Robotics is an interdisciplinary branch that includes mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, computer science, and others. Robotics deals with the design, design, operation, and use of robots and computer systems for their monitoring, sensory feedback, and information processing.
Due to the rapid growth in the manufacturing sector, the robotics engineering sector is growing rapidly and promises to be one of the next biggest fields. There are a lot of jobs people would prefer to leave for robots. The job can be boring, like home cleaning, or dangerous, like exploring a volcano. Today’s robots assist in surgeries of high precision such as brain and heart surgery. They are also used for testing the quality control of pharmaceutical products.
Who is a robotics engineer?
A robotics engineer, also known as an automation engineer, robotics and automation engineer, robotics automation engineer, is a designer responsible for creating robots and robotic systems capable of performing tasks that people either can not or prefer not to perform. These engineers are engaged in robots designing, building, operating, and applying that assemble the components to make the final product, thereby increasing productivity. Robotics engineers are making the work more efficient, faster, safer, and cheaper. Most robotics engineers are employed by manufacturers of private robots or robot users. Some engineers are working on programs for the military and space.
What do robotics engineers do?
Most of the time, robotics engineers spend designing the plans needed to build robots. They also design the processes to run properly for the robot. They move towards assembling the unit once the design phase is complete. This type of engineer is responsible for creating several different types of robots that are used to accomplish various tasks. The engineer will first investigate and determine exactly what the robot will be used and how it will achieve its goal before a robot is constructed. For these professionals, the construction process will take a lot of time. Robots are highly technical and difficult to create, and the task can be very difficult. That’s why it’s not uncommon for a robotics engineer to work on just a handful of projects throughout their entire career. Professionals in this field need to be very patient.
Typical day-to-day tasks of robotics engineers:
- Construction, configuration, and testing of robots.
- Designing software systems, such as manufacturing robots, to control their robotic systems.
- Designing automated robotic systems to increase production levels and accuracy in a specific industry.
- They analyze and evaluate the prototypes and robotic systems they have created. As technology is constantly changing and moving forward, this is usually an endless task.
- Review and approve estimates of costs and calculations of design.
- They created as technical support to support the robotic systems.
- Teaching defined robot paths.
- Research on components or systems of robotic mechanism design, operation, and performance.
Job potential
In 2015, a National Robotics Education Foundation poll of 200 senior corporate executives identified robotics as a major source of jobs for the U.S. Indeed, roughly 81% of respondents agreed that robotics was the nation’s top job growth area. In a survey conducted by technology consulting firm Capgemini, over half of respondents claimed to have invested $100 million or more over the past five years in smart factory initiatives. The study concludes that by 2022, smart factories will become at least 21% of factories. It is especially true in areas of labor shortages like the U.S. and Western Europe. Over the past seven years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that companies added 136,748 robots to factory floors.
Amazon illustrates how robots add jobs. In 2012, the online shopping giant acquired Kiva Systems, becoming Amazon Robotics. Amazon Robotics had 45,000 full-time staff by 2014. The number doubled to 90,000 three years later, and the company tries to break the 100,000 mark.
Together with 230,000 employees, Amazon launched 30,000 robots into service across its fulfillment centers. Higher efficiencies have resulted in increased growth from the Kiva robots. Automation and robotics are other examples of growth in the automotive industry. General Motors increased U.S. jobs between 2012 and 2016 from 80,000 to 105,000. With the addition of about 10,000 robot applications in GM plants, this increase in jobs coincided.
The BLS reports that as part of the mechanical engineering field, robotics engineers will increase by 5 percent by 2024. In 2015, robotic engineers’ median annual salary was $83,590. If the rate of machines added to factories remains consistent, then it will also increase the number of skilled technicians needed to program, operate, and maintain these robots. In other words, robotic engineers have a prime job market.
What to do
So, what exactly you need to learn to become a good robotics engineer? Here is a list.
Study science and math in high school – Math is a very important part of robotics. You must learn linear algebra, trigonometry, the theory of probability, statistics, heart by heart. You don’t have to learn the formulas byheart, but the point most importantly is to use computers to solve all that math. It is also prudent to participate in robotics competitions or to be part of a robotics club to develop interest and gather knowledge early on.
Earn a bachelor’s degree – A bachelor’s degree in engineering is needed for most entry-level positions in robotics engineering. Robotics is not an independent field of engineering. It is more of an extension of the various disciplines of engineering. Robotics courses commonly include general pneumatic and hydraulic understanding, numerically controlled systems, CADD / CAM systems, integrated systems, logic, and microprocessors.
Complete an internship – In robotics and engineering, there are countless organizations offering internship jobs. Your initial focus would be on getting a good field understanding and relevant work experience. You can use this time to network, which when you start working, can be beneficial.
Master’s degree and research – To be competent in the robotics field, you can opt for a robotics specialization or master’s program and start your research in this field. In the field of robotics, whatever progress we witness is mainly due to the research output. You have to apply and create something out of your existing knowledge.
Institutions that teach Robotics
Here are some institutions which offer specialization in Robotics
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania
- Stanford University, Stanford
- University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
- University of California, Berkley
- University of Washington
- University College, London
- University of Toronto
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Oregon State University
- John Hopkins University
- University of Southern California
- University of Maryland
- University of Texas-Austin
India
- The Centre for Robotics and Mechatronics at IIT-Kanpur
- Jadhavpur University, Kolkata
- University of Hyderabad
- University College of Engineering, Osmania University, Hyderabad
- University of Baroda
- Banaras Hindu University
- Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
- Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani
- Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai
- Delhi Technological University, Delhi
- SRM University, Chennai
- University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
- Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal
- Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad
