When the Hollywood sci-fi (and futuristic) movies like RoboCop (1987) & I, Robot (2004), and even our Desi sci-fi movie Robot (2010) came out, the concept of “Robotics” was majorly considered to be a science-fiction and a matter of distant future. But, in today’s age of automation and machine intelligence, robotics is a well-established scientific fact. Although cyborgs (RoboCop or Terminator) are still very things of the future, robots like TARS & CASE (Interstellar) are not. At present, the world is losing human jobs to robots due to radical technological advancements. So, how about careers in robotics or robotics engineering?
Though the scenes depicted in those sci-fi movies are still a thing of the future, the field of robotics presents various exciting career opportunities at the present time. In this post, we will look at the basic concepts of robotics, education & training, and job opportunities in the field of robotics.
Careers in Robotics
What is Robotics?
Robotics is an interdisciplinary and dynamic branch within the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field that primarily involves mechanical engineering, electrical-electronics engineering, and computer science. The field of robotics deals with the research, design, manufacturing, operations, software development, information processing and application of robots in various industrial and commercial processes. The ultimate objective of robotics is to build machines that can substitute humans.
The applications of robotics can be found in nuclear science, ocean-exploration, space-exploration, mining, medicine (low-invasive surgeries, high-throughput research & diagnostics), agriculture, manufacturing industry, military warfare, hazardous situations like defusing bombs, finding survivors in unstable ruins, deep-sea vessels or shipwrecks etc., and even in the household.
Cyborgs in Terminator 2 & RoboCop
Robots in I, Robot, Interstellar & Real Steel
You might like to read: Difference between Cyborg and Robot
What to Study in High School for a Career in Robotics?
Mathematics is a must for anyone who wants to pursue a career in robotics. One must have a very good understanding of Algebra and Geometry. Like any other engineering field, Physics is also essential. The concepts of mechanics, energy, circuits, and material science are very critical. Apart from Maths and Physics, other useful subjects at high school level would be Computer Science, Programming, ICT, Design, Electronics etc.
For further reading: NASA Career Corner – Robotics
Ideal Undergraduate Courses for Pursuing a Career in Robotics
Most Popular Paths
· Mechanical Engineering (Mechanics, Mechatronics, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Design, Control & Automation, Robotics)
· Electrical & Electronics Engineering (Electronics, Embedded Systems, low-level Programming, Control Systems, Circuit Theory, Signal Processing)
· Computer Science and Engineering (Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, HCI, high-level Programming)
Alternative Paths
· Liberal Arts with major in Mathematics, Physics, Psychology & Cognitive Science, Sociology & Social Psychology
· Biomedical Engineering (Bio-Mechanics)
Most Popular Institutes for Robotics in India
- IIT (Kanpur, Mumbai, Madras, Delhi, Kharagpur, Allahabad)
- The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani
- University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Mumbai/Dehradun
- Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
- Appin Technology Lab, Mumbai/Bangalore/Pune
- PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science
- Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala
- University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
- Lord Jagannath College of Engineering and Technology, Kanyakumari
- Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Chandigarh
Know more about the Top Colleges and Career Opportunities in Robotics in India.
Top Foreign Universities Offering Graduate Programs in Robotics
USA
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of California – Berkeley
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Southern California
Colorado School of Mines
University of Washington – Seattle
University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
California Institute of Technology
Cornell University
Europe
TU Munich
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
RWTH Aachen University
FH University of Applied Sciences
Imperial College London
King’s College London
UWE Bristol
Canada
McGill University
University of British Columbia
Ryerson University
Singapore
National University of Singapore
Nanyang Technological University
Australia
Queensland University of Technology
New Zealand
University of Canterbury
Best Online Courses in Robotics (to improve your chances of Undergraduate & Graduate Admissions and Jobs)
Robotics Programming & Math for kids, beginners: Step by Step
Robotics: Estimation and Learning
Fundamentals in Robot C and VEX Robotics
Robotics: Aerial Robotics (Drones)
Analog Electronics – Robotics, learn by building
Digital Electronics: Robotics, learn by building module II
Neural Networks for Machine Learning
Building Arduino robots and devices
Black Algo Trading: Build Your Trading Robot
Learn MQL5: Build an 8-Currency Hedging Robot (MetaTrader 5)
Required Skills for Pursuing a Career in Robotics
· Analytical Thinking
· Problem Solving
· Creativity
· Mechanical & Numerical Skills
· Attention to detail
Common Job Tasks of a Robotics Engineer
· Building, configuring, and testing robots
· Programming software systems to control the robotic systems
· Researching design, operation, and performance of the robotic mechanisms and systems
· Analysing and evaluating the prototype robots
· Reading and interpreting schematics
Employment Outlook & Job Opportunities in Robotics
Around the globe, several humans are on the verge of losing jobs to robots. As per the article on Fortune, 40% of total jobs are likely to go to the robots in the US. However, according to CEBR, there is a positive relationship between robotics automation and economic development. In the majority of cases, robotic automation is in place to complement the human labour. As per David Whitaker, Managing Economist at Cebr, “Robots are about productivity, they don’t do creativity very well, and they don’t do things that involve failure, which is at the core of any design process.” Robots are taking away mundane, repetitive and hazardous jobs. The truth is that robotic automation allows humans to focus on more valuable tasks.
Automation and robots won’t create new jobs, but it will expand the economy, increase productivity, and will create better jobs, and thus better for the whole mankind. Increasing automation is likely to increase workers’ wages and generate new consumer spending. Of course, humans will lose jobs if they are not skilled and creative enough. But, humans who can do complex analysis and/or social interactions with customers and co-workers will be in greater demand in the workforce.
No doubt, humans who can deal with robotics will be in great demand around the world. The scenario is not going to be very different in India too. The use of robotics is expected to grow rapidly in the coming times in India. As per CareerMuse, from production line robots to experimental robotics and several other industries, the future has a lot of career opportunities for robotics engineers and related professionals.
Related Posts:
6 Hot AI Automation Technologies Destroying And Creating Jobs
Robotics Salaries
In the US, the median annual salary is USD 83, 590 (mechanical background), USD 107, 830 (aerospace background) and USD 98, 270 (electrical-electronics background) – data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Graduates with a background in artificial intelligence and machine learning can expect to earn more. A robotics engineer can expect to earn INR 3 – 6 lakhs per annum (PayScale and CareerMuse) in India, depending on qualification and skill set.
When it comes to the number of multipurpose industrial robots per 1, 000 persons employed in the manufacturing industry, India is far behind other countries like South Korea, Japan, and Germany. But, it’s just a matter of time to catch up with other countries. It will surely catch up, the only question is when.
Do you have any questions about how to build a career in Robotics, or if Robotics is the right career for you? Need assistance with college shortlisting or applications? Looking at to improve your job opportunities? Tell us in the comments below. If someone you know is interested in a career in robotics, please share this post. Thanks.
Key Sources: Robotiq, IndiaMirror, LiveMint, Shiksha, Sokanu, GradSchoolHub, Forbes, Wikipedia, BusinessInsider, PayScale, CareerMuse, HTcampus.