Robotic engineering in Ireland

Chickentown

I have read a lot recently about the potentially exponential rise of the robotics industry over the next half century and beyond.

Just wondering what the current job prospects are within the Irish robotics industry and if you guys can see Ireland adapting quickly to with regard to attracting such business or just being passed over for whatever reasons (i.e. cheaper costs in the east etc...), should the forecast be correct.

CatFromHue

I'm not sure how much of a cross over there is but there's a good few companies, some home grown who supply into the medical device Multi Nationals, out there looking for Automation Engineers at the moment.

They are of course looking for experienced ones.

Go to Irishjobs.ie and do a search for automation and you'll see what I mean (be aware though that a number of recruitment agencies will all be trying to fill the same jobs).

Many automation engineers are required for PLC & SCADA type work, not at all robotics.

The likes of RDS in Mullingar (ABB agents) would have lads that would be adept at 6 axis ABB robot programming etc.

Most automation engineer jobs wouldn't encompass robotics.

CatFromHue

Yeah PLC use does seem to be mentioned in a fair few of the ads alright.

dave2pvd

Augeo wrote: »

Most automation engineer jobs wouldn't encompass robotics.

I disagree.

I'm one of the many automation engineers that works with robotics.

Now process automation engineers (SCADA, pumps, servo valves,..) don't work with robots.

newmug

What would a degree in electronics get ya workwise?

TheChizler

newmug wrote: »

What would a degree in electronics get ya workwise?

A job in electronics! :P

Seriously though anything, finance to pharma to farming. You're trained in problem solving which is widely applicable.

I did Electrical and Electronic Engineering and was looking for a job in microelectronic design, I'm now in network oam systems and I could possibly be specialising in os software, embedded software, digital hardware, or network test, depending on how the next few months go.

dave2pvd

dave2pvd wrote: »

I disagree.

I'm one of the many automation engineers that works with robotics.

Now process automation engineers (SCADA, pumps, servo valves,..) don't work with robots.

So is there more automation engineers than process automation engineers? Is an process automation engineer not an automation engineer.

disagree... agree........:D

As the OP mentioned Ireland I was referring to Ireland, little robotics here compared to process automation.

Chickentown

I initially posted as I have a choice to make next year regarding which stream I should choose to finish out my degree. Electronic Engineering or Robotic Engineering, I would be happy doing either, I like the idea of Robotics but I think it could be riskier employment wise. At this stage I feel I will choose Electronic and hopefully get work in the robotics industry.

My interest in robotics mainly lies in the emerging fields of machine vision and machine learning but I do not see much opportunity in Ireland for these types of pursuits although I stand to be corrected which is why I posted here.

If it were you what would you do?

spideog7

Chickentown wrote: »

I initially posted as I have a choice to make next year regarding which stream I should choose to finish out my degree. Electronic Engineering or Robotic Engineering, I would be happy doing either, I like the idea of Robotics but I think it could be riskier employment wise. At this stage I feel I will choose Electronic and hopefully get work in the robotics industry.

My interest in robotics mainly lies in the emerging fields of machine vision and machine learning but I do not see much opportunity in Ireland for these types of pursuits although I stand to be corrected which is why I posted here.

If it were you what would you do?

I'd probably agree that there isn't much in that line in Ireland (but stand to be corrected). Some would see that as an opportunity though ;-)

In the long run I think either field would stand to you equally well but you'll do better if you're more interested so I would definitely say you should pursue robotics if that's what you're interested in.

The caveat of course is that although what you're interested in (machine vision and learning) is applicable to robotics it might not be what the robotics course aims to deliver. If I had to guess the robotics might have more of a mechanical side to it, whilst the electronic might involve more programming and algorithm stuff that might stand to you more. I guess it's hard to tell from the name alone, what details are there on the courses?

I did EE and spent some time in machine vision, it was interesting but probably more computer science than EE. But like everything it crosses over somewhere, unfortunately for me that was up the chain from where I was at the time.

shruikan2553

I never studied any image stuff but now doing my FYP in computer vision. It is pretty much programming and machine learning would probably be the same, I'll be covering it next semester and it is an IT module.

If I was the pick the safest option it would be electrical and it is completely possible to go into robotics from that. I dont know of many robotic engineering courses so they would probably get people from mechanical, electrical and programming backgrounds. I would imagine that getting a job in electrical eng area would be fairly easy with specialising in robotics too.

The best thing to do is look at the modules offered from both sides and pick the one which interests you the most. I doubt you would be locking yourself out of much by choosing one over the other but I dont know what subjects you have done or will do.

dave2pvd

Robotic techs and engineers mostly come from an electrical background, not mechanical. Machine vision is not exclusively tied to robotics - it used extensively on automated systems.

I would be concerned that employers would prefer to see an EE degree than a robotics degree. Robotics sounds like EE-lite to me.

FYI - if you want to move towards automation (don't narrow it down to robotics only), you need some solid ME in your toolbox. There are plenty of EEs in the automation field that are weak in ME and it limits them.

My degree is electrical and electronic engineering from DIT. I took a specialist subject in final year: PLCs and automation. Total roll of the dice when I made the choice. Now its my career. No regrets!