering from university, Fonseca wanted a more practical approach to developing complex mechatronic systems. In 2024, he followed “Mechatronics system design” parts 1 and 2 at High Tech Institute. The courses used examples from engineering projects to show how different disciplines interact and how choices can be assessed at the system level. For Fonseca, that broad perspective was the main benefit of the courses. He doesn’t need to take over the work of a mechanical, thermal or control specialist, but he does need to recognize when a decision affects their part of the system. That makes it easier to raise the right questions and discuss possible solutions across disciplines. System-level decision Where “Mechatronics system design” gave Fonseca a broad view of how the different disciplines within a complex system interact, his expertise lies in power electronics and control. “ Actuation and power electronics ” at High Tech Institute was a logical choice. He already knew trainer Adrian Rankers from “Mechatronics system design” and had been pleased with the way he combined technical depth with practical examples. “Within VDL ETG T&D, we design actuators for high-performance systems, where the requirements can be very tight,” Fonseca explains. “You really need to understand the implications of the choices you make.” The “Actuation and power electronics” course examined those choices through actuator specifications, different actuation principles, power electronics and control theory. A motor converts electrical energy into mechanical movement, but it’s only one part of an actuator. Engineers must first determine which actuator topology best suits the application. Depending on the required movement, force and precision, that could be a conventional motor or a different principle, such as a piezo actuator. Each option has its own limitations and can be optimized in d