A robotics and automation teaching laboratory

The electrical engineering school ESA IGELEC has recently implemented a robotics laboratory using industrial-based equipment. The main objectives were to enable students to understand fundamental theoretical robotics principles and to become familiar with equipment used in industry. The course structure and design of the laboratory reckons that the students will work as designers and integrators of robotics systems rather than developers of robotic manipulators. The laboratory includes industrial robots, vision systems, simulators of manufacturing systems, a graphics robotics simulator and CAD control systems software. This paper describes the course structure and the set of laboratory experiments developed as support for the course work. It includes a list of representative final year projects and industrial training internships. An appraisal of the approach applied and the feedback received from students is included.