Robotics and Automation
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering
The Robotics and Automation concentration within the Mechanical Engineering major provides students with a foundation in mechanical design, control systems, and computational methods, while offering specialized coursework in robotics, mechatronics, and automation.
This concentration prepares students to design, model, and implement intelligent electromechanical systems by integrating mechanical engineering fundamentals with sensors, actuators, embedded systems, and control technologies. Students gain extensive hands-on experience through laboratory courses, simulation-based analysis, and design projects involving robotic platforms and automated systems.
Graduates will be well equipped for careers in robotics, manufacturing automation, aerospace systems, and related emerging fields requiring advanced control and integration of mechanical and electronic systems.
The global robotics market is projected to reach approximately $50.8 billion by 2025. This explosive growth is fueling a massive talent need; it was estimated that 161,766 robotic engineer jobs were available in the United States by 2025, a rise of over 6% since 2020. Manufacturers increasingly rely on these roles to solve critical labor bottlenecks, with an estimated 1.9 million manufacturing roles projected to remain unfilled by 2033.
A concentration in robotics places you at the intersection of AI and physical systems. Industry trends show a massive shift toward service and collaborative robotics (cobots). Service robotics is set to dominate the market with an estimated $40.58 billion in revenue in 2025, while the cobot market is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.9% through 2030. This provides diverse career paths in healthcare (surgical and rehab robots), logistics (autonomous warehouses), and green energy. StudioRed +6
Earn an Undergraduate Concentration in Robotics and Automation when you complete 12 credit hours (four technical electives) of approved coursework, listed below. The 12 credit hours fulfill the technical elective requirement for mechanical engineering students.
To declare a concentration in Robotics and Automation, you must be a declared mechanical engineering major. If you decide you would like to declare the concentration, email your academic advisor and they will initiate the process.
To enroll in 500-level courses, students must have a 3.0 GPA or instructor approval.
*You must take MECH 417 as one of the four Robotics and Automation Concentration courses:
*MECH 417 - Control Systems
MECH 414 - Machine Learning-Mechanical Engr Automation
MECH 415 - Rotorcraft Modeling and Control
MECH 416 - Introduction to Robotic Manipulators
MECH 564 - Fundamentals of Robot Mechanics and Controls
MECH 580B5 - Artificial Intelligence and Design
ECE 253 - Microcontrollers and C for Internet-of-Things
ECE 412 - Digital Control and Digital Filters
ECE 450 and 451 - Digital System Design and Laboratory
ECE 463 - Electrical Motors and Generators
ECE 528 - Embedded Systems and Machine Learning
ECE 561 - Hardware/Software Design of Embedded Systems
MECH 424 - Advanced Dynamics
MECH 425 - Mechanical Engineering Vibrations
MECH 529 - Advanced Mechanical Systems