Robotics combines engineering and science in a dedicated interdisciplinary field, focusing on designing, developing, and building robots for a number of applications and tasks for just about any industry. Tremendous advancements have been made in the last two decades, and the first use of autonomous didn’t occur until 1961, but the field of robotics has existed since automation was first introduced in the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution.
If you are new to the subject, then you might find yourself having to read numerous resources and commit a lot of your time to study. If you are already taking a course, you may not have the time or energy to focus on your writing assignments. Utilizing a great academic writing service like Write My Essayz will help alleviate some of the stress you might be experiencing. Students from all over the world use these kinds of services to improve their writing in all disciplines.
There are also a number of online tutorials and certification programs that help build the foundational knowledge students need before getting into a full program. We’ve identified the top three according to students’ feedback and commentary.
1. Northwestern University – Modern Robotics Certification: Mechanics, Planning & Control
This course, designed and administered by Coursera, is an online essential when it comes to developing and mastering the skills, which are the information technology building blocks that employers seek in the field of robotics. This is a great introductory program to the MS program, which is among the highest-ranked in the U.S.
Students have the opportunity to participate in numerous projects and events. A full degree can be earned within 12 months, and the certification is quickly becoming an industry standard that some of the most innovative global companies look towards when recruiting top prospects.
2. University of Pennsylvania – Robotics Certification (edX)
This program is designed for beginners in the robotics field. While it does provide a reputable certification, it’s largely considered a starting point. This, however, does not mean you should gloss over the course if you are looking to explore the subject first. It is concept-heavy in the sense that you will likely be dealing more with complex tasks without the hands-on experience.
So what makes the Robotics program so great? They offer courses at no cost! They are designed for self-paced study, so one doesn’t have to make too much of a personal commitment if he or she decides they only need to learn some of the basics or brush up on some material they have little experience in.
3. Nanodegree Program Udacity – Become a Robotics Sofware Engineer
This program is developed for students who already have strong foundational knowledge and expertise in C++ or other programming languages. The program lets you acquire first-hand experience by actually building robots through a series of level-based projects. Hands-on learning is what makes Udacity such a popular place for students seeking training in information technology, engineering, artificial intelligence, and similar subjects.
Udacity focuses on practical technical skills focused on advancing careers. In addition to the educational courses they offer, they provide students with one-on-one career coaching and help students develop job-seeking skills they will need to land positions at some of the most competitive and rewarding companies around the world. As the discipline continues to make exceptional strides and evolves to the point that most industries require some kind of robotic automation process, more applications will need to be developed. In 2015, a research group determined that robotics was the highest area of job growth in the U.S., and it’s been called one of the largest areas contributing to job growth. Some of the major auto industries, for example, have almost tripled the number of robotic technicians it hires in the last decade alone. The above courses are affordable and allow students to explore the field without having to make a tremendous educational and financial commitment.