Implementation of a novel industrial robotics course and its evaluation by students

Abstract

Presently we are witnessing an increasing adoption of industrial robots, with predictions for their further dissemination in distinct sectors. Some studies show that there is a lack of people able to plan the introduction of these equipments in manufacturing environments and to operate them after its inception, leading to the need to train undergraduates in the operation and programming of industrial robots. Due to the Portuguese economic situation, there is a lack of funding for the Higher Education Institutions, leading to the need of finding innovative ways to teach these subjects. Bearing these ideas in mind, ISEP began teaching a course on Industrial Robotics based in the achievement of the practical training using ABB RobotStudio (from ABB Robotics) robot simulation software for off-line programming. This paper describes the main results of such experience and the evaluation of the course made by the students who have attended this course. The results of surveys conducted to the students after the end of the course show the excellent acceptance that this course format has achieved among them, the good results that have been achieved in terms of their knowledge acquisition, and has allowed the author to get students feedback in order to introduce improvements in the course.