A new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) robotics platform from Yaskawa Motoman will soon help students in secondary educational programs practice skills in advanced manufacturing and robotics. The company announced it is available in a general-purpose platform and a welding education cell, two fast-rising employment areas.
The platform reportedly enables students to practice technologies typically encountered in manufacturing environments. This hands-on educational tool offers key training for employment, as well as a method for learning the skills required by the industry. Educators can purchase a complete package or customize a system to fit planned course work and classroom layouts.
“We developed the STEM Robotics Platform to provide community colleges, vocational schools and technical colleges with the best possible equipment for teaching industrial robotics,” said Erik Nieves, technology director. “Students are excited about robotics. The success of high school robot competitions like FIRST and Vex make students enthusiastic about robot programming, and each year, growing numbers are looking for opportunities to learn more.”
STEM education has been promoted in schools to address the perceived lack of qualified candidates for high-tech jobs. Typically STEM educational materials focus on hands-on training that is directly applicable to the industry. Graduates in the field of robotics go on to become technicians and engineers in factories and other industries.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment growth in robotics engineering is expected to be in the range of 7-13 percent through 2018, with about 50,200 projected job openings from 2008 to 2018. Median wages in 2010 were $43.40 hourly and $90,270 annually. About 183,000 people were employed as robotics engineers as of 2008.Yaskawa Motoman also offers other education tools, including the Simple Education System (SES) and customizable training programs. SES is a PC-based robot simulator that allows customers to learn to operate and program Motoman robots in the virtual world while keeping their actual robots in production.
The company provides automation products and solutions for many industries and robotic applications, including arc welding, assembly, coating, dispensing, material handling, material cutting, material removal, packaging, palletizing and spot welding.
