This course introduces mechanical engineers, technicians, and engineering leaders to the core principles of electrical engineering, from basic circuits to embedded systems and digital control. Through practical examples and system-level thinking, participants will explore sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, power conversion, and control strategies. Whether you're transitioning into electrified systems or collaborating across disciplines, this course builds the fluency needed to engage in modern product and system development.

• Mechanical and systems engineers transitioning into roles involving embedded or electrical systems.
• Engineering managers and project leaders overseeing multidisciplinary teams or electrification initiatives.
• Technicians and senior engineers seeking foundational knowledge in electrical and mechatronic systems.

• Understand and apply basic circuit theory, power laws, and energy storage concepts in engineering contexts.
• Analyze and interpret embedded system architectures, including microcontrollers, I/O, and digital control logic.
• Evaluate and integrate electrical power components and conversion systems into multidisciplinary designs.

This course is part of the Electrified Systems Certificate series. Course may be taken individually as well.

Day 1

• Sec. 1 – Overview of Embedded Systems in Mechatronics
• Sec. 2 – Functional Architectures, Components, & Tools used in Embedded Systems
• Sec. 3 – Passive Circuit Elements & Analogies
• Sec. 4 – DC, AC Power & Three Phase Systems

Day 2

• Sec. 5 – Signal Conditioning
• Sec. 6 – Semiconductor Devices
• Sec. 7 – Common Analog Circuits in Mechatronic Systems
• Sec. 8 – Computer Measurement

 Day 3

• Sec. 9 – Examples of measurement circuits
• Sec. 10 – Computer Manipulation
• Sec. 11 – Power Semiconductors

Day 4

• Sec. 12 – Common Circuits for Actuators
• Sec. 13 – Hardware interfaces (Analog & Digital)
•  Sec. 14 – Communication (Serial/Parallel/ Wired/Wireless)

 Day 5

• Sec. 15 – Cabling, Grounding, & Shielding
• Sec. 16 – Controls
• Sec. 17 – Electrical Safety

Blake Suhre

Blake Suhre is Program Director, Power Engineering in Interdisciplinary Professional Programs (InterPro) at UW-Madison. He has over 30 years of experience in many aspects of vehicle and powertrain systems, engine systems, and controls development. He was involved in the initial development of model-based controls for internal combustion engines and has experience applying these techniques to all varieties of combustion system in use today. He was co-founder of the MotoTron Corporation and has held a variety of leadership roles in engine systems development and R&D. Suhre holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Erick Oberstar

Dr. Oberstar is a Program Director with InterPro and has over 28 years of engineering and entrepreneurial experiences. At InterPro he manages programs for and teaches in the areas of AI/ML, Electrification, and Mechatronics. He has extensive experience in embedded real time control systems, signal and image processing, robotics, automation, medical devices. He managed the UW-Madison Mechatronics Laboratory for 22 years where he taught courses in mechatronics, manufacturing automation, automatic controls, and discrete time controls.

He has previous technical roles as a Scientist in the Department of Medical Physics at UW, consultant for St. Jude Medical, and electrical engineer for Orbital Technologies Corporation and Automation Components. His numerous entrepreneurial experiences include working on blood flow quantification, night vision, bacterial detection, robotics, automation, and general product development. 

Dr. Oberstar has a Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering and MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering (WEMPEC) from UW-Madison, and a BS Electrical Engineering from UW-Platteville. He has over 30 publications with over 400 citations and three patents. Dr. Oberstar is a Wisconsin Professional Engineer, Harvey Spangler Award for Technology Enhanced Education winner and judge, as well as a SPIE member and senior member of IEEE.