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Dr. Harish Ravichandar is an assistant professor in the School of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a core faculty member of the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (IRIM). His research focuses on identifying and studying structural priors that can serve as generalizable inductive biases for embodied intelligence.
Dr. Ravichandar directs the Structured Techniques for Algorithmic Robotics (STAR) Lab, where his team develops computational and learning frameworks to improve robots’ efficiency, reliability, and self-sufficiency across diverse applications, including dexterous manipulation and multi-robot systems. His work has won the NSF CAREER Award, IEEE MRS Best Paper Award, and ASME DSCC Best Student Paper Award, as well as research recognition from Georgia Tech’s College of Computing.
Dr. Ravichandar joined Georgia Tech in 2021 after serving as a postdoctoral fellow and research scientist there. He earned his PhD in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Connecticut and an MS in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Florida.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What’s something you wish the public understood about robotics?
Dr. Ravichandar: Robotics is inherently interdisciplinary. It requires a wonderfully diverse mix of technologies that help machines sense, think, and act in our complex physical world. While it might appear as if the incredible recent breakthroughs are overnight success stories, they build upon numerous scientific innovations and careful engineering across many disciplines over decades. And there’s still a lot of work ahead to realize robotics’ full potential in the real world, especially in terms of safety and reliability.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: Do you have any advice for aspiring engineers who are interested in robotics?
Dr. Ravichandar: It is such an exciting time to be in robotics! Stay curious and build strong fundamentals. Pay attention to trends, but do not blindly trust any one perspective. Try many subfields early (e.g., hardware design, computing, mechanics, and human factors) so that you can discover what you enjoy, and where you can contribute the most. Finally, learn to work with others—robotics is a team sport.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What does the future of robotics look like to you?
Dr. Ravichandar: Predicting the future is never easy. But I can’t help but imagine a bright future for robotics! It will look less like a single “robot revolution” and more like a gradual integration of robots of various forms and functions into the very fabric of our society.
If we get this right, future generations will have a hard time imagining a life without robots, much like how many of us feel about life without the Internet.
Purdue University offers an online concentration in robotics as an area of specialization in both its master of science in interdisciplinary engineering (MSE) and master of science (MS) programs. The concentration focuses on the areas of analysis, control, and design of robots. Course topical areas include control theory, machine learning, manipulators, artificial intelligence networks, and human-robot teaming. Both the MSE and MS curriculums offer a wide range of flexibility; after beginning their study, students will work with an academic advisor to create an electronic plan of study (EPOS) that best fits their educational needs and career goals.
The online master of engineering in robotics engineering (MERO) from the University of Maryland is interdisciplinary, spanning computer engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, and aerospace engineering. The curriculum focuses on core areas of robotics, including design, modeling, control systems, autonomous vehicle planning and perception, machine learning, and human-robot interaction.
Coursework is highly customizable, enabling students to tailor their studies toward specialties such as artificial intelligence, computer vision and perception, space and planetary robotics, robot kinematics and dynamics, networked robotic systems, micro- and nanoscale robotics, and rehabilitation robotics. The non-thesis professional master’s requires 30 credits and includes four robotics core courses along with programming, robotics, and technical electives.
The online master of science in robotics with a major in industrial automation at Wayne State is for students and working professionals with backgrounds in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or similar backgrounds. Graduates will leave with a comprehensive skill set that can be applied across a wide range of emerging robotics applications.
The program requires a minimum of 30 credits. Core coursework includes engineering analysis, Python for industrial applications, mechatronics, and industrial robot modeling and simulation. Electives explore topics such as robotics programming, flexible manufacturing, project management, and hybrid vehicle technology.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
The online master of science in robotics engineering at WPI is designed to help engineers deepen their expertise in the mathematical, mechanical, and computational frameworks used to design advanced robotic systems.
Marketed as the first online robotics engineering master’s degree in the US, the program focuses on developing safer, more efficient robotic technologies while encouraging students to explore real-world problem-solving through applied coursework. Students study foundational disciplines underlying robotics including computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mathematics, and mechanical engineering. Advanced topics include artificial intelligence, computer vision, wireless networking, and nanotechnology.
The curriculum requires 30 credit hours and culminates in a three-credit capstone project. An optional online specialization in autonomous vehicles is also available for students seeking focused study in next-generation transportation technologies.
The master of science in robotics at the Georgia Institute of Technology is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students for professional careers in robotics and automation It’s offered collaboratively by six schools: aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, interactive computing, mechanical engineering, and physics. Students may enter through the academic unit that best aligns with their background and specialization goals.
The curriculum is structured as a practitioner-oriented degree emphasizing both theoretical foundations and applied experience. Students complete coursework spanning core robotics domains such as artificial intelligence, mechanics, computer vision, and human-robot interaction, and are encouraged to tailor electives to their interests. In addition to academic study, the program incorporates a summer internship with industrial robotics partners and a capstone project to provide hands-on experience relevant to professional practice.
The degree requires 36 credit hours and is offered in both thesis and non-thesis formats, allowing students to pursue either a research-focused path or a more practice-driven one.
The master of science in robotics and autonomous systems at ASU is housed under the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks. The curriculum emphasizes modeling, analysis, optimization, and management of complex mechatronic and robotic systems. Through hands-on work in advanced laboratories, students deepen their knowledge of artificial intelligence, human-robot interaction, adaptive control, and related topics.
Students complete a 30-credit-hour program with required courses that include applied linear algebra and robotic systems. Concentration options explore areas such as mechatronics, machine learning, vehicle dynamics, and system control. The degree culminates in a portfolio, applied project, or thesis, allowing students to tailor the program toward professional practice or research pathways.
The master of science in engineering in robotics at Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering is supported by the Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR), an internationally recognized research center in areas such as medical robotics, autonomous systems, and bio-inspired engineering. Designed for students with backgrounds in engineering, science, or mathematics, the program emphasizes the multidisciplinary training required to develop advanced robotic systems capable of operating effectively in real-world environments.
Students may pursue either a coursework-based pathway or an essay/internship option. The course option requires 10 credit-bearing courses totaling at least 30 credit hours, while the essay or internship pathway involves eight courses plus a supervised master’s essay or internship report. In addition to core and elective coursework, students complete a specialization track in areas such as biorobotics, automation science and engineering, medical robotics, or general robotics.
The master of science in robotics at Northwestern is an interdepartmental graduate program drawing from fields such as computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, and mathematics.
Structured as a full-time experience, the curriculum emphasizes project-based learning and professional skill development. Students complete sophisticated robotics projects early in the program and culminate their studies with a faculty-advised final project, building an industry-ready portfolio that demonstrates applied technical capabilities.
The program maintains a small cohort model that encourages collaboration and direct interaction with faculty while supporting networking with industry leaders. Graduates are prepared for careers with leading companies, entrepreneurial ventures, or continued doctoral study in robotics and related fields.
Assessing the average salary of robotics engineers is tricky. There’s a very wide range, based on setting, experience, and role: robotics engineers at Google, Waymo, and Meta can earn well over $200,000 per year; smaller companies and universities may pay closer to $100,000 per year (Glassdoor 2026). Aggregated public data suggests robotics engineers earn an average salary of $133,113 per year (Salary.com 2026)
Despite its recent growth and immense potential, robotics is still a relatively nascent industry. As of 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not assign robotics engineers their own statistical category. However, robotics engineers will generally earn in the upper bounds of what a mechanical engineer or electrical & electronics engineer makes.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2024), electrical & electronics engineers earn an average of $124,810 per year. As of March 2026, the latest available percentiles for wages for aerospace engineers are:
On average, mechanical engineers earn $110,080 per year. The percentiles for wages for marine engineers are:
Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about a wide range of engineering disciplines, with a particular focus on the potential impacts of major technological breakthroughs. His work largely centers around conversations with engineeri...