Apr 13, 2021
Interested in a Career in Robotics? Skills most valued in Robotics Industry
The field of robotics is a fusion of multiple disciplines that intertwine in weird and wonderful ways, all united to make our world a better place and eventually, a universe where both C-3PO and Data may exist together.
Robotics is a fairly new field, and there are a lot of unanswered questions. To that end, working on cutting-edge technology in robotics may require a Master's or Ph.D. degree. Although you can get away with having a Bachelor’s coupled with some serious experience in your area of interest. A relevant Bachelor’s degree, such as one in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science engineering, or simply a degree in robotics is a good start. Although being an expert in all fields related to robotics is not expected for entry, a basic understanding of all the aspects of robotics will be useful.
You will eventually work on projects with people who specialize in various niche branches and it is important to be able to communicate technical ideas while problem-solving.
Also important to keep in mind is that although you may choose to focus on disciplines related to mechanical or electrical engineering during your Master's degree, basic knowledge of computer programming is always helpful.
Mechanical Engineering
Robots are designed to perform tasks that involve interacting with the physical world around them.
Robots are designed to perform tasks that involve interacting with the physical world around them. The mechanical aspect covers the system or group of systems that allow the robot to interact with its surroundings, manipulate objects, and of course, the physical framework that holds all of these components together. They also relate to the systems used for mobility, like wheels of a rover or limbs of a humanoid that can walk. The mechanical aspect covers disciplines such as Robot Locomotion, Kinematics, Dynamics, Bio robotics, etc.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
The electrical systems are what would obviously enable the transmission of electricity from the power source, such as a battery.
This includes a broad class of systems. The electrical systems are what would obviously enable the transmission of electricity from the power source, such as a battery. Beyond that, the main electrical systems are the ones used for control and sensing. Control signals are transmitted through the electrical systems to actuate the different components of the robot. Sensors gather and transmit data to the computer for processing. Some of the processing is done by embedded chips that use low-level programming, blurring the line between electronics and computer engineering. The various disciplines include Embedded Systems, Low-level Programming, Control theory, Digital Signal Processing among others.
Computer Science
There need to be algorithms that allow a robot to process the noisy raw data that it receives from its various sensors such as cameras, LiDARs, Ultrasonic sensors, etc.
Robots are defined by some level of autonomy in performing a task. This requires instructions defining their behavior. This autonomy requires three major components:
- Sensing
- Planning
- Control
There need to be algorithms that allow a robot to process the noisy raw data that it receives from its various sensors such as cameras, LiDARs, Ultrasonic sensors, etc. This data is processed to form measurements of the world around it. These measurements are then used to make an informed guess about what the state of the world is like and what is required of the robot. The control then acts in order to help achieve that desired state.
A lot of the software involved in robotics requires a solid background in linear algebra, calculus, and geometry. Someone interested in writing software for robots might be interested in Computer Vision, Motion Planning, Machine Learning, and Optimal Controls.
Robotics is essentially a coming-together of like-minded people from various fields to build machines that push the limits of what is possible. What everyone in the robotics industry has in common is the curiosity to learn new things, the will to apply themselves, and the ability to create extraordinary machines. They are born tinker-toddlers who are always looking for new and innovative solutions to problems that may not even exist yet.
This blog post was inspired by the AMA session given by Yash Manian, a Computer Vision Engineer at IAM Robotics.
What is it like to work in cutting-edge robotics companies? What courses and projects did Yash Manian take that led to a full-time offer? Head to our YouTube channel to learn more.
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The blog post was written by B.Bandhavya, the associate content creator at TIP. Bandhavya is a full-time Veterinarian doctor from Andhra Pradesh, a state in the south of India. Now that she has her graduate degree out of her way, she decided to invest her energy into rediscovering and cultivating interests that she had to put on a hold for long — writing, painting, traveling, exploring, and eating. She is currently obsessed with historical documentaries while she chills with her fur babies.
