1. Future of Robotics Engineering
SHDHS Career Day
February 25, 2010
Steve Bolin

2. Topics What do engineers do? My engineering education and career
Why are robots important?
Types of robots
Future growth areas
Technologies used in robotics
Technical disciplines needed in robotics
Skill requirements
Education and training
Schools
How to get experience while in high school

3. What do engineers do?
Engineers design creative solutions to all sorts of problems
Engineers are people who use math, science, and technology to solve problems
Work with other people on a team to develop new products or systems
Make things work better
Learn new things and always improve
Planning and managing projects

4. Types of Engineers Mechanical Electrical and Electronics Chemical
Civil
Industrial
Biomechanical
Photonics
Computer software
Computer hardware
Nuclear
Agricultural
Aeronautical
Biomedical

5. What is it like being an engineer?
Education (typically four year bachelor’s degree)
Professional engineer license is becoming more important (required in certain fields)
Travel (varies)
Salary range:
Starting salaries (2009-ME,EE): $58,000 to $60,000/year
Leadership positions can make over $100,000

6. My Engineering Background
Education – Mechanical Engineering, Business
BSME – Manhattan College (machine design)
MSME – Ohio State University (robotics)
MBA – Xavier University
Career experience (Manufacturing and Robotics)
Mechanical Engineer
Project Manager

7. What do you think of when you hear the word “robot”?
automotive
Dangerous, hazardous areas
Bomb recovery
Underwater
Rescue
Home

8. Why Robotics? Areas that robots are used: Why are robots used?
Industrial robots
Military, government and space robots
Service robots for home, healthcare, laboratory
Why are robots used?
Dangerous tasks or in hazardous environments
Repetitive tasks
High precision tasks or those requiring high quality
Labor savings
Control technologies:
Autonomous (self-controlled), tele-operated (remote control)

9. Industrial Robots Uses for robots in manufacturing: Welding Painting
Cutting
Dispensing
Assembly
Polishing/Finishing
Material Handling
Packaging, Palletizing
Machine loading

10. Industrial Robots Uses for robots in Industry/Manufacturing
Automotive:
Video - Welding and handling of fuel tanks from TV show “How It’s Made” on Discovery Channel. This is a system I worked on in 2003.
Packaging:
Video - Robots in food manufacturing.
(Videos are on the next two slides)

11. Industrial Robots - Automotive

12. Industrial Robots - Packaging

13. Military/Government Robots
iRobot PackBot
Remotec Andros

14. Military/Government Robots
Soldiers in Afghanistan being trained how to defuse a landmine using a PackBot.

15. Military Robots
Military suit
Aerial drones (UAV)

16. Space Robots Mars Rovers – Spirit and Opportunity
Autonomous navigation features with human remote control and oversight

17. Service Robots Many uses… Cleaning & Housekeeping
Humanitarian Demining
Rehabilitation
Inspection
Agriculture & Harvesting
Lawn Mowers
Surveillance
Mining Applications
Construction
Automatic Refilling
Fire Fighters
Search & Rescue
iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner robot

18. Medical/Healthcare Applications
DaVinci surgical robot by Intuitive Surgical.
St. Elizabeth Hospital is one of the local hospitals using this robot. You can see this robot in person during an open house (website).
Japanese health care assistant suit (HAL - Hybrid Assistive Limb)
Also… Mind-controlled wheelchair using NI LabVIEW

19. Laboratory Applications
Drug discovery
Test tube sorting

20. Technologies Used in Robotics
Drivetrain – servomotors, gear reducers
Hydraulics (oil), pneumatics (air)
Electrical controls – motor drives, computers
Lightweight materials – aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium
Sensors
Photoeyes
Encoders/position measurement sensors
Proximity switches
Laser scanners
Vision systems
Navigation systems/GPS

21. Disciplines Used in Robotics
Robotics merges many technical disciplines:
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Computer Science
Bio-Medical Engineering
Ethics and Legal Issues
Mechatronics

22. Required Skills Math Science Computer Science
Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus
Science
Physics – forces, motion control
Chemistry – materials
Computer Science
Programming languages
Applications – Word, Excel, Access, etc.
Business, project management and leadership skills

23. Education and Training
Associates degree for technician positions (2 year)
Bachelor of Science in engineering or computer science for most positions (4 year)
Masters or PhD for research or advanced development positions (Masters - 2 years, PhD – 4+ years)

24. Schools UK - Center for Manufacturing
UC - Center for Robotics Research
Ohio State – ME, EE
Louisville – ME, EE
Carnegie Mellon – Robotics Institute
Virginia Tech – Robotics and Mechanisms Lab
MIT - Humanoid Robotics Group
Stanford - Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Military – Navy, Air Force

25. How can you get experience while in high school?
Learn to program in software platforms (C++, Java, …)
Microsoft Robotics Studio development package
Learn mechanical design/CAD with student versions of:
SolidWorks
PRO/Engineer
AutoCAD
Learn to build and program Lego Mindstorms or other robotic development platforms
Start a robotics club
Start a team and compete in a FIRST, BEST, National Robotics Challenge and other robotic competition

26. FIRST Robotics Competitions
FIRST Tech Challenge for high school students
Visit iSpace and FIRST for more information.

27. Robotics and Engineering Sites
ASME
IEEE
SME
Robotics Industry Association (RIA)
FIRST
iSpace
iRobot
National Instruments
How Stuff Works science.howstuffworks.com/robot.htm

28. Questions…
Website: