Program Overview

Introduction to the Robotics & Automation Undergraduate Certificate

The Robotics & Automation Undergraduate Certificate is an exciting and rapidly expanding field at the crossroads of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, and computer science. The vision for this program is to create autonomous machines that can work in dangerous environments, boost human awareness, and take over tedious tasks, thus expanding human capabilities.

Program Features and Benefits

• Senior-level courses
• Choice of multidisciplinary offerings and tracks
• Flexibility to explore related subjects
• Noted on your Duke transcript
• Preparation for graduate study at Duke

Program Requirements

To complete the Robotics & Automation Undergraduate Certificate, students must complete seven (7) courses.

Centerpiece Courses

• Required:
  • ECE 383/ME 442 Introduction to Robotics (Fall and Spring)
  • ME 555 Robot Studio (Spring only)

Ethics

• Required:
  • ME 555 Ethics of Case Studies in Robotics & Automation

Controls & Dynamics

• Choose One:
  • ME 344L/ECE 382L Linear Control Systems
  • EGR 244 Dynamics
  • PHYSICS 361 Intermediate Mechanics
  • ME 555 Model Predictive Control

Machine Learning

• Choose One:
  • ME 555 Data Driven Dynamical Systems and Control
  • ME 555 Robot Learning (Prerequisite for undergraduates: undergraduate Intro to Robotics)
  • ECE 580 Introduction to Machine Learning
  • BME 548L Machine Learning and Imaging
  • CS 371 Elements of Machine Learning

Technical Elective

• Choose One:
  • ME 555 Introduction to Medical Robotics and Surgical Technologies
  • CS 527 Computer Vision
  • ECE 461/ME 555 Ocean Engineering
  • ECE 496/590/ME 555 Rainforest Engineering
  • ECE 588 Image and Video Processing: From Mars to Hollywood with a Stop at the Hospital
  • ME 491/ECE 493 Independent Project (Must be robotics related; requires detailed semester plan and prior approval)

Important Notes

• Two of the technical courses can be required courses in the home department.
• Other courses in areas related to Robotics are also permissible subject to approval of the Robotics and Automation Certificate Program Coordinator. New courses may also be created.

Humanities & Social Sciences

• Choose One:
  • From among:
    • History—if applicable to the role of technology and science
    • Public Policy—if applicable to the use and impact of technology
    • Economics
  • Examples include:
    • CompSci 190 (cross GSF 242) Race, Gender, Class, and Computing
    • ComSci112S (cross GSF 2655) Intro to Digital Feminism
    • Hist 106 Science and the Modern World
    • Econ 112FS Globalization & Corporate Citizenship
    • PubPol 199FS Science Law & Policy
    • PubPol 211 Engineering Sustainable Design & the Global Community
    • I&E 252 Learning to Fail
    • I&E 290 Designing Ethical Tech

Important Note

Humanities & Social Sciences courses are to be approved by the certificate coordinator. Other course options will be considered on an individual basis with consideration given to their relevance to the field.

Hands-On Learning in the Robot Studio

In this course, students will build from “body” to “brain.” Uniting kinematics, industrial design, manufacturing, electronics, and programming into a robot built from scratch.