With its diverse range of applications, Robotics is making waves in the academic sector in India and has become popular among the student fraternity, opines Beas Dev Ralhan





Once part of Hollywood science fiction, robots are now a real deal. Courtesy of technology, these electromechanical machines are now performing the work of humans through a diverse range of applications.



Globally, robots are gaining popularity in electrical, electronics, automotive, industrial manufacturing, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Not only do they help improve productivity, in sectors like automotive, robots are also being used to test product and process quality.



India has made its place in the top 10 countries that use robots in industrial manufacturing. The others on the list are Japan and USA, with South Korea leading all the way. By 2020, there will be an estimated 5.1 million jobs for robots in India. The global figure for this is expected to reach $152.7 billion, improving productivity by 30%.



With such tremendous potential, Robotics has begun making waves in the academic sector as well and has gained huge popularity among the student fraternity of India. It is a dynamically-evolving stream which encourages students to hone and expand their analytical and creative skills by using diverse approaches to solve a problem.



Considered a tool to develop a powerful pedagogy in training students on theoretical and practical concepts of science, Robotics helps them learn through living the concepts.



Apart from developing core life skills in students, Robotics offers a comprehensive learning programme to students through the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) approach.



In a nutshell, Robotics gives students a platform to integrate their technical knowledge and psychosocial skills to resolve real-life problems. A number of colleges have realised the scope of the subject and have started offering courses in Robotics besides conducting workshops on the subject for engineering students.



Inclusion in curriculum



Some of the colleges have gone a step ahead, encouraging students to participate in national and international Robotics-related competitions such as First Lego League, BotBall, FIRA and Robocup to help them develop their technical and cognitive skills.



With the Robotics market poised for tremendous growth, institutions such as the Indian Institutes Technology and National Institutes Technology have also taken up the subject as a core research area.



Also, several startups are joining hands with educational institutions for conducting workshops and training students in Robotics — giving them training kits and certifications in order to draw more of them towards the subject. These startups are also providing necessary support services, training and kits containing robot-building hardware and software components to students of those institutions that are willing to incorporate Robotics in their curriculum.



Despite all the efforts, the Indian education system has still a long way to go when it comes to introducing Robotics at the school level. However, this branch of engineering is slowly inching towards the schools of India, gaining prominence in the curriculum.



The Indian academia has realised that those who are studying Robotics now will have the potential to shape world technology in the future. For students, this means they have to continuously update themselves with information and skill-set needed in Robotics to keep up with times because the future will belong to those who can implement knowledge, and not just memorise a fact.



(The author is co-founder, Next Education India)