Forecasts for the years 2000-20 predict: (a) reapportioning of the labor market such that about 80% will fall in the service domain and only 20% in hi-tech industry; (b) intervention of robots and the Internet into human activities to facilitate first-hand handling of information in real time; (c) spread of SAMART materials, super-microtechnology, nanorobots and nanocomputers. These predictions are based, to a large extent, on the implementation of mechatronics in technological applications. The concept of mechatronics, which first appeared in 1969, has passed through a process of natural development, which explains the variety of existing definitions. It soon became apparent that mechatronics constitutes a qualitatively new situation: a domain of technology spanning mechanical and electronic engineering at the joint between hardware and software. Difficulties in teaching this subject arise from the gap in experience and skills between software experts and experts in the design and use of hardware. In our department, the practical teaching of mechatronics comprises: practical work in the laboratory devoted to studying some applications of known technical solutions, e.g. ABS (automatic braking system), automatic photo camera, computerized numerical control tools and robots; development of new ideas in new domains in the framework of projects (a case study presented in this paper describes mechatronic solutions to automatic adaptive vibrations control systems).