Robotics is a refined application of science, rather technology that proposes to streamline and mechanize the procedures through programmed behaviors that are ensured through computed inputs to the CPU; henceforth 'robots' are a computerized concept.
It mostly depends on the university you are applying to, but a BSc in something like mechanical, electrical, or (with some kind of a stretch) computer engineering with some background in control theory is basically required.
If you have decided to take the bold step of pursuing a master's in robotics engineering, you'll be committing to a professional degree that looks to build considerably upon your prior knowledge, most likely an undergraduate degree in robotics engineering/computer science or a related engineering field.
As the field of robotics grows ever more sophisticated, a greater number of technicians are required to lend their talents to design, program, and maintain robots and robotic systems. Not surprisingly, the complexity of these machines and systems has spawned five specialized areas within the field of robotics:
1. Operator interface
2. Mobility or locomotion
3. Manipulators & Effectors
4. Programming
5. Sensing & Perception
A Master's degree in robotics requires the students to have a bachelor's degree in robotics at first. They can also be familiar with the subjects of machine learning, computer science, and electrical engineering.
Here's a skillset related to programming for 4 fields in robotics.
1. I.: Python/matlab/C++, Machine Learning, Genetic Algorithm, Signal Processing, Computer Vision
2. Embedded: C/C++/Assembly/HDL, Electric Circuit, CPU, microcontroller, Linux kernel, RTOS development
3. Hardware Engineering: Python/Matlab/C++, Numerical Optimization, FEM, CFD
4. Control: C++/matlab, Control Theory, Numerical Optimization, Linear Algebra, Signal Processing
Robots have contributed massively to our industries, enabling most devices, appliances, transportation and processed foods to be made efficiently and cheaply. Today researchers are working towards even greater automation, with robots taking over more and more of the manufacturing processes. 3D printing using additive manufacturing may enable complex components to be made, and it is the ambition of many industries to even automate the repair process of machines, with faults being detected before they cause failures, and new parts being made and swapped automatically. Eventually, this could even lead to machines that can build themselves and repair themselves – known as von Neumann machines (self-replicating machines) after the mathematician who imagined them back in the late 1940s.
Arguably, The Best School in the World for Mobile Robotics would be the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. Stanford and MIT are great Schools for ground robotics, while Georgiatech has an Excellent Aerial robotics Program with infrastructure to match and close proximity to Fort Benning for testing and validation runs. Most of the cutting-edge work at these schools happens around the Perception, planning, and control of robots but they aren't known for great mechanical engineering breakthroughs that revolutionize the industry. If you are focused on Mechanical engineering/mechatronics-related work in robotics, Germany and Tokyo are your best bets. Look up Hiroshi Ishiguro's lab. Although regarding that, I'm not sure if any university in the world has the kind of funds required to create and test super complex mechatronics. Usually, this is done by industry-funded labs such as Boston Dynamics.
Robots are programmed machines that are able to carry out tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously for the better working of the company. It involves designing, building, and programming physical robots, to troubleshoot the problems in various domains of operations and manufacturing. This is very useful in fields including transportation, manufacturing, production, medical, army, etc. It is an interdisciplinary branch of mechanical and electrical engineering.
There are many jobs in the robotics field, ranging from a robotics engineer to a robot welder and so on. Some of these robotics jobs are highly paid than others. The top 5 jobs of robotics are Software Developer, Robot Welder, Robotics Research Engineer, Controls Engineer, and Automation Robot Engineer.
The fun factor and the challenge of building a functional robot will give you a sense of personal accomplishment. If you built one of those robots that eventually becomes a hit, this feeling of accomplishment is going to last for a long time to come. Programming robots that help humans to fetch packages in a warehouse and another one that helps people to carry their packages in a supermarket aisle are tough. However, recently, many frameworks that aid to simplify the programming of these robots have been created. Some of them are ROS, OROCOS, URBI, and YARP. Any individual can learn these frameworks and program the robots.
