5 Careers for a Master’s in Robotics Engineering Graduate
5 Exciting Fields for Robotics Engineering Graduates
- Military
- NASA
- Manufacturing
- Transportation
- Nanotechnology
As technology progresses at a rapid pace, the need for roboticists grows. Careers in this field are growing more rapidly than ever before. Robotic engineers are needed in many different places, ranging from NASA, to the military, to transportation and manufacturing. As these advanced technologies become more common, more job positions will open up the world over.
Related Resource: Top 20 Robotics Engineering Schools in the U.S.
1. Military
The newest and greatest in technology usually goes to the military first. Roboticists are needed in cases of unmanned missions. Often, an area too dangerous for humans will employ a drone instead. The cost of a drone being shot down will always be less than the cost of a human soldier. In addition to these unmanned missions, roboticists and computer scientists are useful to improve and create computer systems in tanks, aircrafts and other manned vehicles.
2. NASA
NASA is neck-to-neck with the military in terms of fantastic new technology. A robotics career at NASA can take many forms. Jobs there include building robotic arms for space stations and shuttles, making and driving rovers across the surface of Mars, equipping robots with tools for scientific research on alien worlds, developing technology that helps robots think on their own and more. Similar to the military, NASA creates robots for missions that humans can't handle yet. There is a wide variety of things a roboticist can do at NASA, even exploring the stars.
3. Manufacturing
The invention of the assembly line revolutionized the consumer world. Now, that invention is still being perfected. Robots have taken over most human assembly line jobs, performing repetitive tasks at a cheaper cost than human employees. However, there is still a need for humans, as these robots are not foolproof and can still malfunction and break. A roboticist is needed to build, install and maintain these robots. Most companies prefer to employ a handful of roboticists to an entire factory of workers. As robot workers become more common, they may slowly begin to take over other repetitive service jobs.
4. Transportation
A career in robots could also bring a graduate into the world of transportation. Google, Uber and Lyft have come together to create the world's first self-driving vehicles. The company, called Waymo, uses advanced computer software to "teach" self-driving cars how to drive. These cars use complex sensors to detect and predict what the pedestrians and traffic will do around them, and react accordingly. It is Waymo's goal to reduce car-related injuries and casualties to the point where there are no more accidents. Eventually, they hope to extend this technology to big vehicles like tractor-trailers.
5. Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is also on the rise, especially in medicine. Tiny robots and computers can be used in surgery, to deliver medicine to a specific part of the body, to safely explore the inner workings of human tissue and more. Medicine will always be needed, but thanks to nanotechnology, it can be safer and more effective than ever. Nanotechnology can assist in a more accurate diagnosis and treatment of complex medical conditions.
In a future filled with robots, humans will have more opportunities than ever before. New jobs will be available that are right out of science fiction. Getting a degree as a roboticist is a good investment for a future in nanotechnology, transportation, manufacturing, the military or even NASA.