Mechatronics is integration of mechanical systems, electronics and intelligent computer control. With advances in computing power, size. and cost, university mechatronics courses can ofer more flexible, powerful and up-to-date development environments than traditionally available with pre-packaged robotics kits such as the widely used Handy Board plalform. Goals and constraints of teaching graduate-level mechatronics courses to an educationally diverse class ofstudents are discussed. Goals include identijying the purpose of a mechatronics course. educational background of the students, efects of recent technologies on course subject matter, and ideal development environment io create autonomous robots. Constraints arise because of conflicts between two major aspects ofmechatronics, mechanical systems and computer systems, and t h e need to balance these areas in complexity and ease o/ use for students o/ diverse backgrounds. Brigham Young University's prototype solution o/a PC/104 plalform with digital I/O and analog inputs running Linw and communicating via 802.11b Wi-Fi is discussed.