The UW Board of Regents on Wednesday approved the new bachelor of science degree that teaches students to apply fundamental robotics engineering principles to help individuals perform tasks that might be difficult or impossible otherwise, including robotics for daily personal tasks, personal mobility, rehabilitation and communication.
“The new major in assistive systems and robotics engineering is a wonderful complement to our existing engineering programs and it naturally extends our curricular focus on healthcare and biomedical innovation,” says Dr. Michael Carney, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “The new curriculum will provide students with a fundamental understanding of robotics engineering, with a special emphasis on the human-machine interface and how robotics can be used in healthcare settings such as surgical procedures and physical therapy. Our existing healthcare collaborations, coupled with our proximity to medical device manufacturers in the Twin Cities, will provide fertile ground for student research and capstone projects.”
The major is a component of UW-Eau Claire’s workforce development plan and aligns with the university’s commitment to produce additional graduates who are prepared to work in high demand engineering fields, Carney says.
The multidisciplinary major combines physics, engineering, computer science, medicine and healthcare into the new field of assistive robotics, says Dr. Erik Hendrickson, professor and chair of UW-Eau Claire’s physics and astronomy department. UW-Eau Claire already has strong programs in materials science engineering, biomedical engineering, physics and computer science, along with its pre-medicine program. The university’s collaboration with Mayo Clinic Health System and the construction of a new Science and Health Sciences building also make the new program a great fit for the university, Hendrickson says.
Assistive systems and technologies help people with a variety of disabilities overcome barriers so they can participate more fully in their lives, Hendrickson says. Robotics engineering is a new and expanding discipline that is driven by new lightweight and strong materials with faster computing times in smaller packages.
Hendrickson says the new program will be attractive to UW-Eau Claire students who want to help people and make a difference but may not be interested in becoming a physician or physical therapist.
“Some students want to use their interest in technology — robotics, computer science, physics and engineering — to assist people,” Hendrickson says. “This new major will open up a new avenue for our students to explore and follow their passion, offering opportunities to develop innovative solutions that enhance accessibility and independence for individuals with disabilities.”
UW-Eau Claire estimates that 80 to 100 students will be enrolled in the program by the fifth year, with approximately 40 students graduating with the bachelor’s degree by that time.
