Robotics engineering: A new discipline for a new century

In the spring of 2007, Worcester Polytechnic Institute introduced a BS degree program in Robotics Engineering. The motivation for the program was two-fold: it addresses the needs of the rapidly growing robotics industry and provides a professional career path matched to growing student interest as demonstrated by numerous high school robotics competitions. The program is a collaborative effort between the departments of Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering and relies in part on already existing courses. The core curriculum, however, consists of five new "unified robotics engineering" courses. Although Robotics Engineering is not recognized as a distinct engineering field by ABET, the program is designed so that it can be accredited under the "General Engineering" ABET criteria. The new major is already very popular.