University Launches New Robotics Degree To Explore The World’s Future Technologies

Wrexham Glyndwr University is taking a revolutionary step into technology by launching a new degree in robotics. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The university’s world-leading Computing department has unveiled the new Postgraduate MSc Robotics course starting this September and is now open to applicants. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The one-year Masters course will explore human-robot interaction, computation, programming and will offer practical hands-on experience of developing applications for industry-standard robots. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John Davies, senior lecturer in Computing and leading lecturer in MSc Robotics, said: “We are approaching Robotics differently compared to other degree courses. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Most courses are led by Mechanical Engineering departments but we are focusing on the computer side of Artificial Intelligence, exploring the software driving it.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme will incorporate the university’s robots Baxter and Sheldon to help students understand the practical and theoretical aspects of robotic systems. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John added: “I think this is the right time to introduce this type of course here at the university. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The manufacturing costs of robots has significantly reduced and they are becoming increasingly more commercial, therefore there’s a higher demand for research and production. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“For example, Baxter is an industrial robot, so we will be looking into how robots can be used in an industrial and commercial environment. But we will also explore how robots can help everyday lives, such as assist the elderly.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An MSc in Robotics from Wrexham Glyndwr University will enable students to gain hands-on experience with this cutting edge technology, preparing them for working in a variety of areas from factory floor to health to home assistive technology. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor of Computing Futures, Vic Grout, says robots will play a “huge part” in our future technologies and questioned how humans will eventually deal with a sea change in the power and responsibility the machines hold. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Robots won’t just make our lives and our jobs easier, they will probably eventually care for us and protect us as well,” he said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Robots have massive potential for good but there’s a darker side. What about the jobs they replace? How much are we prepared to trust them? What about our privacy and freedom?” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Prof Grout added: “Here at Computing at Wrexham Glyndwr University, our robotics teaching and research looks at the whole picture. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We work on both the technical and social aspects of emerging technologies. We consider the ethical, political, economic, environmental and legal impact of robotics and automation as well as just making them work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This all-round knowledge and experience will put our students and researchers at the cutting edge of future technologies.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The course is open to full-time and part-time students, for more information visit MSc Robotics course page or visit our postgraduate courses to see what other programmes we offer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​