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Major 08

AI + Robotics & Automation Operations

Replaces → Industrial Engineering / Mechatronics

The robotics industry is projected to reach $218B by 2030. AMR shipments grew 50% year-over-year. Humanoid robots are entering warehouses, hotels, and hospitals. This major trains the operations professionals who deploy, manage, and optimize these systems — the human layer that makes automation actually work.

Two layers. One operator who delivers.

Every student completes the Foundations plus domain-specific courses. You don't just learn robotics — you learn to deploy and operate robot systems in real facilities.

Physical Operations Safety and Compliance

Workplace safety, LOTO, safety zone design, OSHA, incident investigation. The non-negotiable foundation for anyone working with robots in physical environments.

  • Workplace safety fundamentals and hazard identification
  • Lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures
  • Safety zone design for robot operations
  • OSHA compliance and incident investigation

Robot Fleet Management and Operations

Fleet dashboards, shift planning, performance benchmarking, SLA tracking. Managing multiple robots as a coordinated system — not individual machines.

  • Fleet dashboards and real-time monitoring
  • Shift planning and robot scheduling
  • Performance benchmarking and optimization
  • SLA tracking and operational reporting

Robot Deployment and Site Implementation

Pre-deployment surveys, SLAM mapping, zone configuration, facility integration. The complete playbook for bringing robots into a new facility and making them productive.

  • Pre-deployment site surveys and readiness assessment
  • SLAM mapping and environment configuration
  • Zone configuration and navigation setup
  • Facility integration and go-live procedures

Predictive Maintenance and Hardware Diagnostics

Sensor data, predictive vs. preventive maintenance, AI anomaly detection. Keep robot fleets running with data-driven maintenance — not just reactive fixes.

  • Sensor data interpretation and trending
  • Predictive vs. preventive maintenance strategies
  • AI anomaly detection for hardware systems
  • Remote diagnostics and troubleshooting workflows

Robot Software and Firmware Management

ROS/ROS2, OTA updates, map management, behavior scripting, version management. The software layer that makes robots smart — and keeping it updated safely.

  • ROS/ROS2 fundamentals for operations
  • OTA update planning and rollback procedures
  • Map management and behavior scripting
  • Version management and release coordination

Customer-Facing Technical Operations

Customer onboarding, training materials, identifying robot champions, ROI reporting. The customer success skills that make robot deployments stick.

  • Customer onboarding and site team training
  • Training material development for end users
  • Identifying and developing robot champions on-site
  • ROI reporting and value demonstration

Robotics Industry Knowledge and Competitive Intelligence

Hardware landscape, Chinese vs. Western robotics, RaaS, regulatory landscape. Understanding the industry you're operating in — not just the robots you're deploying.

  • Hardware landscape and vendor evaluation
  • Chinese vs. Western robotics ecosystems
  • Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) business models
  • Regulatory landscape and compliance requirements

Professional Practice in Robotics Operations

Robot data management, warehouse fundamentals, building ops from scratch, executive presentations. The professional maturity that turns technicians into operations leaders.

  • Robot data management and analytics
  • Warehouse and logistics fundamentals
  • Building robotics operations from scratch
  • Executive presentations and stakeholder communication

Where this major takes you.

The robotics industry is projected to reach $218B by 2030. AMR shipments grew 50% YoY. Every warehouse, hospital, and hotel deploying robots needs operations professionals who can make them work.

Robotics Operations Manager

Manage robot fleets across warehouse/logistics/manufacturing facilities. Entry: $65K–$85K. Mid-career: $90K–$120K. Senior: $130K–$170K+.

AI Uni edge You deploy and manage real robot systems, not just study the theory. Fleet management, SLA tracking, and predictive maintenance from day one.

Automation Deployment Specialist

Plan and execute robot deployments at customer sites. Entry: $60K–$80K. Mid-career: $85K–$110K. Senior: $120K–$150K.

AI Uni edge Full deployment lifecycle from site survey to go-live, with real playbooks. You arrive knowing the complete process, not learning it on customer sites.

Field Service Engineer

Maintain and troubleshoot robot systems in the field. Entry: $55K–$75K. Mid-career: $80K–$105K. Senior: $110K–$140K.

AI Uni edge Predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics, and hardware troubleshooting skills from day one. You solve problems before they become downtime.

Robotics Solutions Consultant

Help companies evaluate, select, and implement automation solutions. Entry: $70K–$90K. Mid-career: $100K–$140K. Senior: $150K–$200K+.

AI Uni edge You understand both the technology and the business case — ROI modeling, competitive intelligence, and vendor evaluation. The rare combination that commands premium rates.

What you'll build.

Real operations deliverables that demonstrate your ability to deploy and manage robot systems — the output that gets you hired in a $218B industry.

Project 01

Safety Compliance Audit

Safety compliance audit and zone design for a robot deployment. Identify hazards, design safety zones, document LOTO procedures, and create a compliance report ready for OSHA review.

Project 02

Fleet Operations Dashboard

Fleet operations dashboard with SLA tracking and performance metrics. Real-time monitoring, utilization reporting, and optimization recommendations for a multi-robot deployment.

Project 03

Deployment Playbook

Complete deployment playbook: site survey through go-live. Pre-deployment assessment, SLAM mapping plan, zone configuration, training materials, and launch checklist.

Capstone

End-to-End Robotics Operations

Your capstone: end-to-end robotics operations project with real or simulated fleet management. The deliverable that proves you can own the full operations lifecycle from deployment to optimization.

The curriculum adapts to you.

Intensive

~6 months · Full-time

For students who can commit full-time. Get career-ready as fast as your skills allow.

Months 1–2 Foundations + Physical Operations Safety
Months 3–5 Fleet Management + Deployment + Predictive Maintenance
Months 6–8 Software/Firmware + Customer Operations + Industry Knowledge
Months 9–12 Professional Practice + Capstone

Steady

~12–24 months · Part-time

For people working while learning. Same depth, flexible scheduling.

Months 1–4 Foundations + Physical Operations Safety
Months 5–10 Fleet Management + Deployment + Predictive Maintenance
Months 11–16 Software/Firmware + Customer Operations + Industry Knowledge
Months 17–24 Professional Practice + Capstone

Is this major right for you?

This is for you if

  • You want to work at the intersection of hardware and software operations
  • You're practical — you'd rather deploy a robot fleet than design one from scratch
  • You want a career in a rapidly growing industry ($218B by 2030)
  • You're comfortable managing physical systems and visiting customer sites
  • You want operations skills that apply across warehouses, hospitals, hotels, and retail

This is NOT for you if

  • You want to design or build robots from scratch → study mechanical/electrical engineering
  • You want to do robotics research → you need a graduate degree in robotics
  • You're not comfortable with physical environments (warehouse floors, safety equipment)
  • You want purely software work → consider Major 01 (Software Development)
  • You need an engineering credential for licensing requirements

Ready to start deploying?

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