Robotics Automation Curriculum Development: From Operation And Programming To The Vision Systems

Robots are used in vast and continually growing number of industrial fields. Global competition, productivity demands, and advances in technology and affordability will force companies to increase use of the robots in the foreseeable future. Robots are artificial but very valuable helpers due to the fact that they assist humans in unsafe, unpleasant, repetitive, or high-precision work. In addition to the 1.1 million industrial robots operating worldwide, between 2009 and 2012, almost 50,000 units of professional service robots will be sold. Intense involvement of robots and integrated robotics platforms in different fields of industry, as well as in our everyday life, requires human-specialists with an up-to-date knowledge to maintain and monitor existing robots and to develop new, more advanced, smart, and safe technologies. As a result, educational institutions have to adequately respond to the high demand for specialists in the field of robotic automation by developing and offering robotic automation-related courses that lead to properly trained and certified workers. Very few universities across United States offer a degree and/or certification specifically in robotic automation. The curriculum development model described in this paper covers all the theoretical and practical aspects of the knowledge database required for technologists involved in the robotic automation industry. Unlike most robotic programs that focus on design, engineering, and fabrication - the described in this paper teaching methodology, fills an industrial need by focusing on implementation, improvement, and sustainability of the technology used in the manufacturing and maintenance of robots. The cross-disciplinary robotic automation training program presented here is very versatile. It is structured in a way to accommodate the needs of enrolled in the Michigan Technological University students, employees of industry looking to improve their knowledge in robotics automation areas, as well as students from another universities and colleges. So far, the developed "Robotics Automation" 4 credit hours course has been offered twice. The first offering was conducted in a semester long, and the second one in the intense 2 weeks mode. Each offering included extensive hands-on experience. A significant part of this course is devoted to introducing the basics of programming industrial robots using the ROBOGUIDE software package. After receiving sufficient off-line programming training, students implement their knowledge and perform laboratory experiments programming and operating a state-of-art LR Mate Fanuc Robotics' educational robotic platform. Upon successful completion of all the course requirements students receive FANUC Robotics industrial certificate in robotics and automation. Total, 14 students involved in these courses, received FANUC certificates. To provide additional flexibility in the course offering, the on-line version of the course is underway.