Advanced Training in Industrial Robotics Using Project-Based Learning and Design Thinking in a Partnership Between the University and Industry

This work in progress presents an engineering-advanced teaching alternative in a partnership project between the Federal Institute of Amazonas (IFAM) and LG Electronics Factory, applied in Manaus/Brazil. The city of Manaus is in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest, where the Brazilian government has a policy to encourage the electronics industry, as a way to have a sustainable economic alternative and avoid deforestation in this region. Therefore, there are several electronic product factories in the city. However, as it is isolated from other developed regions, Manaus has few qualified professionals in advanced technologies and needs to migrate its production processes to Industry 4.0. As an alternative to the government's low investment power, the company LG Electronics and the Federal Institute of Amazonas created a partnership project for the high-level training of engineering students in advanced industrial robotics. The project is conceptually based on the hands-on teaching philosophy and uses the Project-Based Learning methodology integrated into the Design Thinking methodology that involves practical classes at the university and at the factory environment, in order to apply the knowledge to develop real industrial projects and to give meaning to theoretical classes to consolidate the acquired knowledge. The project, which began in January and will end in December, aims to train two groups of undergraduate engineering students from various public and private universities. The project is financed by LG Electronics and developed at IFAM in association with LG Factory, joining theory and practice applied to real challenges. The expected results will demonstrate the positive contribution of this project to the high-level training of students and involved teachers in industrial robotics and build an advanced industrial robotics laboratory at the university. The synergy of this project, which involves modern teaching methodologies in an integrated university and factory environment, with professors and professionals working together, will certainly result in a high-level training experience.