Which engineering field is better suited for robotics: electrical or mechanical?

Question

I would like to design robots, automated devices, and vehicles. Which engineering is MORE involved in these technologies?

Answer 1

Electrical engineering is a better foundation. I work at the Robotics Institute and have found that although either undergraduate discipline can suffice, the PhD candidates with EE backgrounds seem to have a smoother path towards success. Controls engineering has always been a hybrid field that requires extensive familiarity with both mechanical and electrical engineering. But robotics also deals extensively with sensor development, microprocessor design, and artificial intelligence, not to mention software engineering. Robotics will always be a multi-disciplinary field that requires collaboration from many fields, but it is hard to think of a better foundation than electrical engineering.

Hey, we just won the DARPA $2million prize in robotics as we made MIT, Stanford, and Cal Tech eat our dust. CMU rules!

Answer 2

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RE:
Which engineering field is better suited for robotics: electrical or mechanical?
I would like to design robots, automated devices, and vehicles. Which engineering is MORE involved in these technologies?

Answer 3

Do mechanical if you want to build them and electronics if you want to control them. I'd say more of the time is spent in the electronics and software than the mechanical.

Most people these days don't seem to know what a three term controller is, and it is very very important if you want control of real world systems. Life is a lot easier when you know what PID means and can control the three elements. We did the PID control of the air flow control valves in the Cosworth engine test cells in software. :D

I'm an Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduate from England. In 23 years I've been out of work for one and a half weeks. I've done everything from weapon systems to racing cars and I'm currently writing software for network equipment, the best selling wireless gear in the world.

Answer 4

Do you have any mechanical abilities? Chances are you will
be able to learn the mechanics through experience. You must
know electronics, preferably microprocessor systems and
you should understand computer programming. Control
systems are computers tied to real world sensors, and you
need to understand the limits (and abilities) of the controls
before you can design the mechanics.

You need both, but if you want to understand what's
happening 'in the control box' I would start with Electronics.
Good luck

Answer 5

I would say mechanical but become best friends with an electrical engineer.

Answer 6

Mechanical.

Plus, mechanical can be used in so many fields, so you have a back up plan.

My husband has a degree in mechanical engineering. He is an oil and gas exec, hired right out of college. My cousin has a degree in electrical engineering.. couldnt get an engineering job for over five years.

Answer 7

electrical will keep you busier as mechanicals work is done after the design phase. electricals still need to program and troubleshoot in the field, while mechanicals generally have lees interaction after fabrication and installation. besides, if you can wrap your mind around electrical, the mechanical will come easy.

Answer 8

Mechanical. If you decide to go into electrical you'll be dealing with programming/fixing robots.

Answer 9

electrical and electronics, you need drives and sensors to make a robot..then a microcontroller to control it....

Answer 10

both but electronis is more important in this case.