Famed college to offer first robotics degree.WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Worcester Polytechnic Institute - (WPI) A well-regarded, small engineering college. Address: Worcester, MA, USA. , one of the first engineering and technology universities in the nation, helped give birth to the space age. It now intends to be the first to offer a bachelor's degree in robotic engineering. The private university located in Massachusetts, and founded in 1865, will offer the degree beginning this fall. "Robotics robotics, science and technology of general purpose, programmable machine systems. Contrary to the popular fiction image of robots as ambulatory machines of human appearance capable of performing almost any task, most robotic systems are anchored to fixed positions is one of the fastest growing areas of technology and has the potential to change many aspects of our world," said Carol Simpson, the school's provost and senior vice president. She said the program is designed to foster a "new breed of engineer." The increasing demand for robots in the homeland security Noun 1. Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Department of Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States and defense sectors, as well as health care and consumer markets, prompted the school to add the major. WPI WPI - Worcester Polytechnic Institute helped usher in Verb 1. usher in - be a precursor of; "The fall of the Berlin Wall ushered in the post-Cold War period" inaugurate, introduce commence, lead off, start, begin - set in motion, cause to start; "The U.S. the space age through its most famed undergraduate, Robert Goddard, the father of modern rocketry rock·et·ry n. The science and technology of rocket design, construction, and flight. rocketry Noun the science and technology of the design and operation of rockets . He later taught at the college and used its labs to develop his first prototypes. The institute plans to continue sponsoring its kindergarten through 12th grade outreach programs, as well as student robotics competitions. "Whether in science fiction or real life, robots have the power to fire young people's imaginations and spur their interest in technology," Simpson said. Massachusetts is home to several robotics firms associated with the defense industries, including iRobot, maker of the PackBot, Black-I Robotics, which manufactures expendable four-wheeled robots being used to counter roadside bombs, and Bluefin Robotics, which specializes in undersea vehicles. Representatives of the companies serve on the program's advisory board. Email your comments to SMagnuson@ndia.org |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion