As Ontario Tech celebrates its 20th anniversary, students in a wide range of undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences (FEAS) now have access to the latest cutting-edge robotics technology in laboratory space.
Through New Training Equipment and Renewal Fund funding from the Ministry of Ontario Universities (MCU), Ontario Technological University will install eight new robotics laboratories in the FEAS Robotics and Automation Laboratory in the university’s Software and Informatics Research Center (Room 2070). I installed a cell. This new device replaces his six robotic arms that have been in use since 2006. MCU’s grant will cover $372,000 of the total project cost of $612,000.
The robotic work cell enhances the experiential learning environment for undergraduate students in the following areas:
- industrial engineering
- manufacturing engineering
- mechanical engineering
- mechatronics engineering
“Robots play a key role in meeting the changing demands of advanced manufacturing and many other sectors such as logistics, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals and energy,” said FEAS Vice Dean (academic) Dr. Scott Nokleby said. “Ontario Technological University engineering students will have a valuable opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in precision motion planning for industrial applications such as welding, gluing, packaging and assembly operations. The new robotic work cell will , which also facilitates training on the integration of advanced vision systems and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that are widely used in industry.”
The new robotic work cell comes with an unlimited offline programming license, allowing students to program the robot outside of scheduled lab hours. Additionally, students will be able to complete virtual simulations in advance and implement their solutions on the robotic work cell hardware.
“This is all indicative of Ontario Institute of Technology’s continued focus on differentiating our programs through state-of-the-art experiential learning labs for engineering students,” said Dr. Hossam Kishawi, Dean of FEAS. Masu. “With the use of robots and automation rapidly expanding globally, we are providing the best infrastructure to prepare our students for engineering careers in a wider range of applications, from manufacturing and service jobs to systems integrators. I want to fix it.”
Quick facts about robotics and automation
- The inventory of work robots around the world has reached a new record of 3.5 million units (Source: International Federation of Robotics).
- Traditionally the domain of global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), new trends in robotics are also attracting small and medium-sized businesses.
- Annual global robot installations are expected to exceed 500,000 in 2024, with growth expected to be driven by consumer goods and service robots in the food industry, from agricultural facilities to ready-to-eat products (Source: World Robotics Report).
Megha Verma, a laboratory specialist in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, uses a teach pendant to operate a new robotic arm in the Robotics and Automation Lab.
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New robotic work cell in the Robotics and Automation Laboratory.
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New robotic work cell in the Robotics and Automation Laboratory.
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New robotic work cell in the Robotics and Automation Laboratory.
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Megha Verma, a laboratory specialist in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, uses a teach pendant to operate a new robotic arm in the Robotics and Automation Lab.