ROBOTICS ENGINEER ?
What is Robotics Engineering
Robotics Engineering is a very interdisciplinary and niche branch in the much broader electronics and mechanical engineering. One can say that robotics engineering can be a cross between electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer sciences.
Robotics engineering involves the complete study, innovation, designing, programming, operating, and modification of robots. This is a very niche segment and a very new field in engineering.
Robots are electronic machines that are designed to make things easier for humans. The main courses for a person willing to pursue robotics engineering are Bachelor of Technology in Robotic Engineering (B.Tech Robotics Engineering) and Master of Technology in Robotic Engineering (M.Tech Robotics Engineering).
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Robotics Engineering
The eligibility criteria for the bachelor’s degree, Bachelor of Technology in Robotics Engineering, is: –
The student must have passed the 10+2 standard from a recognized board.
The student must have the Science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Maths).
The student must have a minimum aggregate percentile of 55% at the 10+2 level.
The eligibility criteria for the master’s degree, Master of Technology in Robotics Engineering, is:
The student must hold an engineering degree from a recognized university.
The student must have a minimum aggregate percentile of 55% or equivalent CGPA at the graduation level.
Entrance Exams for Robotics Engineering
JEE Main- Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) is the national level engineering entrance exam conducted twice a year by NTA in online mode. It is conducted to screen the candidates for admission to various undergraduate engineering programmes in NITs, IIITs, and other institutes.
SRMJEEE- The SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Examination (SRMJEEE) is conducted by SRM Institute of Science and Technology for students seeking admission to engineering courses in the different campuses of the university.
Merit-Based Admission- Many colleges and institutions, mainly private colleges and institutions, grant admission to eligible students based on their aggregate performance at the Senior Secondary/ 10+2 standard level.
Scope of Robotics Engineering in India and Abroad
Robotics engineering has a lot of future scope in general as the industry has been booming in the past few years and has been dynamically changing with the change and advancement in technology. Students that graduate and hold a robotics degree can opt to do jobs or opt and out and go for higher education.
If they opt to go for a job, new kinds of job opportunities are opening everywhere in this field. This field is so unique that even people that work freelance in this field are very high-skill people and earn a lot of money for their consultation and programming skills when hired by companies. After completing B.Tech, a person can also go for an MBA if it suits him or her. Robotics engineering opens up a wide variety of career avenues.
Course Fees Robotics Engineering
| Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private | Government | Private | Government | |
| UG | 2.16 Lakhs  | — | 24.00 Lakhs | — |
| PG | 70.00 K | 18.60 K | 4.96 Lakhs | 2.29 Lakhs |
| DIPLOMA | 65.10 K | 37.50 K | 90.00 K | 1.20 Lakhs |
Course Subjects
The subjects listed below are taught to students when they study robotics engineering: –
Applied Mathematics
Applied Physics
Computer Programming
Electronic Devices and Digital Circuits
Machine Kinematics
Automation
Hydraulics and Pneumatics
Measurement and Instrumentation
Sensors and Signals
Robotic Designing
Careers in Robotics Engineering
There is a huge scope for a person in the industry once the person becomes a robotics engineering graduate. If the person wants to do a job, he has a choice whether he wants to work full-time or freelance and work part-time.
Working full-time gives a person a chance to work with a team and communicate, and in that process, brushing his or her skills. Working by oneself in a part-time way gives the person more time to work on his or her projects.
Upcoming trends
This industry is very dynamic and changes exponentially depending on the changes in technology. The following trends have been observed/ can be expected in Robotics Engineering:
IoT Adoption – IoT means the Internet of Things. IoT is a data collection tool. It is predicted that IoT will be used to make programs for robots in the foreseeable future to make more efficient machines.
Cyber Security – Looking at the darker side of things, cybersecurity risks and invasions will also increase a lot due to the increase in robotics and advancement in technology. The companies in robotics manufacturing must come up with ways to detect threats and find different security solutions.
Machine Learning – Machine Learning is a new and very important concept in Robotics as with this concept, the robot is programmed in such a way that it is made to learn responses and reactions to certain situations and problems that it is required to solve.
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
After a student completes the course in robotics engineering, the job opportunities listed below open up to him or her:-
Job profile | Job description |
Robotics Engineer | The job of a robotics engineer is to design, build, test and modify robots. They work on the systems of the robots trying to enhance and make their technologies better. |
Robotics Programmer | A robotics programmer is a computer programming expert who mostly works with robots, modifying and enhancing the codes to make the machine a better one. |
Robotics Welding Engineer | Welding is a very important job when it comes to robots as most the parts connected in a robot are welded together. A welding engineer supervises the welding process. |
Automation Engineer | Robots can also be called automated machines. Automation engineers are people who make sure that the automation processes in the robot are done well. |
Aerospace Engineer | Some robots are made for flying purposes. For example, unmanned vehicles such as drones. An aerospace engineer helps out with anything a robot needs in the area of space and aeronautics. |
Robotics Engineering Top Recruiters
With robotics being an increasingly ‘hot’ field, the jobs in this area are a lot, and many big companies look to recruit professionals who specialize in robotics. Some of the top recruiters they hire robotics professionals are: –
iRobot
EPSON
Lockheed Martin
Alphabet INC
Piaggio Fast Forward
Kawasaki Robotics
CANVAS Technologies
Average Salary
The average salaries for the above-mentioned job profiles are listed below: –
Job profile | Average salary (in Rs.) |
Robotics Engineer | Rs. 9 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Robotics Programmer | Rs. 8 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Robotics Welding Engineer | Rs. 7 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Automation Engineer | Rs. 6 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Aerospace Engineer | Rs. 7.5 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Required Skillset for Robotics Engineering
Certain skills are required while performing each job. The skills required in a person if he or she is willing to pursue robotics engineering are: –
Programming Mindset – The person willing to pursue robotics as a career must have a very keen mindset that must be passionate about programming as the person would have to continuously develop the programs the robot works on and alter them.
Active Learning – The aspirant, looking to pursue robotics as a career, must have an active learning attitude. Robotics is a very quickly growing industry, and a person working in this industry must actively update his knowledge about the field
Science and Applied Mathematics – Robotics is a very application-based field. The person looking to pursue must be academically strong and must know how to apply mathematical and scientific concepts to problems and projects in front of him.
Persistence – In robotics, the problems that present themselves to the person are most difficult and very complex. A person pursuing robotics must be persistent in finding a solution to these problems.
Course Curriculum for Robotics Engineering
Bachelor of Technology in Robotics Engineering (BTech in Robotics Engineering) is a four-year undergraduate course in this field of robotics.
The course aims to increase the knowledge of students in this very niche area. This course is a full-time course, has eight total semesters, and is mostly an on-campus course. Master of Technology in Robotics Engineering (MTech in Robotics Engineering) is a two-year postgraduate course in the field of robotics.
The main objective of the course is to help the students gain a deeper perspective and knowledge of robotics and keep the students up to date about the new technologies. The course is an on-campus full-time course which is divided into four semesters that have a duration of about six months each.
Semester Wise B.Tech Robotics Engineering Syllabus
The core subjects in the B.Tech Robotics Engineering syllabus include applied thermodynamics, mechanics of solids, machine design, electrical measurement, signal processing, and much more. The curriculum is divided into eight semesters that provide core, basic sciences, practical and industrial-based training.
The B.Tech Robotics Engineering prepares students in multiple aspects of robotic designing. The course structure for B.Tech Robotics Engineering varies from one university to another. There are standard syllabus regulations provided by AICTE that are followed by private universities. The list below consists of a semester-wise split-up of the syllabus.
| SEMESTER I | SEMESTER II |
| Engineering Mathematics-I | Engineering Chemistry |
| Professional Communication Skills | Material Science |
| Basic Electrical and Electronics | Chemistry Laboratory |
| Engineering Physics | Environmental Science |
| Programming with C | Python for Problem-solving |
| Basic Electrical & Electronics Laboratory | Engineering Mechanics |
| Engineering Physics Laboratory | Engineering Maths – II |
| Engineering Graphics Laboratory | Computer Laboratory – I |
| SEMESTER III | SEMESTER IV |
| Applied Thermodynamics | Fluid Engineering |
| Electronics and Instrumentation | Statistics and Numerical Methods |
| Electronic Devices and Circuits | Electrical Machines |
| Strength of Materials | Machine Design |
| Mathematics -III | Automatic Control Systems |
| Thermodynamics Lab | Electrical Machines Lab |
| Electronics and Instrumentation Lab | Machine Design Lab |
| Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab | Fluid Engineering Lab |
| SEMESTER V | SEMESTER VI |
| Principles of Robotics | Elements of Mechatronics |
| Microcontrollers | Machine Vision Systems |
| Mechanical Engineering Design | Elective-II |
| Digital Image Processing and Machine Vision | Power Electronics and Drives |
| Robotics Laboratory | Pneumatics and Hydraulics |
| Elective -1 | Pneumatics and Hydraulics Systems Laboratory |
| Microcontrollers Lab | Power Electronics and Drives Lab |
| SEMESTER VII | SEMESTER VIII |
| Artificial Intelligence and Expert System | Flexible Manufacture and System |
| Computer-Aided Manufacturing | Professional Elective – IV |
| Field and Service Robotics | Viva Voce |
| Professional Elective – II | Project |
| Professional Elective – III | – |
| Computer-Aided Manufacturing Lab | – |
| Modeling and Simulation Lab | – |
B.Tech Robotics Engineering Subjects
B.Tech Robotics Engineering subjects are classified as engineering fundamentals, core, elective, and lab subjects. Practical sessions and industrial training are an essential part of the course. Students can choose elective subjects based on their domain of interests.
Core Subjects:
- Machine Design
- Applied Thermodynamics
- Fluid Engineering
- Power Electronics
- Computer-Aided Manufacturing
- Electric Drives
- Microcontrollers
- Hydraulics and Pneumatics
- Robotics engineering
Lab Subjects:
- Hydraulics and Pneumatics Laboratory
- Electrical Measurement Laboratory
- Electrical Machines Laboratory
- Thermodynamics Laboratory
- Power Electronics Lab
- Engineering Graphics
- Electives Lab
- Modeling and Simulation Lab
Elective Subjects:
- Autonomous Vehicles
- Robotics Operating System
- Mobile Robotics
- Medical Robotics
- VLSI Design
- Virtual Instrumentation
- Neural Networks and Fuzzy Systems
B.Tech Robotics Engineering Course Structure
B.Tech Robotics Engineering course structure is similar to the traditional engineering courses. Since robotics engineering involves application-based engineering study, the syllabus consists of a combination of core and elective subjects. Similar to the other engineering streams, the course is divided into eight semesters. The course provides more focus on applied mechanical engineering concepts along with electronics for robotic applications.
Students will also have an option to choose electives based on their specialization and areas of interest. They will be asked to submit research-based practical projects at the end of the VIII semester. The course structure is:
- VIII Semesters
- Fundamental, Core and Elective subjects
- Mandatory Internship/Seamanship Training
- Project Submission
B.Tech Robotics Engineering Teaching Methodology and Techniques
B.Tech Robotics Engineering teaching methodology is similar to that of other engineering courses. Apart from the traditional lecture-based training, the students are also provided additional practical training with edge tech labs, projects, and industrial training. Students can work either as a team or as individuals for the final year project. The research project and thesis formation motivate the students to understand the nuances of the process and provide a suitable solution based on automation systems. In short, the teaching methodology adopted for this course are:
- Practical Sessions
- Group Projects
- Paper Presentation
- Workshop
- Industrial Visits
- Internship
B.Tech Robotics Engineering Projects
B.Tech Robotics Engineering projects are generally done on specific robotics engineering operations and automation. The project aims to motivate the students to enhance their application skills in the research and development process. The majority of the projects must be done as live-model projects, while some can be done as a thesis. The students are given adequate practical industrial training to understand the nuances of workflow and problem identification.
Popular Robotics engineering projects are:
- Unmanned Ground Vehicle
- Automatic Bottle Closing System
- SLAM based Pick and Place Robot
- Prosthetic Arm
- Unmanned Air Vehicle
- Home Automation
B.Tech Robotics Engineering Reference Books
Listed below are the reference books used for B.Tech Robotics Engineering
| Books | Authors |
| Robotic Engineering – An Integrated Approach | Richard D Klafter |
| Introduction to Material Science for Engineering | James F Shackel |
| Engineering Mechanics – Statics and Dynamics | N.H. Dubey |
| Cognitive Robotics | Hooman Somani |
| Introduction to Machine Learning | Ethem Alpaydin |
| Microelectronic Circuits | A S Sedra |
| Control System Engineering | I.J. Nagrath and Gopa |
Salary Packages for B.Tech Robotics engineers
The initial pay for robotics engineering freshers varies heavily on their area of specialization and technical knowledge. The manufacturing and research-based industries demand a higher amount of practical experience in the field. However, the interview process is similar to other domains, and it is easy to crack.
The average salary after B.Tech in Robotics Engineering across various sectors is around INR 4 – 10 LPA. The salary varies due to the domain and the job designation. Robotics engineers have diverse job opportunities in different domains to choose from and pursue.
| Designation | Salary |
| Robotics Engineer | INR 4.33 LPA |
| Automation Engineer | INR 4.60 LPA |
| Junior Project Manager | INR 5.34 LPA |
Government Jobs for B.Tech Robotics Engineering Aspirants
Robotics engineers have a wide range of job opportunities in the public sector. The development of automated systems and robotics in several sectors has established countless opportunities in several government-aided projects. Graduates can earn an average of INR 4 – 10 LPA across the public sector. Some of the popular job designations include:
| Top Government Hiring Companies | Job Designation | Salary |
| HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) | Robotics Engineer | INR 8 LPA |
| DRDO (Defense Research & Development Organization) | Research Engineer | INR 6 LPA |
| ISRO(Indian Space and Research Organization) | Research Engineer, Robotics Engineer | INR 10 LPA |
| NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) | Mechanical Engineer, Robotics Engineer | INR 7.4 LPA |
| . ONGC (Oil & Natural Gas Corporation) | Robotics Engineer | INR 9 LPA |
Other B.Tech Robotics Engineering jobs in the government sector are:
- Technical Consultant
- Maintenance Engineer
- Robotics Software Engineer
- Embedded Systems Engineer
- Graduate Engineering Trainee
- Operations Engineer
- Automation Specialist
- Project Engineer
Private Jobs for B.Tech Robotics Engineering students
The average salary of robotics engineers in the private sector depends on the demand, job role, and the skillset of the students. Robotics engineers are entitled to earn up to INR 3 to 22 LPA in the private sector. Popular job designations include:
| Top Private Hiring Companies | Job Profiles | Salary |
| Siemens | Robotics Engineer, Automation Engineer | INR 8 LPA |
| Wipro | Robotics Engineer | INR 10 LPA |
| ABB | Automation Engineer, Robotics Engineer | INR 22 LPA |
| TVS | Robotics Engineer | INR 2.5 -5 LPA |
| Kuka Robotics | Robotics Engineer | INR 5 LPA |
| Accenture | RPA Developer, Robotics Engineer | INR 9 LPA |
Some other jobs offered in this sector are:
- Automation Engineer
- Research and Development Engineer
- Senior Project Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Robotics Process Automation Specialist
- Instrumentation Engineer
- Maintenance Engineer
- Test Engineer
- Product Engineer
- Test and Analysis Technician
Job Opportunities Abroad for B.Tech Robotics Engineering
Several countries have phased out their production process to automation and autonomous manufacturing units due to high productivity levels. The importance of robotics across various sectors has created massive job opportunities. The sectors include research technology, medical, automobile, and much more.
Top Companies
Check the list below for the top international companies who hire robotics engineering students:
- Siemens
- Boston Dynamics
- SpaceX
- Tesla Automotives
- Robert Bosch
- ABB
Best Countries
Below is the list of top countries offering job opportunities to robotics engineers:
- USA
- Japan
- Germany
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
Various Career Designations Abroad for B.Tech Robotics Engineering Student
Here is the list of versatile job roles that attract B. Tech Robotics Engineering graduates to work abroad:
- Robotics Engineer
- RPA Developer
- Operations Engineer
- Mechanical Design Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- ROS Developer
- Research Engineer
- Maintenance Engineer
- Automation Specialist
Best Robotics Engineers
Robotics engineering is one of the engineering disciplines that has gained importance due to a massive technology change. Over a short span, robotics engineers have contributed a lot towards the drastic change in day-to-day technology. Robotics engineers are further into the research and development stages of implementing several state-of-the-art technology features that replace manual effort. Here is the list of some of the famous robotics engineers:
- Joseph Engelberger
- Robin Popplestone
- Hiroshi Ishiguro
- Marc Raibert
- Hod Lipson
- Ono Kojin
