2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Robotics engineering (RE) is an interdisciplinary field that integrates competencies from the mechanical engineering (ME), electrical engineering (EE) and computer engineering (CE) disciplines. Industry is seeking engineers capable of simultaneously considering the mechanics, electronics, and computing aspects of robotics or system design. Also, robotics is widely used in activities at the elementary and secondary school levels, and students aiming to pursue a career in robotics are interested in receiving training in all three aspects and their integration, rather than being limited to choosing just one.

Robotics can be incorporated in engineering curricula through dedicated courses or capstone projects. To make it a specific engineering program, courses from the ME, EE, and CE disciplines can serve as the foundation on which robotics and integration skills can be developed. Problem-based and Project-based Learning (PPL) has been implemented since 2001 in the EE and CE at our university. We saw an opportunity to use this teaching method to address the integration challenges and skill development in robotics.

Our RE program is designed to train engineers with a focus on two specific professional situations: 1) be able to design robotic systems integrating mechanical, electrical, and computing components for a given application context; 2) manage robotics projects involving multidisciplinary teams. The program is an 8-semester co-op curriculum with ME, EE, CE, and robotics activities every semester. A semester consists of a series of problem-based courses that address disciplinary knowledge in mechanical, electrical, computing, and robotics fields. The first six semesters cover the common core for all RE students, with a special arrangement in the first year for those with technical backgrounds. The final two semesters focus on specialization in areas related to ME, EE and CE. Each semester addresses a specific theme in robotics, showcased through a semester-long design project undertaken by teams of six to eight students. The robotic design projects in the first four semesters help students develop project and team management skills while applying their disciplinary knowledge to robotic applications. The last four semesters involve open-ended design projects conducted by multidisciplinary teams with ME, EE, CE, or Business students.

Initiated in Fall 2017 and accredited since 2021, our PPL-RE program is graduating its fourth cohort in December 2024. This paper outlines the structure of our RE program, explains the PPL teaching approach, and provide an overview of the new robotic courses developed specifically for the program. It also presents both quantitative and qualitative assessments, such as the number of applicants, retention rate, and feedback from students, alumni, and employers.