Preparing Students for the Advanced Manufacturing Environment Through Robotics, Mechatronics, and Automation Training

Automation is one of the key areas for modern manufacturing systems. It requires coordination of different machines to support manufacturing operations in a company. Recent studies show that there is a gap in the STEM workforce preparation in regards to highly automated production environments. Industrial robots have become an essential part of these semi-automated and automated manufacturing systems. Their control and programming requires adequate education and training in robotics theory and applications. Various engineering technology departments offer different courses related to the application of robotics. These courses are a great way to inspire students to learn about science, math, engineering, and technology while providing them with workforce skills. However, some challenges are present in the delivery of such courses. One of these challenges includes the enrollment of students who come from different engineering departments and backgrounds. Such a multidisciplinary group of students can pose a challenge for the instructor to successfully develop the courses and match the content to different learning styles and math levels. To overcome that challenge, and to spark students\u27 interest, the certified education robot training can greatly support the teaching of basic and advanced topics in robotics, kinematics, dynamics, control, modeling, design, CAD/CAM, vision, manufacturing systems, simulation, automation, and mechatronics. This paper will explain how effective this course can be in unifying different engineering disciplines when using problem solving related to various important manufacturing automaton problems. These courses are focused on educational innovations related to the development of student competency in the use of equipment and tools common to the discipline, and associated curriculum development at three public institutions, in three different departments of mechanical engineering technology. Through these courses students make connections between the theory and real industrial applications. This aspect is especially important for tactile or kinesthetic learners who learn through experiencing and doing things. They apply real mathematical models and understand physical implications through labs on industrial grade robotic equipment and mobile robots

Factors Influencing Students’ Acceptability of Mechatronics Engineering Course: Evidence from Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Tanzania

This study examined factors Influencing Students’ acceptability of Mechatronics Engineering Course. The study utilized the descriptive survey research design and quantitative research approach to address the research problem. A random sample of 138 respondents was drawn from the population of 260 students taking mechatronic engineering at Mbeya University of Science and Technology. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire. The statistical treatment of data was done through descriptive statistics in terms of mean scores. The study established that acceptability is influenced by both learning factors and employability factors. Mechatronic engineering program promotes students learning motivation due to its collaborative and interactive nature. Students’ learning motivation was highly influenced by the way the course focused on hand on skills, thus stimulating the learning environment. Based on the conclusions, it is recommended that to increase acceptability of the course among students, the program should be designed in such a way that it sharpens practical skills among students. This can be achieved by establishing mechatronic workshops which should be furnished with necessary equipment and facilities to allow students to acquire practical skills for self-employment. Finally, technical training colleges and higher learning institutions which offer mechatronic engineering programs should invest in supportive learning and teaching facilities. Availability of facilities is also necessary to cultivate learning motivation among students

Curriculum Development for Robotics Technology Program

With a growing need for a more skilled workforce, providing industry-driven and employment centric training services is an important national priority. Over 3.4 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled across the United Sates over the next decade. The skills gap is becoming greater based on the statistics provided by the Global Robotics Technology Market: Forecast, 2014-2020 published by Research and Markets, reporting that the worldwide robotics market is forecast to grow from the 2015 level of $26.98B to$82.78B in 2020. This 11 % compounded average growth in the next five years is unprecedented. Given the anticipated growth of the robotics industry, the number of jobs that will be required to meet the demand will grow exponentially as well. The future is bright for careers in STEM fields; today, the average annual salary for a STEM worker is $33,200 higher than the average of all U.S. workers, making the need for a novel robotics credential imperative. The curriculum development explained in this paper in the area of Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing was carried out broadly in two phases: Phase I of the project focused on investigating and compiling the curricula offered by different community colleges, work force education programs in universities and other industry certificate programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia and then in other states. Phase II of this project focused on curriculum development at CCAM (Commonwealth Center for Manufacturing, VA) that improves/adds the topics, compliments and fills the gap from the data gathered in the first stage. Phase II was not only based on the data generated in Phase I, but also was informed by data gathered from industry needs and new technologies that are required in the manufacturing robotics area. The next phase include implementing the developed curriculum at Community College level and at 4-year degree colleges

America's Next Manufacturing Workforce: Promising Practices in Education and Skills Building

The promising practices presented in this report demonstrate some of the most encouraging approaches for education and skill building of America’s new manufacturing workforce. These practices have been selected by a panel of experts from business, government, and education who serve on the MForesight Education and Workforce Development Working Group (EWD). This report summarizes a sampling of replicable and scalable promising practices being pursued to ensure that America builds an educated, skilled, and ready workforce. MForesight has not endorsed any particular product or method in presenting these promising practices, and is pleased to invite learning institutions, professional organizations, and manufacturers to submit descriptions of additional programs and initiatives serving similar purposes. In this way, MForesight hopes to build a community of practitioners and learners to help build an educated, skilled, and ready advanced manufacturing workforce. Concurrently, the EWD will continue its work to translate the key characteristics of these promising practices into policy and investment guidelines for government, industry, and educational enterprises that will support efforts to bring such practices to scale.National Science Foundation, Grant No. 1552534https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145154/1/WorkforceReport_Final.pd

Implementing Mechatronics Design Methodology in Mechanical Engineering Technology Senior Design Projects at the Old Dominion University

In recent years, the nature of engineering design has changed due to advances in embedded system design and computer technologies. It is rare to engineer a purely mechanical design that does not incorporate electrical and electronic components. Mechanical engineers and mechanical engineering technologists must possess a multi-disciplinary knowledge with the understanding of both mechanical and electrical systems. For this purpose, undergraduate programs in engineering technology have added mechatronics courses to their curriculum. Mechatronics is a design process that is multi-disciplinary in nature and integrates principles of many engineering disciplines including, but not limited to, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and controls engineering. These courses typically incorporate problem-based learning and project-based pedagogy to effectively build the student’s knowledge and understanding. Old Dominion University’s Mechanical Engineering Technology (ODU MET) program offers undergraduate courses related to Advanced Manufacturing including Robotics; Automation; Lean Manufacturing; Computer Integrated Manufacturing; and Advanced Manufacturing Processes. Recently, two new courses related to mechatronics were added to the same focus area. In addition, ODU MET program has placed an increased emphasis on mechatronics for students’ senior design projects. This paper highlights the benefits of including mechatronics in the ODU MET curriculum and presents several recent senior design projects that showcase how the student has incorporated multi-disciplinary principles into the design and build of a functional mechatronic device. By embedding these experience into their senior design project, students are exposed to other engineering technology areas, learn the terminology of other professions, and feel more confident to join the workforce with the cross-disciplinary skills needed to be successful

Engineering education for mechatronics

This paper defines mechatronics, explains mechatronics philosophy, and describes characteristics of mechatronics products and systems. It reviews some aspects of education and training for mechatronics and compares the two different approaches to engineering education: generalist engineering versus specialist engineering. It also examines the Japanese approach to product development strategies and mechatronics education and training. It also gives a bird's eye view of the mechatronics education in higher education institutions across the world with a specific reference to a typical mechatronics engineering degree program. Finally it concludes that, there will be an increasing need in the future for discipline-based mechatronics engineers

Pilot Programs for Veterans Transition To Engineering Fields

Veterans, through their active service, frequently receive training in highly skilled technical areas. However, they may lack a theoretical background in underlying engineering principles. They also need additional support with the transition from a highly structured military environment to an environment with more ambiguous time constraints and different sorts of responsibilities. Moreover they are facing challenges which are specific for their student population. Therefore, enabling multiple mechanisms which would support them and provide them necessary guidance are especially important at universities with large veteran populations such as at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Hence, there is a need for programs which build on the specialized training that veterans received and aid in their academic journey. This paper will introduce three pilot programs for advancing engineering education for military veterans focusing on forming a support base for veterans to assist them in overcoming traditional educational barriers

Using Small UAS for STEM Education: Introducing Robotics and Mechatronics with Drones

Several global developments point to importance of STEM-related education and studies. Every industry sector faces challenges in the recruiting of qualified personnel, due to retiring employees and general economic growth. Also, several domains, foremost automotive and aviation are undergoing a tremendous shift towards electrification to achieve sustainability. Hence, sparking the interest in STEM studies, education and vocational training cannot start early enough. This paper introduces the benefits of the educational use of sUAS by identifying core benefits in the three domains of learning – cognitive, affective, psycho-motor. Preliminary data and survey results from from several science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) drone providers worldwide will be used to identify and underline the benefits of this educational concepts

Innovative Approach to Training Sustainable Engineers

Oguz han Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan is a higher education institution, which specializes in training engineers with innovative views. Training of future professionals that “Engineer a Sustainable World” requires not only new competencies, including creative learning and thinking, complex problem-solving interdisciplinary and international cooperation, and a code of ethics, but also challenges a change in engineering education itself. In our approach, we suggest innovative ways to develop a deeper working knowledge of technical fundamentals while simultaneously learning personal and interpersonal skills, and product, process, and system building skills. For analysis of interrelated arrangement of modules for effective acquisition of knowledge, a supportive alignment of disciplinary courses was studied and a wide range of skills required in professional areas were mapped throughout the curriculum. Moreover, we created a new learning context that provides an opportunity to implement both theoretical and practical knowledge to conceive, design, implement and operate real-world systems and products. In this approach, we developed integrated methods of gaining active learning experience that forms a basis for carrying out challenging capstone projects. As a result, our innovative approach that focuses on modification of education and research improves all aspects of comprehensive training of sustainable engineers