Career in RoboticsRobotics 8

Robotics Technologies

• Professionals in robotics technologies blend computer science with electrical and mechanical engineering to create automated, intelligent machines.

Robotics Technologies

• Robots can go where no human is able to go and do things that no ordinary human can accomplish. As safety becomes more important to employers and as technology advances create potentially hazardous situations, robots and robotics technologies are in more demand than ever.

Robotics Technologies

• Robots can clean up nuclear waste, fix satellites in space, and carry heavy loads. With computer technology rising, artificial intelligence is building smarter robots that clean houses, build cars, and communicate with people. Scientists and engineers can take their knowledge and skills to help build better robots that will help humans do tasks from the mundane to the extraordinary.

Robotics Technologies

• A career in robotics technologies entails a specialized education from an accredited school, college, or university. Courses may include science and mathematics as well as particular engineering and technology courses. With rapidly evolving technology always in the picture, professionals will constantly be in need of new education on the fast-paced evolution of robotics technologies.

Career in Robotics

• Robotics is a dynamic field involving the design, functional use and maintenance of robots. These machines are used in several capacities, including manufacturing, transportation, surgery, weaponry, safety, research and the mass production of consumer goods. Multiple career levels are available in robotics.

Career Options in Robotics

• Two common professions in this discipline are robotics technicians and robotics engineers.

• The differences between the two begin primarily with education level.

Career Options in Robotics

• Robotics technicians typically hold 2-year associate degrees in robot technology or a similar field, while engineers need at least a bachelor's degree; aspiring engineers often move on to graduate studies and professional engineering certification. Technicians generally participate in apprenticeship programs that provide on-the-job training along with classroom instruction.

Career Options in Robotics

• Both engineers and technicians have several specialties to choose from within the field of robotics. Some of these include machine automation, medical robotics, cybernetics, quantum mechanical systems, air traffic management and a variety of other areas that utilize robots to make work processes easier for humans.

Career Options in Robotics

• Types of businesses that hire professionals for robotics positions comprise electronics, automotive, agricultural and manufacturing companies, among many others.

• Most robotics professionals work primarily in a collaborative team setting, with technicians assisting and supporting engineers.

Job Duties in Robotics

• Because robots are used in so many ways, a professional's duties in this field can vary greatly depending upon the function and application of robotics in his or her work.

Job Duties in Robotics

• For example, some robotics engineers design artificial limbs, while others develop automated manufacturing systems for food-packing plants. However, all robotics engineers are responsible for designing, creating, testing and troubleshooting problems with their robots. This involves extensive research in various mechanical and robotic technologies and the use of assorted design software as well as electrical and mechanical equipment.

Job Duties in Robotics

• Some other duties of both engineers and technicians include the following: • Welding • Installing safety

systems • Programming and

reprogramming robots

• Reading and interpreting schematics

• Robot maintenance and repair

• Using hydraulic test equipment

• Failure analysis testing

• Robot installation and removal

Robotics Employment Outlook

• Robotics engineers and technicians can often be found working in the electrical and electronics engineering fields.

Robotics Employment Outlook

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities in these engineering disciplines vary by location and specialty (www.bls.gov). Roughly one-third of all engineering technicians worked in electronic and electrical engineering in 2008 and another third were in manufacturing.

Robotics Employment Outlook

• The BLS reports that employers generally seek those with at least an associate degree who are skilled in new technologies and who require little or no additional training. Experience in the field can also lead to positions as robotics sales representatives, team managers and independent consultants.

• Payscale.com found that most robotics technicians made between $27,410 and $71,540 (includes overtime and bonuses) as of November 2011.