Automatic Control and Robotics

Overview

The programme lasts two academic years and includes a master’s thesis and training in an industrial or research environment. It is divided into compulsory and free-elective subjects. Compulsory subjects provide students with multidisciplinary education in automatic control systems, robotics and robotised systems in various environments; computer vision; computer technology and communication in processing elements; and scientific and technological tools. In free-elective subjects, students complete their training in their areas of interest.

The Automatic Control and Robotics programme is offered by Polytechnic University of Catalonia.

Professional opportunities

This master’s degree produces graduates who have attained a high level of excellence in the analysis, management and optimisation of process control and robotics, industrial engineering and residential, social and service environments—activities which are essential for social progress, economic productivity and quality of life.The curriculum includes 18 ECTS credits in an optional subject area that students must take during the last semester and that allows them to focus on professional, research and innovation practice and develop high-level generic skills.

A recent study on graduate employment in the last six years shows that 6% of the graduates of this master’s degree have PhDs and are working in academia (research institutes and universities). In addition, 34% are research assistants in institutions such as the UPC, the UPV, the UIB, the UAB, the IBEC, the UPN and the UPM, in Spain, but also at Imperial College London, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the École Polytechnique de Montréal, the University of Texas, the University of Technology, Sydney and the National Technical University in Ecuador.

A substantial proportion (30%) work for industrial firms or technology centres in Spain (DASSA Technologies, CETEMMSA, Analitzadors Assessoria Energètica, the Barcelona Provincial Council, SEAT, Thinking Forward XXI, IREC, Hewlett-Packard, ALTEN, Durán-Corretjer, Renesas Electronics and GlobalSmartDesign), in Europe (ESS AB, Shell and ASML) and across the world (Toro Development Ltd., Honeywell Process Solutions, DIMAP Ingeniería and Plenum). A number of South American graduates have returned to their posts in academia at the University of the Andes, in Venezuela, the Pontifical Catholic University, in Peru, the Army Polytechnic School, the Pontifical Catholic University and the National Technical University, in Ecuador, and the Autonomous University of Manizales, in Colombia.

Generic competencies

Generic competencies are the skills that graduates acquire regardless of the specific course or field of study. The generic competencies established by the UPC are capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainability and social commitment, knowledge of a foreign language (preferably English), teamwork and proper use of information resources.

On finishing the master's degree, graduates will be able to:

• Undertake research, innovation and development tasks in companies and institutions.
• Conceive of systems and automate processes to increase performance, production, competitiveness, quality and the optimisation of human and energy resources.
• Include aspects of analysis, design and control in systems and processes.
• Apply these aspects to increasing performance, production, competitiveness, and quality; and to optimising human and energy resources in the following sectors: industrial, aerospace, naval, biomedicine, natural and energy resources, etc.