24-Aug-2011

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About the course

This course is designed to produce graduates who have a detailed understanding of robotic technologies and the skills to apply this knowledge in a research or industrial context.

Currently, engineers working in the robotics industry are trained in Electronic, Mechanical or Computer Science Engineering. But robotics is multidisciplinary, and no single discipline offers the breadth demanded by robotics of the future. The particular skills necessary are covered in this new engineering discipline which consists of the core engineering and computing courses entwined on a daily basis appropriate for the education of the leaders in this fascinating area. Students are taught the fundamentals by experts in the three areas and apply the abstract and practical skills to design and build robotic systems in diverse applications.

As well as an exciting range of hands-on and build activities students will be introduced to the latest embedded microcontrollers, programming languages, AI, research and robot simulation. Students are encouraged to enter robot competitions, with the first year entering ‘Micromouse’, and the second years entering ‘Eurobot’.

During the first year students will study subjects which allow them to build and program a mobile robot with the necessary sensors to allow it to roam without collision. During the second year they will further develop these skills to increase the size and intelligence of their robots. Robotic manipulators will also be used, and interfacing advanced sensors will be studied.  In the third year a major individual project within the robotic field will be undertaken allowing the student to integrate AI, Programmable Logic Controllers and vision as needed.

Our graduates work within the fields of robotics, both development and research.

Although the use of robotics has primarily been in the automotive industries, the use of robots is expanding into the food and drink industry. This necessitates intelligent and adaptable robot systems programmed to handle soft material.

There are a variety of career opportunities:

·                     Autonomous agents in domestic, utility and hospital environments.

·                     Robots that operate in hostile surroundings (underwater, underground, offshore, off planet).

·                     Home automation and remote monitoring.

·                     Research and design.

·                     Production industry:-automating vehicle manufacture to food packaging.

·                     Pharmaceutical automation.

The Robotics Engineering degree applies the engineering maths candidates possess and increase their exposure to classic engineering disciplines.

Robotics Technology is for those with a lean towards the practical nature of the course and who do not possess the mathematics background necessary for engineering.

The design element is still present within the course and the student uses CAD software to prototype designed artefacts.  Today there is an increased emphasis on programming robots along with the mechanics, control theory and electronics.

The unique opportunity a student studying here would get is an instant exposure to robots, and the student will be programming and building robots in their first week of beginning the course. This pace will continue throughout the three years whilst the student gets exposure to increasingly advanced systems. The course and lecturers are closely involved with the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology), a professional accrediting body. Guest evening lectures happen every month via the IET and the award leader is a past chairman of the institution.

BEng(Hons) Robotics  Engineering, UCAS Code: H675                            

Length:                     3/4 years                              

    or                    

Institution Code:     S72                            

Campus:                   Stafford

Example modules you will study (Technology has (Tech) beside it)

 You are invited to do an industrial placement between levels 2 and 3, usually lasting one year

Modules listed are an indication only and could be subject to change

If you have any questions, please contact the lecturer directly: Sam Wane,  s.o.wane@staffs.ac.uk, Tel: 01785 353489

Website with robot resources: http://www.fcet.staffs.ac.uk/sow1/

Some of my lecture slides: http://www.fcet.staffs.ac.uk/sow1/ORT.pdf

Video:  http://video1.staffs.ac.uk/Robots

Don’t just take our word for it                  

Oliver Goodman, Robotics level 1 (2007/2008):

A great course allowing you to forward your knowledge of robotics.

Jas Simons, Robotics level 1 (2007/2008)

I'd say the course was well put together, and gives a broad view on all aspects of robotics. An excellent choice if you’re interested in the field of robotics.

Matt Hayes Robotics level 1 (2007/2008):

For me, robotics technology has been a very inspiring learning point. The course is taught by expert lectures in different fields, showing the upmost enthusiasm and a real passion for the subject. You start to gain experience from day one, including practical problem solving such as programming a robot to follow a line. You will learn what it is like to get a real buzz from the subject, as you progress through different levels of difficulty and develop your own individual style. Your first year allows you to develop fantastic foundations to build on through the duration of this extremely enjoyable and very mentally satisfying course.

 Martin Garland Robotics level 3 (2007/2008)

The first assignment for robotics was fun, it involved programming LEGO robots in C! It started a real passion for robotics for me, so much so that during the first summer I stayed in Stafford to work on my own robotic projects in my spare time. Here I made use of my CAD and CAM skills picked up in the first year and used the university's CNC machinery to manufacture my designs. My tutor Sam Wane has been amazing, not only has he allowed me to work on my own robot projects, he encourages it and is always there to help, even out of term time. Sam allowed me to design and manufacture an eight legged walking robot with terrain adaptation for my project. By November the robot was already built and walking around, this was invaluable at the NEC graduate recruitment fair where I demonstrated the robot to potential employers.

http://icould.com/videos/martin-garland/

Martin’s project won the graduation project prize and an IET inter-university prize along with appearing on the gadget show!

Jobs

A selection of companies our graduates in robotics have gone to work for:

EADS Astrium, Lockheed Martin, The Engineering Business.

Lawrence Cozens, Robotics 2005

My role on the project started as a Design Engineer before I moved into the role of Project Engineer. This involved integration of owner furnished equipment (the Vessel, HPUs, Winches, Friction Clamps and other interesting items) managing long lead items, planning build plan inline with testing programs and moving the 1300t fabrication onto a ship.