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Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Robotics Engineering, BS

The Robotics Engineering program prepares students to design, build, and integrate intelligent robotic systems that shape the future of industry, advanced manufacturing, transportation, space exploration, and everyday life. From day 1, students gain hands-on experience through the integration of robotics fundamentals in general engineering courses and have opportunities for experiential learning, including joining 1 of 4 robotics-focused competition teams as freshmen. WVU’s strong track record in robotics offers students multiple pathways to engage—such as dual majors, areas of emphasis, minors, undergraduate research, internships and co-ops, and competition teams—providing a competitive edge upon graduation that helps them stand out to employers and graduate programs.

Academics

Students and a teacher working on a robot in a Robotics Lab.
  • Our program is interdisciplinary giving students a strong foundation across mechanical systems, computer science, and general engineering systems. Students will learn the fundamentals of robotics systems, mobile robotics, robotic manipulators, and robot autonomy.
  • The program is designed for students to pursue a dual major in either computer science or 1 of 3 engineering degree options.
  • 7 robotics faculty research labs, providing students with undergraduate research opportunities through the research apprenticeship program.
  • Students receive hands-on experience from Day 1 and can join 1 of the 4 robotics international competition teams, as a freshman.
  • The competition teams have over a decade of experience and earned over 20 placement awards and multiple 1st-place finishes including a world championship.
  • Industrial capstone project that pairs students with a company to work and solve real world problems using robots and mechatronic devices they design and implement.
  • It’s a field for creative thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators ready to lead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. From this program, students can go on and work for SpaceX, Blue Origin, NASA, John Hopkins, Tesla, General Electric, General Motors, Amazon, Northrup Grumman, Carnegie Robotics, and more.
  • Students are drawn to Robotics Engineering because it’s one of the fastest growing fields worldwide. The World Economic Forum report estimates a 30% increase in the job sector for robotics by 2027.

Robotics Club

Students can join the Robotics Club or 1 of the 4 competition teams.

STEM Career Fair

Statler College hosts a STEM Career Fair with 300 employers in attendance because companies want to hire WVU grads.

Grad School Options

Students can attend grad school at WVU and study mechanical engineering, aerospace, computer science, electrical engineering, and focus their research on robotics.

Statler Ambassador Program

The Statler Ambassador program consisted of Statler College Student Representatives who serve as a resource for prospective students to ask questions and as outreach counselors for K-12 enrichment events including robotics.

Student Advisory Council

Student Advisory Council which is composed of presidents and vice presidents of the Statler College organizations to be a voice for the student body.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Undergraduate research opportunities through the Research Apprenticeship Program, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, and Research Experience for Undergraduates.

People in protective gear inspect a piece of lab equipment

Biomimetic Robotics Lab

This lab focuses on biomimetic and biohybrid robotics, robotic manufacturing, and the engineering of living materials. All are aimed at creating lifelike soft robots. You’ll utilize fundamental biological principles to emulate the morphology, behaviors, and materials found in nature, transforming these insights into practical and functional robotic designs.
Students talking with a teacher in the PRT Lab

Critical Infrastructures Security Lab

The Critical Infrastructure Security Lab features a realistic scaled model of WVU’s Personal Rapid Transit system, transportation, manufacturing, power system, programmable logic controller, and AI control. Used for teaching programmable logic controller security, control, and critical infrastructure cybersecurity.
Up-close look at an aerial robot, with a student in the background holding a controller

Field and Aerial Robotics Lab

In the FARO lab, researchers work on interdisciplinary research projects developing autonomous robots that drive and fly in unknown and unstructured environments.
Explore the Field and Aerial Robotics Lab
Three students working on a robot

Indoor Motion Capture Lab

This lab features a 30-camera infrared camera-based motion capture system to provide real-time accurate pose estimation of robots and drones for testing. The testing volume includes a terrain pit for testing robot mobility systems.
Assistant Professor Amr El-Wakeel and a group of students working on AI-driven autonomous vehicle navigation

Intelligent Cyber Physical Systems Lab (F1Tenth)

This lab focuses on research in machine learning, computer vision, and sensor fusion. It advances the development of intelligent, safe, and secure robotic and cyber-physical systems through cutting-edge AI technologies and real-world applications.
Explore the Intelligent Cyber Physical Systems Lab (F1Tenth)
Students working on a pollinator robot in a greenhouse.

Interactive Robotics Lab

IRL builds real robots and tests them in challenging environments. Their projects range from robotic pollination to planetary exploration and aviation safety.
Explore the Interactive Robotics Lab
Student wearing a welding helmet and gloves works with metal in the Lane Innovation Hub

Lane Innovation Hub

The Lane Innovation Hub is a state-of-the-art facility that allows for prototyping, testing, and production of new products, enabling future inventors and entrepreneurs to take their dreams from ideation to creation.
Explore the Lane Innovation Hub
Teacher giving a presentation during a drone workshop for freshmen.

Mechatronics Lab

This instructional lab for undergraduate mechatronics courses focuses on sensing, actuation, control, and microcontrollers. Students integrate sensing and control on a small autonomous rover.
3 students and a professor lean in to look at a computer screen

Mobile Robotics Lab

The Mobile Robotics Lab focuses on the fundamentals of mobile robotics, including navigation, estimation, path planning, and manipulation. Students perform labs and conduct a semester design project using an educational robot that can be programmed to conduct autonomous missions.
Two students tighten screws on a piece of equipment in the navigation lab

Navigation Lab

In this lab, you’ll focus on autonomous navigation issues to offer better accuracy in the face of challenging conditions. Navigation research explores optimal estimation, multi-sensor fusion, multi-robot coordination, and signal processing to inform robots of their environment and how to move safely.
Student positions a screwdriver while working on a robot.

Neuro-Mechanical Intelligence Lab

NeuroMInt is developing walking robots that will help humans traverse extreme terrains and better understand how humans control their locomotion.
Explore the Neuro-Mechanical Intelligence Lab
Students us a tablet to control a robotic arm.

Robotics Manipulators Lab

The Robotics Manipulators Lab is used for industrial robotics courses and research on robotic manipulation. It features several state-of-the-art robotic arms, several of which are collaborative robots (co-bots) allowing for human-robot interaction.

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