Industrial Robotics University of Aberdeen

Overview

About the program

Drawing on core concepts of robotics and artificial intelligence, students will study emerging technologies driving the digital transformation - including Industry 4.0 and Biomedical Engineering. Equipped to design cutting-edge robotic systems and implement state-of-the-art algorithms, graduates will be given an essential skill set for the industries and societies of the future.

Robotics is an interdisciplinary and highly dynamic field. It ranges from the design of mechanical and electronic components to the development of software used to sense the environment, plan robot motions and control their execution.

The Industrial Robotics programme of the University of Aberdeen is designed to enable its graduates to have rewarding careers in all aspects of robotics and mechatronics, for example, as roboticists, automation and controls engineers, software engineers and data scientists; in a wide variety of industry sectors.

This programme is suitable for students with engineering, physical or mathematical sciences backgrounds, who are looking to advance their specialist knowledge and skills by gaining a higher qualification in the field of industrial robotics.

You will study core topics in robotics and artificial intelligence, including robot kinematics and dynamics as well as robot programming and learning. You will also learn about mobile and bioinspired robotic technologies as well as robot localisation and mapping. In addition, the essential areas of control engineering and mathematical optimisation will also be covered. Finally, you will carry out a research-based dissertation project enabling enthusiastic self-learning via application of taught concepts.

This Master's programme emphasises hands-on hardware and software development of mobile robotic solutions for the energy, transport and logistics sectors as well as the project-based design of swarm and soft robotic technologies which are key for surveillance, healthcare as well as dexterous manipulation in the food and manufacturing industries.

Delivered by specialist staff drawn from electrical and mechanical engineering as well as computer science, this MSc in Industrial Robotics offers a true interdisciplinary education.

Careers

The programme aims at educating a new generation of roboticists required to enable the Industry 4.0 revolution. A recent McKinsey Global Institute study predicts that the total number of jobs related to developing and deploying new technologies, automation-, IT-/AI-, and robotics-related applications, could potentially increase to between 20 and 50 million globally by 2030.

It is reported that as many as 375 million workers will have to learn new skills as their current jobs change due to automation, robotics and AI. (McKinsey Global Institute, “Jobs lost, jobs gained: workforce transitions in a time of automation,” December 2017)

This programme aims to shape candidates suitable for employment in a wide range of roles. Graduates from this programme can pursue relevant specialist roles enabling industrial automation research, development and deployment. Some students will also pursue further education via the PhD route.