If you're in high school, taking advanced placement classes in algebra and trigonometry, computer science, computer-aided design and physics are good options to prepare yourself for an engineering career. Participating in your school's robotics club and entering robotics competitions provide you with practical experience working with robots, as well as demonstrates your interest in them to college admissions officers.
Bachelor's degree programs in electronics engineering or mechanical engineering are among the most widely available in colleges and universities and many offer concentrations in robotics. Electronics engineering programs teach you the fundamentals of electronics components and common electronic circuits. You'll learn how electronics are used in computing, radio communications, industrial control systems and power management applications.
Mechanical engineering programs teach you to apply concepts from physics, mathematics and materials science to create machinery used in transportation, manufacturing, communication and other uses. These programs may also cover electronic, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. You should look for programs approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Take advantage of internships offered at engineering and robotics companies. You could arrange one yourself with smaller companies that may not have a high industry profile. An internship can provide you with work experience and help you network within the industry. Your internship might entail no more than observing work or you may be actively involved in a project.
According to O*NET Online, approximately 137,000 people worked as robotics engineers in 2014 (www.onetonline.org). Most were employed in the government and manufacturing sectors. Between 2014 and 2024, this field is projected to provide about 33,000 job openings due to a combination of growth, retirement and turnover in the industry. O*NET Online reports the projected job growth is slower than average at 2% to 4% for 2014 to 2024. The same source reported the median salary for robotics engineers in May 2015 was $95,900.
You can advance your career and earn a higher salary with a master's degree in robotics engineering. More schools have begun to offer master's programs that draw upon the mechanical, electrical and computer engineering concepts you learned at the undergraduate level to create and use intelligent mobile mechanical devices.
Your courses will explore topics such as control systems, sensors and navigation systems, robotic simulations, human-machine interaction and machine learning. Some programs require the completion of a capstone or research project.
After completing class 12th, you can go for a four-year BE or B-Tech course in robotics engineering or can opt for a five-year dual degree programme.
Here are the list of colleges
The Centre for Robotics and Mechatronics at IIT-Kanpur offers a masters programme in Robotics Engineering. Jadhavpur University, Kolkata, offers M.E. Robotics. The University of Hyderabad offers M.Tech. In Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. University College of Engineering under Osmania University, Hyderabad, offers M.E. / M.Tech. In Automation and Robotics. M.S. University, Baroda, conducts a masters programme with specialisation in automation control and robotics.
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