You can do a foundation degree or higher national diploma in electrical and electronic engineering.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
Imagine a world where super-smart machines help us with all sorts of things, from making cars to sorting packages! A Robotics Technician is like a detective and a doctor for these amazing robots. They get to build them, set them up, and make sure they are working perfectly. If a robot gets a bit confused or stops working, the technician is there to figure out what's wrong and fix it, just like a mechanic fixes a car. They use special tools and their clever brains to make sure the robots are doing their jobs safely and correctly. It's a job where you get to learn about how things move, how electricity works, and how to tell robots what to do!
A Robotics Technician in the UK can expect to earn between 25,000 and 40,000 pounds a year. If you get really good and have lots of experience, you could earn even more!
While there isn't one exact number, the field of robotics is growing super fast! It's estimated that the number of jobs in robotics and automation will keep increasing in the UK, meaning lots of chances to work with robots.
Most Robotics Technicians work about 37 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Sometimes, if a robot breaks down and needs fixing quickly, they might need to work a bit extra or at different times.
Imagine building the amazing robots that entertain children and families at theme parks, like the ones that wave hello or dance in parades! You'd get to design and put together their parts.
Think about designing friendly robots that help farmers with their crops or look after animals. You could make robots that water plants carefully or gently pick fruits and vegetables.
You could invent and build new types of toy robots for children to play with! Maybe a robot dog that fetches things, or a tiny robot that helps you tidy your room. You'd get to imagine all the fun things they could do.
Start by playing with robot toys! You can find ones that move, talk, or even ones you can build yourself. This helps you understand how they work.
There are lots of fun robot toys out there! Look for building kits like LEGO Mindstorms or simple remote-control robots. Even toy cars or construction sets can help you understand how things move and connect. The more you play and experiment, the more you'll learn about how robots are put together.
There are many cool videos online that show different types of robots and what they do. You can see robots in factories, hospitals, or even helping out at home.
Ask a grown-up to help you find videos about robots! You could search for 'robots building cars', 'robot pets', or 'robots in space'. Watching how they move and what jobs they do can spark your imagination and show you all the amazing things robots can achieve.
Science museums often have exhibits about robots where you can see them up close and even try some interactive activities.
Science museums are brilliant places to learn about robots. They often have real robots on display, and sometimes you can even control them or see demonstrations. It's a fantastic way to experience how robots work in real life and ask questions if you have any.
Learning to code is like giving instructions to a robot. You can learn how to make them move or do specific tasks.
Many schools and local clubs offer coding activities, often using visual programming languages like Scratch or even simple robot programming kits. Learning to code helps you think logically and understand how to tell a robot what to do, which is super important for a Robotics Technician.
With a grown-up's help, you can carefully take apart old broken toys or gadgets to see how they are built inside.
Always ask an adult before taking anything apart to make sure it's safe. Taking apart old, broken electronics like old remote controls or toy cars can show you the different wires, motors, and circuit boards inside. This gives you a great idea of how electrical components work together.
There are simple robot kits you can build yourself that teach you about electronics and mechanics.
Look for beginner-friendly robot kits that come with instructions. These kits often teach you about connecting wires, making motors spin, and even adding sensors. Building these kits helps you practice following instructions and understanding how different parts fit together to make something work.
When you're older, learning about science and maths at school will help you understand how robots work and how to fix them.
Science helps you understand electricity, materials, and how things move, while maths helps you solve problems and measure things accurately. These subjects are really important for understanding the technical parts of robots and for designing solutions to make them work better.
After school, you can go to college or university to learn even more about robots and become a proper Robotics Technician.
Many colleges offer courses in engineering, electronics, or robotics that will teach you specific skills needed for this job. You'll learn about advanced robot systems, how to program them, and how to troubleshoot complex problems. This is where you become a real expert!
You can get experience by helping someone who works with robots or by doing an apprenticeship where you learn on the job.
An apprenticeship is a great way to learn by doing. You'd work with experienced Robotics Technicians, helping them with their daily tasks and learning all the practical skills you need. This kind of real-world experience is incredibly valuable for becoming a successful Robotics Technician.
An Electronics Engineer designs all the tiny circuits and parts that make robots and other gadgets work. They are super important for making the 'brains' of the robots.
A Maintenance Engineer looks after all sorts of machines in factories, making sure they don't break down and keeping them in good working order, a bit like a robot doctor but for many different types of machines.
A Software Developer writes the special computer code, like instructions, that tells the robots exactly what to do. Without them, robots wouldn't know how to move or think!
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Robotics Technician. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
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Both roles involve hands-on work with electronic components, testing and troubleshooting circuits, sensors, actuators and control systems. A robotics technician also needs systems integration and some programming, but the core electronics knowledge and diagnostic skills are closely aligned with an electronics engineering technician.
You can get into this job through:
You can do a foundation degree or higher national diploma in electrical and electronic engineering.
You'll usually need:
You could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed for this job.
Relevant courses include:
You'll usually need:
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
You can apply for a place on an apprenticeship to start as a trainee, for example:
You might do a Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, if you want to work in the service and repair of production line machinery or robotics.
You can also train to be an electronics technician in the Army.
You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.
If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:
You'll usually need:
You can find out more about courses and careers in engineering from Tomorrow's Engineers and The Institution of Engineering and Technology.
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