The young engineers of tomorrow are embracing the state of the art engineering facilities at Brooklands College in Weybridge. Renowned for its high levels of achievements and established association within the engineering industry, the college has now incorporated an ABB IRB 140 robotic training cell amongst the latest technologies and equipment to enhance the students' already extensive curriculum.
Passionate about their history in motor racing, the engineering facility maintains the tradition and values by providing several workshops/courses offering various levels of qualifications in automotive, manufacturing, motorsport and aerospace, with the facility also being able to encompass an aircraft hangar complete with aeroplanes.
"With the apparent advancement of robots being used for all types of applications in manufacturing, this spurred me to look at the inclusion of a robot here at Brooklands to offer our students from as young as 14 the prospects to further enhance their own learning opportunities," comments Dave West, Programme Leader, Brooklands College.
ABB's introduction of an educational package aimed at FE establishments has been met with significant interest. A large number of colleges and universities incorporating relevant courses across the UK now house an ABB robot and/or utilises ABB's market leading robot programming software RobotStudio 5, which allows up to 50 students to program virtual robots with free of charge licenses. (The same programming technology that runs ABB robots worldwide within manufacturing processes today).
With funding justified and in place from COVE, Brooklands now have a complete training cell incorporating an IRB 140 six-axis robot, IRC5 controller and FlexPendant with a workable table area and appropriate interlocking safety features and guarding. All fully installed and tested.
"To familiarise ourselves with the off-line programming tool and to gain further knowledge on our investment some of my colleagues and I attended the latest RobotStudio 5 Certified User course at ABB's training facilities in Milton Keynes," continues Dave West. "This course enabled us to gain a better understanding of this software and ideas on how to implement this within our own methodology of teaching. Since the robot training cell has been up and running, we feel students are already appreciating the opportunity to become skilled with this technology to enhance their own future career prospects in industry."
Mike Badger, Account Manager ABB, comments "ABB sees links with education establishments as an important opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of industrial robotics amongst the young engineers of tomorrow. With the significant growth of robots being used worldwide, it is very encouraging to see that FE establishments like Brooklands College introducing robot technology within their curriculums."
For more information about ABB's involvement in education and apprenticeship scheme please call 01908 350 300 or email robotics@gb.abb.com Ref. 'Brooklands College'.