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Top Robotics University Programs in 2021
With rising demand of robots and robotics, it is time to Get Skilled From Top Robotics Universities
Robotics is one of the most advanced and emerging technologies in the modern technology landscape. It deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback and information processing. It comprises of concepts from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, automation technology, electronic engineering and computer science.
Analytics Insight predicts that the global market of Robotics will grow at a CAGR of 10.9% and value at US$80.2 billion in 2023. Given the rising demand of robotics, today, many universities and colleges around the world, have started providing top notch robotics programs. Students interested to make a career in this field can sign up for these courses and learn about topics like mobility, manipulation, and artificial intelligence. However, it is important to note that finding the 'best' out of the plethora of these programs is vague.
This is because, every university has its own specialized course plan and research area. For instance, MIT has developed systems like a 1-legged bouncing robot and passively walking bipeds evolving to such things as the Cheetah. While, Carnegie Mellon is known for 3D perception for robots and autonomous vehicles, Stanford for robot perception, Berkeley for grasping. At the same time, Cambridge's Charles robot is popular for leveraging natural affect data to replicate realistic facial expressions and gestures. Hence assigning the #1 among the best of the best university programs is futile.
As the demand for graduates with the technical and creative ability to work in robotics is set to increase, it is time to look for some of these programs and register. Further, robotics is no longer limited to assembly lines in manufacturing sector. Today, we find its applications ranging from aerospace and sub-sea exploration, to consumer products and the creative arts.
Here are some of the top robotics university programs around the world.
WPI is a university that has the FIRST Robotics Research Center and a complete undergraduate course on robotics. Its MS in Robotics Engineering program is a leading, first-of-its-kind graduate program in the nation and an internationally lauded academic program. And for all the serious research that goes on here, the institute encourages imaginative and creative work with robots. On a campus located in the heart of New England's robotics industry, you'll work on innovative robotics projects from the get-go alongside influential and renowned faculty in its state-of-the-art labs.
This University is synonymous with robotics and has multiple engineering and computer science divisions. It offers a number of Robotics programs such as PhD in Robotics, Masters in Robotics and Master of Science- Robotic Systems Development (MRSD). Some of its undergraduate programs allow students to complete their masters in the 5th year. These are Master of Science- Robotic Technology (MS-RT) and Master of Science-Computer Vision (MSCV). Master of Science in Robotics (MSR) program brings together areas of robotics research. It focuses on preparing students to take a leading role in the research and development of future generations of integrated robotics technologies and systems.
MIT's highly ranked School of Engineering offers many opportunities for graduate students interested in robotics. MIT also boasts of numerous robotics groups and labs. E.g. the Robot Locomotion Group and the Biomimetic Robotics Lab dedicated to building machines with extraordinary agility and efficiency. The Field and Space Robotics Lab, the Robotics Team engineering the robots of the future; and the Personal Robots Group that focuses on developing the principles, techniques, and technologies for personal robots. It's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has also spawned many robotic creations. Though MIT does not offer a specific robotics major, the school offers students a couple of paths to specialize in the field.
University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science, offers unique a Master's Degree in Robotics (ROBO) through the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Penn's ROBO master's program, is sponsored jointly by three university departments – Electrical and Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, and Computer and Information Science. The program is administered through the General Robotics, Automation, Sensing, and Perception (GRASP) Laboratory. Students study artificial intelligence, kinematics, design, and prototyping in one of the most advanced robotics labs in the world. In addition to a master's program, GRASP also offers undergraduate courses in robotics.
The Michigan Robotics program consists of three main technical areas, which converge as students produce functioning robots: Sensing of the environment, external agents, and internal body information to determine state information; Reasoning with that information to make decisions for guidance, control, and localization; and Acting upon the body and environment to produce motion or other outputs that enable the robot to locomote or interact with the environment. Each of these areas may be considered a sub-plan for coursework and research study. Further, students who do not wish to enroll in the doctorate in robotics program can explore positions with the university's corporate sponsors through the Engineering Career Resource Center (ECRC).
The Center for Automation, Robotics, and Distributed Intelligence (CARDI) in Colorado School of Mines is an excellent place to meet other enthusiasts, learn all about building robots and conduct researches on the topic. CARDI aims to engage in interdisciplinary research encompassing the fields of control systems, robotics and automation, computer vision and intelligence, distributed systems and networking, and data/information. Its Mechanical Engineering Department offers the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a Robotics, Automation, and Design research area. Mines has also developed a Biomechatronics Research Lab where robotics engineering students can work on research projects, developing systems that could revolutionize the medical field.
Through its Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, Georgia Tech serves as an umbrella to cover individuals studying any and all disciplines and who have an interest in robotics. Through the joint venture, the Institute achieves new strengths as inter-disciplinary individuals come together and solve problems with maximum collaboration and creativity. Besides, its SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering) is a favorite course of choice for students looking to learn the basics of robotics. Georgia Tech also offers elective courses in Specialization in Computational Perception and Robotics to provide students with a depth of knowledge in robotics.
ETH Zurich has been consistently ranked among the best five universities in Europe. It's Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) currently consists of eight independent laboratories that conduct research in areas ranging from nanodevices for biomedicine, to systems for rehabilitation and autonomous aerial vehicles. The Master in Robotics, Systems and Control offered at this college allows students to develop innovative and intelligent products and systems to meet today's challenges: energy supply, environment, health and mobility. It is a specialized program offered by the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT) in cooperation with the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (D-ITET) and the Department of Computer Science (D-INFK).
