Robotics company creates Certified Education training

Modern Applications News, April, 2008

Fanuc Robotics America, Inc., Rochester Hills, MI, created Certified Education Robot Training--CERT, a certification program available to qualified high schools, community colleges, and universities. The program certifies instructors at educational institutions to train students to program Fanuc robots.

To participate in the CERT program, an eligible school can purchase an educational tooling package that includes an industrial robot, integrated vision system, programmable logic controller, and Roboguide simulation software.

"With this package, students can learn manufacturing concepts ranging from fundamental to advanced engineering and while learning math and science," Kevin Ostby, vice president, Customer Resource Center, Fanuc Robotics, said. "Students will work with the same robots, software, and applications that are used in industry."

Schools can use the package to integrate robot training into curricula. Some of the educational institutions' approaches include adding robotic automation facilitated learning to career technical education programs; integration of robotic automation into teaching of design and manufacturing concepts; creation of courses and project-based activities to prepare students to work with robotic automation; integration of the CERT program with career cluster curriculum; application of industrial robot training to engineering technology curriculum; and the addition of the CERT program to community workforce retraining initiatives.