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1. Каковы достижения в области робототехники?
Крупнейшие достижения были в точности, скорости и силе роботов. Обучение и алгоритмы искусственного интеллекта, были, вероятно, крупнейшим разочарованием. Я не думаю, что мы увидим роботов, хотя бы отдаленно приближенных к человеческому разуму к 2050 г.
2. Как определить искусственный интеллект?
Искусственный означает не встречающийся в природе. Интеллект - это способность приобретать и применять знания.
3. Что ближе всего к искусственному интеллекту, что человечество создало на сегодняшний день?
Возможно, некоторые компьютерные алгоритмы.
4. Возможно ли, что роботы превзойдут человеческого разума?
Вполне возможно, но это, если и будет, то не скоро..
5. Помимо создания нейронной сети, существуют ли какие-либо другие пути создания искусственного интеллекта?
Самообучающиеся алгоритмы и экспертные системы являются двумя примерами.
6. Сколько это стоит построить робота гуманоида?
Я уверен, что Sony потратила десятки миллионов долларов на их Asimo.
7. Если полностью самодостаточные роботы будут созданы это возможно, что голливудские фильмы, как "Терминатор" и "Я - Робот" могут стать реальностью?
Это возможно, но скорее всего люди, которые сделали роботов, просто выключат их , прежде чем они выйдут из-под контроля.
8. шпионаж становится все большей проблемой, будет ли создание роботов наблюдения способствовать уже растущей угрозе?
Наблюдательные роботы могут быть отличными шпионами.
9. Do you think that the field of robotics engineers will grow in the future or shrink?
I think the field will grow. Do some research on the number of robots deployed world-wide today and compare it with the numbers from ten years ago and then see what you think. You might also like to read Marshall Brain’s Robotic Nation and see what he thinks.
10. Robots like the Mini – Andros III are used to dispose of explosive ordinance devices. Are
there any other robots that help in a similar manner like firefighting?
I'm sure there are. Do some research and please let me know what you find. I think the BEAR robot could
make an excellent fire fighter.
11. AIBO is able to learn and is capable of simulating emotions. Is there a possibility of AIBO “turning” on its owners?
Nope. I just read that Sony is discontinuing Aibo.
12. I’m about to graduate high school. How do I find a job in robotics?
You really have two choices. The first is to go to traditional
college and the second is to go to a technical college. If you decide to go
the traditional college route, then you should probably study
science or engineering, though there may be opportunities for folks with humanities degrees to work in the robotics field one of these days. Dr. Susan Calvin was a robot psychologist. If you go to a technical
college, then you will have a chance to learn about robot programming and robot applications. A job doing those things would be very interesting.
13. I’m about to graduate college with an engineering degree. How do I find a job in robotics?
When you first graduate college, you will be a very junior engineer. Robots are often the most complex systems a company will make. You will need to first focus on a subsystem, such as the mechanical, electrical, computing or software systems. Once you have become an accomplished engineer in one of those fields, you can
consider moving to a systems engineering
roles.
14. What sort of classes did you take to prepare for your college career, or what classes did you participate in your freshman year of college?
I didn't take calculus or any AP classes in high school. I did participate in student government,
spent several semesters in metal shop and was on a sports team every
year. Hopefully some Universities still appreciate varied experience. College had the typical freshman-engineering curriculum - calculus, physics and chemistry.
15. Did you always wish to be involved with robotics, if so what started your interests in robotics? If not, how did you come into being involved?
I've been interested in robotics for as long as I can remember. I'm not sure what started it. I do remember making a robotic hand in my garage when I was about 16.
16. What sort of company or group do you work for, and what is required of you by your employer (in terms of hours, job expectations, etc)?
I work for a company that does custom engineering of computer-controlled machines. We bid on projects in the 1 to 10 million-dollar range primarily.
The projects usually last a year or less. We have about 70 engineers and about 15 work in my group. I work about 53 hours a week and try not to make too many big $$$ mistakes.
17. Within your job, what do you enjoy the most and what do you enjoy the least? Why?
I like most aspects of my job. The hardest part is dealing with employees that don't try hard enough or make a lot of mistakes.
18. I was wondering what colleges or universities are good for majoring in robotics.
Any college or university with an engineering program can put you on the path towards a career in robotics. Talk to (or email) someone on the faculty and tell them you are interested in robotics. See what they think.
19. Does your employer offer you benefits?
My employer offers benefits that are typical for a company that employs engineers – health, life & disability insurance, 401k, standard holidays, a cube
: )
20. Did you like the college you chose? if not why?
I went to Rice University for my undergraduate degree. The choice was good for me. I recommend looking for a University committed to nurturing its undergraduate students. I know it’s hard to believe, but an 18-year-old living away from home for the first time can
use some guidance from time to time.
21. What are the educational requirements for becoming a robotics engineer?
The educational requirements for becoming a robotics engineer are pretty much the same as the educational requirements for becoming any kind of engineer. That would be an engineering degree from a four-year college. I’ve also seen folks with physics degrees and other science degrees working as robotics engineers. There
is also plenty of room for technical college degrees in the robotics field. These would be for the folks that would like to work on the "ground floor" with robots. They are deploying robots and teaching them to do their tasks.
22. What is the typical job function?
See below for a description of what I do on a typical day.
23. What do you do on a typical workday?
I generally get to work at 8:00 AM. Then I’ll:
Spend two or three hours designing electrical circuits or mechanical systems and helping younger engineers learn about these circuits and systems. These engineers also help me by creating drawings and schematics.
An hour or two working on Bills Of Materials (BOM’s) – The BOM is very important to engineers. This is a list of all the materials in the system. It includes wires, resistors, integrated circuits, nuts, bolts and processors, etc. The manufacturing
department uses the BOM’s and the drawings to build the systems.
An hour or two in meetings or conference calls
An hour or two writing emails
An hour or two in the lab conducting experiments or trying to understand why the systems I designed are not working the way I
thought the would.
I’ll take a 30-minute lunch at noon and go home around 6:30. I usually sneak in a few hours working early in the morning
on weekends (I'm writing the answer to this question at 2:40 AM).
I typically work 53-hour weeks.
24. My son is 13 and is very interested in robotics, he attends West Hill School in Stalybridge Cheshire.
He is to take his options for next year, can you suggest which would be the right direction for him to choose.
Will he need A levels? and which University would you recommend he attend.
He has been asked for Homework, what he would need in terms of qualifications to do this job.
I hope you can help. Your website is very interesting, Brilliant and very informative.
Thanks in advance.:
I'm happy to hear you enjoyed looking at the learnaboutrobots site. Robotics is such a broad field that your son could study almost any discipline and end up working with robots. There are robots in art, music and entertainment. The "star" of Isaac Asimov's "I Robot" books is a robot psychologist.
I don't know how it is in Stalybridge Cheshire, but here in Austin public school is crammed with reading, writing and arithmetic - at the expense of music, arts and physical education. I have a 13 year old son too. I encourage him to study what he enjoys. I also insist that he participates in at least one cultural extracurricular activity (like playing piano) and one physical (he's on swim
team right now) every semester. Tell your son I said hello.
25. Give a brief description of your field of engineering. Systems
engineering - The design of systems with mechanical
components, electrical components, computing machinery and
software.
26. Do you design you own work, or produce someone else's designs? Engineers
design their own work. Junior engineers get more supervision
and senior engineers can make bigger mistakes. 27. What advice would you give a high school student (myself) who is thinking of going into robotics engineering?
The same advice I'd give a middle school student and an undergraduate student.
Take the classes that seem interesting to you. See 24 above. 28.
If you had to do it all over again, what (if anything) would
you do differently? Take more vacation time... 29. I'm not really good in mathematics, but I'm pretty average. Do you think I have what it takes to become a robotic engineer? You can definitely work in robotics without being strong in mathematics. You might find getting an undergraduate degree in engineering pretty tough. Most engineering
curricula have a lot of math. I'm sure you can do it, though you might
need to spend a little more time on your homework. 30.
I understand that you are a very busy man, but I need just a moment of your time. I am sure you get this question a lot. Do you know of any specific colleges I could attend in Indiana to get a degree in mechanical engineering? I believe a degree in mechanical engineering could help me become a robotics engineer. Please write back to me as soon as you can. Thank you in advance for your time. Not
a day goes by when someone doesn't ask me about mechanical
engineering programs in Indiana : ) I'm not familiar with colleges in Indiana, but I bet there are plenty that have good programs in mechanical engineering. An undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering would be a great way to get on the path to becoming a robotics engineer. 31.
My friend and I were brain storming last night till about 4am about a simple robot that could play simple games. The games would involve timing so it would only involve one or two
robotic fingers to fire corresponding with the timing. You might consider servo center
by Yost engineering and a couple of RC servos from the hobby
shop. That would get you going for about $100. You could also buy a Robot magazine http://www.botmag.com/. There are lots of ads in that magazine for different robot building kits.
Good luck! 32. I know that there are different disciplines in engineering such as robotics. But
are there disciplines in Robotics Engineering? What is the correct term? What I am trying to say is that, Are their different fields such as Android engineering, Robotic Toys, Robotic Vehicles, Robotic Tools etc.? How many and what are the names of those different robotics fields? I would call them branches of robotics. The branches I can think of along the lines you suggest would be
mobile robotics, robotics tooling, robot vision, toys and
entertainment. The disciplines that shape robotics include controls, mechanisms, dynamics, kinematics, computing hardware and software. 33.
I am an academic coach assisting a high school student with the task of selecting the right college to fit his needs, wants, grades and temperament, that is a smaller school versus a
huge 30,000 student factory. He is very interested in mechanical engineering and robotics. You hit the nail on the head with
the needs, wants, grades and temperament part. Take care of those and the rest will take care of themselves.
I went to a very small 3,000-student school for undergrad and
a huge 50,000-student school for grad. I learned a lot at both
places. There are many schools of all sizes around the country
where you can study robotics engineering. Find some you are
interested in and talk to (or email) someone on the faculty.
Tell them you are interested in mechanical engineering and robotics. See what they think.
Good luck to you and your student. 34. I am currently a junior
in high school. I am really interested in the field of robotics and I would like to know how to get involved in this field. On your site, you talked about making a robot hand in your
garage. how?? Did your house have these materials just lying around? Does experimenting with different things at home require any special
equipment? I would love to try and make different things at home and I need to also...my mom is starting to get mad about all of the electronic stuff I take apart all throughout the house. All
of my early work was made from electronic stuff I took apart around the house. Our garage had a drill press and a vice, but no precision tools. Tell your Mom not to be mad, you're learning to be an
engineer.
There are kits for making robots that you can buy so you don't have to scrounge as many parts. Take a look at the ads in Robot magazine (botmag.com). You can buy decent servos at the hobby store for about $10 each and hook them to your computer with something like Servocenter from Yost
engineering. 35.
I am 42 and in the accounting field. I don't have a degree currently. I am very interested in consumer robotics, but am unsure if it is
feasible for me to consider this. Any info you could provide would be appreciated. I'm sure it's feasible, but I think the monetary penalty would be pretty high. You would lose at least a few years of salary while getting a degree and then you would be starting as a very junior engineer and would have a pretty low salary. Then you would be looking at 10 - 20 more years before you would have enough engineering experience to be a lead engineer on a robotics project. If you really wanted to do it, you could; but you would have to really want to.
36. I am a interested in robotics but am cautious about getting into the
field and it being to crowded. I am a mechanical engineering major that plans to graduate in 2009. Do you think the robotics
field will get to the point where there is more qualified workers than there is work?
There will be more demand than supply of good engineers that understand computer-controlled electro-mechanical systems for as far into the future as I can see.
37. My idols are Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein (I know the theory of relativity) and The Wright Brothers. I want to either become an engineer or a physicist. I'm only 12 years old, turning thirteen next year. So, let's get to the point. What kind of engineering do you think I should do? What kind of job do you think would suit me?
You asked me questions that only you can answer. Study and work on what you find most interesting.
38. I see you have P.E. after your name. What is a P.E.?
A Professional Engineer (P.E.) is a person who by reason of
their knowledge of mathematics, the physical sciences and the principles of engineering, acquired by professional education and practical experience, is qualified to engage in the practice of professional engineering. To lawfully use that title a person must pass a series of exams, have multiple years of engineering experience, at least five positive references from other professional engineers and maintain a license from the state in which they practice.
39. Do you feel your pay is comparable to the amount of years you spent in college?
The money I earn is fine, but the real pay is the value I place on education.
40. What are some tools that you use regularly in your job?
The tools I use most often are an oscilloscope a Digital Multi Meter (DMM) and a computer.
41. Do you get vacation time from your job? How much?
I get two or three weeks vacation a year. As long as I am getting my job done, no one pays much attention to how much vacation time I take.
42. Do you ever travel for your job?
I generally travel two or three days a month.
43. If you get sick, can you work from home?
I could do some work from home, but a lot of my job duties require me to be at the office.
44. My son is 8. He wants to be a robotics engineer, but my husband is freaking out because he wants him to be a doctor.
He's only 8. By the time he grows up half of all surgeries will
probably be performed by doctors controlling robots. The Da Vinci robot is already being used for gall bladder, prostate and even heart surgery. Do a search on Da Vinci robot and you will find lots of information. Maybe you could use his interest in robotics to expose him to medicine?
45. I have been thinking about pursuing a phd to gain further knowledge about robotics and perform research. Would you recommend working in an engineering job for a while and then pursuing a phd, or jumping straight into a phd program? Would you recommend that I pursue one at all?
I do recommend working at a regular job for a few years before pursuing a PhD. After a couple of years at that you will know whether you want to go back to school or not.
46. I am in the navy right now. I am an aviation electrician and it is has to be the most boring job there is. I have some basic electrical knowledge from the navy. What I want to know is what can I do as far as being in the navy to get a degree in robotics or electrical engineering before I retire from the military.
The Navy must have ways of supporting your efforts to get an engineering degree. I saw something called the Navy College Office (NCO) after a quick Google search.
The Navy also offers distance learning if you are at sea.
47. Are there any dangers or hazards involved in your job?
Yes. Robots and automated systems can be lethal. They can throw,
drop, crush, electrocute and cut.
48. How do I find a job in robotics?
I get emailed this question more than any other. I would say
a “job in robotics” means you are getting paid to design,
build, deploy or maintain robots. So what industries design,
build, deploy or maintain robots? The answer to this depends a
lot on how we define “robot.” There are six-axis
industrial robots used in the auto industry, wafer handling
robots used in semiconductor manufacturing, robotic surgeons,
robotic airplanes, robotic vacuum cleaners and the list goes
on. I'll call it robotic if it is a computer-controlled machine
with moving parts. Based on that definition, there are
companies that design, build, deploy and maintain robots in
just about every industry you can think of. There are
companies that make robotic products and there are companies
that do custom robotic systems. I'm sure you can find them
using Internet searches or by networking with people you know.
I don't personally recommend any one company over another.
Building, deploying and maintaining robots could be very
interesting. You would be on the "ground floor"
working with robots every day. To get started a person might
consider a technical college degree. Networking with people
you know or have worked with in the past is always a good
idea. Somehow you will need to demonstrate by experience or
training that you are qualified.
To get a job designing robots or robotic systems you are
almost certainly going to need a four-year engineering degree.
Many robotics engineers will have Master’s degree and there
are plenty of PhD’s around. You also need to understand that
when you first graduate college, even with a Master’s
degree, you will be a very junior engineer. Robotic systems
are typically the most complex systems a company will make.
You will need to first focus on a subsystem, such as the
mechanical, electrical, computing or software systems. Once
you have become an accomplished engineer in one of those
fields, you can move up to the more advanced systems
engineering role.
49. Hello, I am currently a 17-year-old high school student in Alberta. I am very interested in becoming a robotics engineer. The thing is I'm not sure if robotic engineering is really what I believe it's going to be...Maybe you can guide me. I am planning to go to UofA (University of Alberta) http://www.ualberta.ca/ and then taking the courses I need to get a PhD in Robotics Engineering: http://www.engineering.ualberta.ca/ (I'm not sure if they offer that course)
After I passed the requirements, I would maybe like to get some experience maintaining robots/get hired for robotics designs around Edmonton and Cold Lake (Northwest of Edmonton):
My real goal though would be to start a project kind of like
Kiberton, except maybe get some funds from somewhere like Honda, the government or the Canadian Forces (I'm planning to either be the designer of a big android project for civilian/commercial or industrial uses or possibly, hopefully a military project.) High hopes eh? How much chance do you think I have at succeeding? Do you think I can do it by going to UofA? Would I be obligated to move around the country? Is it a good job for supporting a family?
Thanks alot, I really hope you can help me
PS. My friend and I were having this debate. He's going to go in trades and become a plumber/electrician. I said I was going to go to university and become an engineer. He says that I'm going to waste 6 years, he'll be filthy rich, he'll be able to retire when he's young and I'll spend all my life trying to make as much money as he could. Is this true?
Thanks for the thoughtful email. First of all, I recommend that you go the
university route. It will not be a waste and you will learn a lot. You will
not regret that choice.
Can you make more money in engineering or in the trades? Understand that
neither engineers nor "tradesmen" are going to make a lot of money on the
ground floor. Going the trades route, you can start your own business and ultimately have a number of plumbers, electricians, etc. working for you. If that sounds interesting, you might go to a university and study business. As
an engineer you can also start your own business and have other engineers
working for you. Or you could work at a bigger company and have a number of
engineers reporting to you (I have about 15 engineers reporting to me). Either way, as you grow in your career you will be more successful if you learn to coach, mentor, leverage and direct others.
Did I mention that I recommend the university route? That’s not the only way, but you will have more options.
PS I asked my son what he thought about your email. Here’s how he replied:
Hey Dad,
Well, you'll have to work with the questions appertaining to the job itself (ie. Moving around the country, having a family. Then again, I guess you are a robotics engineer, and I am your son. So that would answer
the family question.)
But I think he should know that, at least to me, it seems like a questionable idea to create plans for a future based upon a certain string of events happening without flaw - making it into UofA, then earning a PhD, then getting a job in robotics, and at last coming up with his wonderful android or military project. If he is truly interested in robotics for the field itself, then this plan will certainly bring him to a sense of contentment/fulfillment, despite any changes in the plans that may occur along the way. However, if his only, or at least main, incentive for pursuing this career path is to end up in the final scenario he's listed here, then he may need to reconsider. What if the PhD doesn't go as planned? What if he isn't able to land a job on a major project right off the bat? Also, his specific interests such as these may change. He needs to ask himself if he's really interested in the field of robotics, and not only in completing the path he's outlined here. If the answer is yes, and an outline is all this is, and he is truly willing to go forth with this, then I'm sure he could be happy as a robotics engineer.
As for his debate with his friend... I'll let you handle this one. If all his friend can think about is how to do him one better by becoming fat and happy first, then I really haven't got anything to say.
50. Do you have any experience making androids?
I don't have any experience making androids. I do have some
experience making humanoids. They are usually easy to make. After
that it's at least 21 years of work to make them human. I know
because I am working on three of my own.
I expect making androids would be similar. They would be on the
easy side to make, but would take a lifetime to teach. My favorite android is Commander Data from Star Trek Next Generation. The android astronauts in the Alien movies are also pretty cool.
51. I have been into robotics for about 10 years. The one thing I want to get into is
robotics engineering research and development (R&D). How would I be able to acquire that position?
Your best bet for R&D jobs is networking with people you already know. As is the case with all jobs, you will need to demonstrate that through experience and training you are qualified to do the work.
52. I am an engineering student in Savannah, GA on track for a BS in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech. I have a question that you might be able to answer. I'm interested to know whether it would be beneficial for me to switch over to mechanical engineering. I am very interested in robotics
engineering and human-machine interaction, specifically human exoskeletal research. It seems to me that these topics in engineering are more focused in the area of mechanical engineering. Although, I'm sure that many different types of engineers are involved in such research, my question is whether mechanical engineering is a better choice for me in terms of the area of study that I am interested in.
Thank you for any input that you can offer me.
I don't recommend switching based on the information you
sent, but I do have a simple test to determine whether you prefer ME or EE. Freshman physics
basically divides into two parts - Mechanics and
Electromagnetism (when I went to college they were two
different semesters). If you liked mechanics better, then ME might be the better choice for you. If you liked electromagnetism better, then stick with EE.
You could also spend one extra year in undergrad and take the fundamental ME courses while still getting your EE degree. That's what I did and
I have never regretted it..
53. I'm a high school student interested in studying robotics and am now trying to decide between applying to college programs in computer engineering or in computer science. Do you think one field of study, CE or CS, would be better suited for a career in robotics? Either CS or CE would be a fine choice for getting into the robotics field. I recommend going into college with an open mind and see what you prefer. It might be something different than either of them. Then study what you enjoy and the rest will take care of itself. 54.
I am thinking of studying abroad. I've heard mixed reviews about doing so, and wanted to get the opinion of another engineer. I'm considering China or Japan, as they seem to be technological powerhouses (including in the area of robotics). I really appreciate your time...it's nice to be able to talk to somebody who is actually in the field and not a career academic or advisor. Studying
abroad sounds cool. If you are interested, then now is the
time to do it. I would like to work abroad (especially in
China) but now that I am married with kids in school its not
really an option for me. Once the kids are out of the house
I'm going to look at that option again. 55. Do you
think that there will be a bigger future for pneumatics
engineering? I'm not really that interested in the other
fields that much, but i do like pneumatics. I
don't know that much about pneumatics engineering, but I'm
sure it's always going to be around. If that's what you like,
then that's what you should study. Let the rest take care of
itself. 56. I m an Italian 25 years old student. I will get soon my master degree in mechatronics engineering here in Italy (politecnico di torino: the best engineering university in Italy) and i am
working for a firm concerned in developing software for robotics industrial cells.
I really like what I have studied and, in order to improve myself and my knowledge, I am planning to move to USA to take a
PhdDor to start working as intern.
I would like to ask you if you could suggest me the universities which offer
PhD in robotics or some firms where I should apply.
I know the word “robotics” actually is used for any electro-mechanical system and this question is vague but any hint you could give me is more than appreciated. Software and mechatronics is a great combination. I'm sure there are a bunch of companies looking for that
skill set. Just keep digging via the internet and you'll find them. But why the intern part? With your
background you should be looking for a job as a regular employee. If you want to leave after a year or two to get a PhD; that's your choice, you don't need to discuss that as part of the job interviews.
As you said, just about all the Universities in the USA have PhD programs that involve robotics. As a PhD student, you'll need to pay for tuition, books, fees, food and housing. I recommend looking for a University where you can work as a research assistant or teacher's assistant to cover those expenses. 57.
I am currently an undergraduate majoring in Bioengineering in Singapore.
My course has little to do with robotics in any way. Its main focus include biomaterials, bioimaging and biomechanics.
I am concerned about my lack in foundation to enter robotics since
I did not do mechanical or electrical as a undergraduate course. I believe one of the biggest growth areas in robotics in going to be in the medical field. Your degree in Bioengineering will bring a lot to the table that EE's and ME's won't have. Your concern about not having enough background in EE or ME may be valid. Can you find a way to spend a year taking some courses in those areas? 58.
I am a Film major, but I want to go to grad school for Robotics. I have quite a bit of experience building robots-- I went to an engineering magnet school for high school, where I competed in robotics tournaments. Now I work building, designing, teaching and troubleshooting robots every day. I'm also
minoring in both mathematics and computer science. However, I'm worried my lack of academic engineering experience will make me
inadmissible. What should I do? As long as you can prove you are minoring in mathematics and computer science then you should be fine with engineering graduate schools in robotics. Find a Professor that that believes in you.
Film (and entertainment in general) are some of the biggest applications in robotics. Your major in Film
will bring much to the table the EE's and ME's won't have. |
