Career as Robotics Engineer
Robotics engineering is that branch in engineering in which the students are taught how to design, structure, apply, construct and operate robots with the help of computers that assist in processing, commanding and manipulating the robots. With inventions on its highest peak, the creation of robots is aimed to reach those workplaces where human survival is hazardous or where extreme precision is required.Robotics engineering is a dynamic field bifurcated in various arms, such as designing, production, programming, maintenance and functionality. The latest developments in this field involve its requirement in almost all the industries established in the country. Robots are in huge demand, globally due to their unmatched speed, reachability and multi-functionality. The momentum of robotics engineering is growing like never before, due to its implementation in almost all manufacturing processes. The diverse opportunities that robotic engineering promises are paramount.
- About Robotics Engineer :
- Job Profile |
- How do I get there?
Job Profile
The job role of a Robotics professional starts
with research and development in design, operation and performance
of the robotic systems. An engineer in robotics and automation
spends his maximum working hours in designing the plans that are
necessary to build a robot. Along with this, they have the
responsibility of designing the processes that would make the
robots function correctly. Few such engineers are even delegated
with the job of designing the machines that would help in
assembling the robots. Only when the whole designing phase is over,
the professionals can move to the assembling unit. When all the
prior tasks of R&D, Designing & Programming and assembling are
done, the engineers enter the final robot building stage, which
requires a reasonable amount of time.
The typical routine of a Robotics Engineer
includes building, configuring and testing of robots that are
designed as per the industry standards.They also have to create the
software that would command and control the functioning of the
robotic system. Before designing a new robot, professionals analyse
and evaluate the robotics systems and the prototypes they had
created earlier. In addition to this, they are entrusted with the
duties of reviewing and approving the cost estimates, design
calculations and quality controls checks. They also act as a
technical assistant for the technical support they provide for
their robots.
A Robotic Engineer is mostly found working in
the company’s laboratory. But, depending on the type of work that
is assigned to him, he can also be seen working in offices or
the manufacturing unit. Their lab work comprises tasks that are
related to mechanical, designing and building processes. The list
of assignments at the office mainly includes planning, programming
and paper works. And, the requirement of the engineers at the
manufacturing plant is limited to the testing of the robots. On the
company’s paper, the working mentioned for a robotic professional
is 40 hours per week.. Still this time is not maintained due to
immense work pressure to meet the project deadlines, including
trial and error. Hence, overtime is a common thing for robotics
engineers. Their working environment is extremely stressful and
serious.
Some most coveted job profiles and designations
that a robotics engineer being hired by, are Robotics Programmers,
Robot Design Engineer, Robotics Technicians, Senior Robotics
Specialist, Robotics Test Engineers, Agricultural Instrumentation
Engineer, Robotics Testers, Automated Product Design Engineer,
Robotics System Engineer, Maintenance Engineers.And, the salary
package they are given is quite average compared to the hard work
they are required to put in, which ranges from INR 5 to 7 Lacs per
annum. This package also varies with the engineer’s work location,
work experience and education level. But, abroad robotics engineers
get a highly paid job profile along with a bit of light working
conditions. In the USA, this package is approximately (In INR) $81K
per annum.
Roboticists can find a suitable job profile in almost any industry, but most importantly in manufacturing, nuclear power plants, space research, military, medical & healthcare, automobile.. Names of the few prominent organizations, which recruit robotics engineers in huge numbers, are Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Precision Automation & Robotics India Ltd., etc.
Future Growth Prospects and How to get there faster?
Another way to advance in this profession is by moving into robot sales. In a forecast by The Bureau of Labor Statistics it has been said that more than eight hundred thousand skilled robotics engineers will be required in this fast-developing field to design, maintain and operate robots.
Pros and Cons of Robotics Engineering as a Career
Pros
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Robotics engineering would make the student complete in all respects who is ready to enter any industry.
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He would be receiving interdisciplinary education, from programming languages to advanced technology to various modern machines e.g. Micro-Robotics, Robot Manipulators, Artificial Intelligence, CAD/CAM, etc.
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A qualified robotics engineer lands up with a highly paid and respectable job in some of the best private companies or even in government organizations, like ISRO, BHEL, DRDO, etc.
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Due to the limited number of skilled robotics engineers, both private and government organizations give loads of benefits (in-kind and monetary terms) to keep their engineers happy and retained with them.
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Mostly, robotics engineers get employment in the country’s leading industries, such as space exploration, manufacturing, steel & iron, mining, medical and pharmaceuticals laboratories, and more.
Cons
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Keeping the salary and other perquisites aside, the job profile of a robotics engineer is very taxing and demanding. They have negligible to zero personal life.
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This profession involves an immense work pressure environment. Their job profile has no fixed hours of work. Their reporting time is set, but no limit to exit hours. Regularly, they have long working hours.
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Robotics Engineers get fixed to a specific part of work to which he is assigned. Therefore, his growth opportunities are narrowed with time..
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Roboticists have to follow extensive and detailed work procedures with multiple outcomes that completely drains the human mind before coming to the best judgement.
How do I get there?
An aspirant who desires to make a career in
Robotics Engineering has to pass the higher secondary i.e. Class
XII examinations in science stream and Physics, Chemistry and
Mathematics as the major subjects. For admission to an
engineering college, to pursue undergraduate B.Tech (Bachelor of
Technology)degree either in Robotics or Mechatronics engineering
the aspirant has to pass and secure the cut-off marks in the
engineering entrance examinations that are conducted by various
engineering Universities or colleges.
The candidate can even opt for a B.E. (Bachelor
of Engineering) degree either in robotics engineering or advanced
robotics or robotics & automation engineering in the same way.
The most important and preferred engineering
entrance exams in India are JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Passing
either the national level entrance examination or the
college’s entrance examination is a must. After completion of
the B.Tech/B. E graduation degree with a specialization in
robotics, if a student plans to study further and do
post-graduation in robotics, he can opt for Master of Technology
(M.Tech) OR Master of Technology (M.E.) degree. He can opt for
these degrees with specialization either in Robotics Engineering or
Automation & Robotics or in Remote Sensing & Wireless Sensor
NetworksFor this, a graduate student has to clear the Graduate
Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) examination.
Diploma course in Robotics is also available in India to make a
career in robotics engineering. Those students who are geniuses and
still want to explore more in the robotics world can move ahead in
their studies and start with Doctoral robotics program, which is a
PhD in robotics. Such students can choose a particular specific
area of study in which they would do their research. The most
common areas are robotics & kinetics, robotics & sensors or
artificial intelligence.
How much does it cost?
The cost of a 4 years Diploma course in Robotics is comparatively cheaper compared to full-time B.Tech/BE course. Whereas, pursuing post-graduation in Robotics Engineering costs Rs 1 to 3 Lakh for two complete years of study. This cost of studying masters in robotics engineering also varies from University to University.
What are the Top Colleges where one should be studying to become a Robotics Engineer?
Many renowned engineering colleges in India
offer both graduate and postgraduate degrees in Robotics
engineering. Few are amongst the old and classic Universities while
the rest are new ones who have recently rolled out robotics
engineering as a specialization subject. All these colleges or
Universities provide world class facilities and globally competent
educational curriculum with necessary practical training. Below, we
have stated names of 10 best engineering colleges in India to study
Robotics that are in high demand.
|
Rank of College |
Name of College, City |
Programme Fees |
|
1 |
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur |
M.Tech – Rs 36.25 Lakh for 2 Years |
|
2 |
Indian Institute of Technology, Allahabad |
M.Tech – Rs 22.95 Thousand for 2 Years. |
|
3 |
Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai |
B.Tech – Rs 8.14 Lakh for 4 Years |
|
4 |
Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai |
B.Tech – Rs 8.46 Lakh for 4 Years |
|
5 |
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur |
B.Tech – Rs 8.47 Lakh for 4 Years |
|
6 |
Manipal Institute of Technology, Karnataka |
B.Tech – Rs 3.35 Lakh Per Annum |
|
7 |
SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai |
B.Tech – Rs 1.50 Lakh Per Annum |
|
8 |
Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad |
B.Tech – Rs 44 Thousand Per Annum |
|
9 |
Bharath University – Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research, Tamil Nadu |
B.Tech – Rs 1 Lakh Per Annum |
|
10 |
PSG, College of Technology, Coimbatore |
B.Tech – Rs 2.91 Lakh for 4 Years |
Books and other Study Materials
Some of the books that are important and
relevant for studying Robotics Engineering are mentioned below:
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Springer Handbook of Robotics by Bruno Siciliano, Oussama Khatib.
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Probabilistic Robotics by Sebastian Thrun, Wolfram Burgard.
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Fundamentals of Robotics Mechanical Systems Theory, Methods and Algorithms by Jorge Angeles.
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Robotics and Automation Handbook by Thomas R. Kurfess.
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Robotics Demystified by Edwin Wise
What if this career does not work out for me? What are the other options for a person with these credentials?
Successful Roboticists who do not want to work after earning their degrees can opt for a Ph.D and start with their research on any particular topic under Robotics Engineering. After completing their thesis and being awarded with the Ph.D degree they can become a professor and commence teaching at the University level. Further, robotics professionals can specialize in the fields of Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians, Electro-Mechanical Technicians, Sales Engineers, Computer and Information Research Scientists and Computer Programmers.
They can even build a diversified career by exploring the unexplored field of Data Science as they have basic knowledge of programming languages. If none of this work, Roboticists can start their own venture of robotics consulting firm.
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Content on this page is by Career Expert Mrs. Kum Kum Tandon MA (Psychology), M.Ed, Diploma in Educational Psychology, Vocational Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, Delhi) | View Complete Profile |