Why Robotics?
Thursday, October 27th, 2011Robotics is as complex as a discipline gets, being equal parts creativity, engineering, mathematical talent, and a range of scientific knowledge that enables individuals or teams to create robots – artificial constructs designed to complete menial tasks. But what potential benefits can they have, and how difficult is it to pursue a career in robotics?
For starters, the advantages of using robots instead of human beings is quite clear, for two reasons. They are less likely to make mistakes when it comes to menial, repetitive tasks that go on for hours, and although this is slowly pushing menial labour in manufacturing out into the job market, it does have advantages, as jobs can be created elsewhere and we can begin to phase out manual labour that can be somewhat unsatisfying for many individuals.
Now, whether you’re a scientist or a partypoker.com pro, you’ll know that when it comes to exploring unknown territory, either terrestrial or otherwise, we’ve begun to rely on robots rather than human beings. Not only does this avoid putting anything living at risk, it also means we can push further and further than ever before. From minefields to Mars, it’s enabled us to explore and make safe areas that we could previously never experience without putting people at risk.
To get into robotics takes an incredible dedication to your craft, and a shedload of enthusiasm – but it can be done. Focusing on mathematics, physics, engineering, product design throughout your education, followed by specific study of robotics at, say, Carnegie Mellon, is an ideal route in – but it does take a lot of time and effort. This isn’t a Hollywood production – it requires years of studying and practical projects that aren’t quite as big or exciting as the robotics frontier, but the end rewards are incredible. So good luck, and who knows – we might even be featuring videos of your robot on the site, one day.






