Harnessing the Power of Robots

This is the year of the robot. Today's movies, web posts and YouTube videos all show the amazing things that robots can do. To be a part of the robotic world is to be part of the future. 

Students in Professor James Heffernan’s Electronics Engineering Technology class know that first hand. Last month a group of students completed their FANUC CERT (Certified Engineering Robot Training) certification. The certification is built into the ELM 260 Industrial Robotics course, which is part of the Electronics Engineering Technology program. In addition to the certification, students are also required to complete extra robot programming assignments, as well as a final capstone project. The capstone project requires students to use their creativity and come up with unique applications for the robots. 

In order to earn the FANUC CERT certification, students must:

• Complete a series of 24 robot programming exercises, using actual robots and computer-simulated robots
• Complete three online robot training mini-courses
• Pass the FANUC CERT test with and 80 percent or better

“The use of robots in manufacturing continues to expand. Fanuc CERT certification is recognized internationally and opens up opportunities for students in automation and robotics,” said Professor Heffernan. “Even though the certification is based on Fanuc robots, the same skills are transferrable to other types of industrial robots.”

The use of industrial-type robots in manufacturing companies is becoming more and more prevalent.

“Norton Saint-Gobain, an abrasives company near QCC, has recently acquired several Fanuc robots to automate part of their grinding wheel manufacturing process,” Professor Heffernan added.

QCC Electrical Engineering Technology student Cody Hamilton was one of the students who received his Fanuc CERT certification. Mr. Hamilton’s project involved programming the FANUC robot to stack blocks in a continuous loop. He had to show that he could run the robot without any issues, controlling the speed and making sure the robot gripped the blocks currently.

Mechatronics students Shawn Reese and Christian Hulett were self-proclaimed hot wheel geeks when they were younger. They chose to incorporate hot wheels into their robotic presentation. They programed the robot to make different hot wheels selections.

“I came to school not knowing what I wanted and selected this course knowing this is what my dad did. I learned a lot and now I’m going to make a career out of it,” Mr. Hulett said.

Visit QCC's Electronics Engineering Technology Program to learn more.