Over the last several decades, humanity has witnessed a dramatic shift in our relationship with machines.

The field of robotics is at the forefront of this rapidly changing relationship, shaping the way that we design and build the machines of the future. Robots have gone from being a science fiction concept to becoming a routine part of our daily lives.

As a field, robotics is continuing to attract some of the best and brightest working in science and technology today. As a career, it has a great deal to offer. Let’s take a look at some of the key selling points of a career in robotics.

Diversity

The field of robotics covers a wide variety of innovations, technologies, and objectives. The concept of a robot is one that has evolved considerably over time. Today, we understand that the term robot can apply to any number of different machines. For example, the machines used in automated manufacturing are often thought of robots, as are the robotic animals that are children’s toys.

Not only is the term robot applicable to a broad range of products but there are numerous different technologies that are bought together to build the most advanced robots available to us today. One of the most important technologies that is frequently incorporated into robotics is artificial intelligence (AI). The use of artificial intelligence has enabled us to design and build robots that are capable of adjusting their behaviour according to the situation at hand.

The future of robotics is even more diverse than the present. Thanks to machine learning, we are now able to consider designing robots that are vastly more complex than anything we have produced thus far. For those who like to look to the future and want a career that is guaranteed to still be relevant over the coming decades then robotics is a solid choice.

Innovation

As with all technology fields, the field of robotics requires constant innovation in order to survive. Businesses working in the field of robotics are still mostly catering to relatively niche clients. There are a few exceptions, notably toy makers, who are producing robotics for the mass market. However, these are the exception rather than the rule.

For most of the robotics industry, their work is looking at very specific applications of robotics, such as medical, manufacturing or military applications. Within these fields, robotics businesses are all competing to produce machines that are superior either in terms of their physical construction or the underlying software that controls them. Smarter robots mean that businesses will be able to maximize their efficiency gains, while better-constructed robots are able to do more and withstand more.

If you’re looking for a career that will encourage you to innovate and look for new ways of applying existing solutions to novel problems, then robotics is a fantastic field to work in. 

Solving problems in robotics is about more than just advancing the field for the sake of it. Solving new problems in the field of robotics often means that we formulate solutions that can be applied elsewhere.

With any branch of science and technology, the implications of new research are impossible to predict. Advances we make in the design of manufacturing robots, for example, could lead to advances in the way that we design medical robots. 

When you consider some of the current avenues of research we are pursuing within the field of robotics, such as robots that can find earthquake survivors trapped beneath rubble and robots that are able to locate and rescue people trapped by a fire. These robots may be some way away from maturity, but they are representative of the aspirations that the industry has.

Unique knowledge and skills

The field of robotics is quite unlike any other field. It brings together a number of different disciplines, including engineering, computing, and artificial intelligence. Using ideas from all of these different fields, robotics is able to offer novel solutions to problems. There are few subjects which bring together so many disparate disciplines in order to formulate solutions as robotics does.

As a result of all these different disciplines working together, working in the field of robotics will bring you into close contact with ideas and concepts that you might otherwise never encounter. In order to solve the problems presented by modern robotics, creative thinking is just as important as proficiency with maths and science.

Network with like-minded people

No matter what field you work in, networking is important for any business. Your network consists of all those people who you meet in a professional capacity and who you can call upon when needed. The larger your network, the more individuals you will be able to turn to in times of crisis. Working in the field of robotics brings you into contact with people who are proficient in a wide range of disciplines. These people aren’t just useful for you now; they could be vital in your future ventures.

The diversity of people working in robotics means that, if you take the time to build and nurture your network, you will be overloaded with contacts for your future endeavours. There are few other industries you can work in that will present you with the same diversity of disciplines and specialties as robotics will.

Important discussions

Automation is a very hot topic right now. Automation has led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs, jobs that are difficult to replace. While automation is probably necessary if we are to manufacture at the rates and standards that the modern world demands, this doesn’t make things any easier for the people who lose their jobs.

There are no simple solutions to these kinds of issues. Addressing them will require lots of different people from a variety of disciplines to come together and work with one another on finding solutions that work for everyone. If you would like to gain a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding automation then consider looking into some robotics and automation courses. Many automation courses will give you a solid grounding in the key issues that are caused, or potentially solved by, automation.

These are just some of the reasons why you should think about a career in robotics. Not only will you be at the forefront of some of the most important technological developments of our time, but you will also have the opportunity to meet and mix with the best and brightest in the fields of science and technology. In addition to this, jobs in the robotics industry will often pay very well, especially if you are working with highly specialised robots.

A career in robotics has the potential to be a thoroughly rewarding experience. You might simply be indulging your passion but working with robotics will present you with plenty of opportunities to improve people’s lives.

After all, robots are ultimately intended to take on the kind of work and tasks that human operators aren’t so keen on. Alternatively, robots may one day in the not so distant future be running into burning buildings for us and helping to identify the location of survivors of natural disasters. As such, there are lots of reasons to consider a career in robotics.

This story was first published in AZ Big Media.