WORKING WITH ROBOTS - Thursday, 19 July 2012
Interested in forging a challenging career in the robotics industry? Then head to the Royal Armouries Museum Leeds this Saturday (July 21).
Just as electronics and computers revolutionised the world in the 20th century, the widespread adoption of robotics is widely predicted to transform the 21st.
As part of its first-ever Robots Weekend, the Royal Armouries has lined up Professor Ian Robertson, Head of the School of Electronic & Electrical Engineering at the University of Leeds, to talk about degree and job opportunities in the world of robotics.
The Robots Weekend also features the UK’s most spectacular robotic show – Robots Live on Sunday (July 22) – plus a whole host of other attractions, giving visitors the chance to play, build, explore and have a go.
Ian – who delivers his careers talk between 1pm and 2pm on Saturday – said, “Humanoid robots and androids feature heavily in science fiction films and some amazing demonstrations have already taken place – such as a robot playing the violin or walking up stairs.
“To describe the very broad range of career opportunities in robotics, one has to first emphasise that humanoid robots or androids are just a very small facet of a huge research and development activity. For example, if you wanted to make a robotic vacuum cleaner you would design a dedicated autonomous system from scratch – you would not base your design on a human standing and holding a conventional vacuum cleaner.
“A robot can best be defined as a machine that is guided by a computer, using a variety of electronic sensors to identify its environment and actuators to interact with it. “
The UK Engineering sector already employs over 1.6 million people in the UK and four of the top 10 graduate salaries in the UK are in engineering. The range of applications in robotics is huge, and includes bomb disposal, security and defence, unmanned aerial vehicles (UVAs) and drones; space exploration; manufacturing; transport and medical care.
Ian added there is a wide range of specialist degree subjects involved in a robot’s design, including: Computer Science (artificial intelligence, computer vision, biologically inspired systems, swarms); Electronic Engineering (embedded systems, sensors and actuators, communications, power electronics and drives) and Mechanical Engineering (structural analysis, design and manufacture, dynamics).
The multidisciplinary Mechatronics and Robotics degree programme at Leeds is especially suitable for anyone aspiring to a professional career in the field.
For course information, visit www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/mechatronics-robotics
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Notes to editors
About the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Leeds
- The Faculty of Engineering is one of the largest engineering groupings in the UK having over 700 staff, 3,000 students and an annual turnover of around £60m. Our vision is that the Faculty of Engineering will be ranked in the top 5 in the UK, and the top 50 in the world by 2015.
- The Faculty is currently ranked 7th in the UK for the quality of its research according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, with 75% of the Faculty’s research rated as internationally excellent or world leading. Our research feeds directly into our teaching ensuring that our courses are at the forefront of thinking in their respective fields.
About the Royal Armouries
- Royal Armouries is the national museum of arms and armour and has sites in Leeds, HM Tower of London, Fort Nelson and Louisville, Kentucky. It is the first British national museum to open a permanent presence in another country
- Admission to the museum is free. However, there may be a small charge for some special events.
- Open all year daily, 10am-5pm. Closed 24-25 December
- Information Line: 0113 220 1999
- Website: www.royalarmouries.org
- The Royal Armouries Museum should not be confused with Royal Armouries International plc, the private sector corporate hospitality business.
To find Fort Nelson, follow the brown Tourist signs from the M27. The Fort is open seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm.
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