Course summary

Robotics is a multi-disciplinary subject which will have a profound impact on society over the next 50 years. It has already revolutionised the manufacturing industry and it has the potential to have similar impacts in areas such as green energy, social care, transport and logistics and the exploration of hostile environments both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial. This course will provide students with an encompassing education in robotics and autonomous systems by incorporating the mechatronic aspects (mechanical and electronic) with computer science. The course is underpinned by world-leading facilities and researchers and emphasises students gaining practical robotic experience using state-of-the-art cyber-physical systems to help address real-world challenges. The field of robotics is currently one of the most rapidly developing technologies that offers exciting and ample career paths for suitably qualified engineers and scientists. In recent years The University of Manchester has established itself as one of the leading UK and international institutions in the field of robotics, both in terms of fundamental research (such as cognitive robotics, AI, sensors) and also applications (such as nuclear, offshore wind, health and social care), including a significant and wide-ranging portfolio of industrial collaborations. The MSc Robotics course will offer a truly interdisciplinary course at The University of Manchester. There are four strategic themes that will be followed in this course including:

• a) mechatronics and control; verification, security and trust in autonomous systems;

• b) human-robot interaction and cognitive robotics;

• c) artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science;

• d) ethics and human-centred robotics issues.