Robotics and Control
Courses | FAQs | Advisors | EE Tech Areas
The focus of this technical area is robotics and computer-controlled systems. The field of robotics includes designing precision control systems. Today, all robots are computer-controlled machines. Analog controllers are no longer cost effective to manufacture and have been replaced by highly-reliable microcontrollers, or computers-on-a-chip. Control systems are present in many important areas, including the transportation and manufacturing industries. For example, control systems can be found in automobiles, aircraft, ships, manufacturing plants, and integrated circuit (IC) fabs.
Courses
Students must choose three courses from the following list:
- EE 345L Microprocessor Applications and Organization (F, Sp)
- EE 362K Introduction to Automatic Control (F, Sp, Su)
- EE 370 Automatic Control II (Sp of odd years)
- EE 370K Computer Control Systems (F)
- EE 370N Introduction to Robotics and Mechatronics (F)
- EE 371D Introduction to Neural Networks (No longer offered)
- M 374 Fourier and Laplace Transforms
FAQ
Which courses in the core curriculum (i.e., required basic sequence and major sequence courses) might indicate whether this is a good technical area for the student?
Signal Processing and System courses including EE 313 and EE 362K
What are the key courses in this technical area?
EE 370K- Computer Control Systems and EE 370N Introduction to Robotics and Mechatronics.
What are the immediate and long-term employment opportunities for students who have some exposure to this technical area?
The employment opportunities for students with a background in this area are with Integrated Circuit companies that sell microcontrollers, companies that make control systems for the Chemical Process Industry and Companies that make Computer Controlled machines. Engineers that have some background in Computer Control systems are also employed by the industrial users of control systems.
How important is a graduate degree (MS or PhD) in this area?
Both the developers of controllers as well as companies that employ controllers in their products hire students with a BS degree and some course background in Computer Control. MS and PhD degree students with a combination of strengths in Computer Control as well as another field, such as applications software find opportunities in the same companies.
This information provided by Dr. Robert Flake, a professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UT-Austin. Dr. Flake has served on the faculty at UT-Austin since 1966 and is the current Manufacturing Systems Engineering Graduate Studies Committee chair. His research has focused on the study of precision manufacturing equipment development for electronic packaging and board manufacturing.
Faculty Advisors for Basic and Conditional Major Students
The faculty advisors listed below can meet with Basic Sequence and Conditional Major Sequence Students to discuss topics such as:
- Educational opportunities within ECE
- Course planning to meet a student's educational goals
- Short-term and long-term career planning
Students should either meet with the faculty during their office hours or send them an e-mail to make an appointment. Students in Major Sequence should discuss this matters with their assigned faculty advisor.
Arapostathis, Ari
Driga, Mircea
Flake, Robert H.
Sandberg, Irwin W.