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Purdue University

SoET Robotics Technology Ph.D.

Ph.D. Degree in Robotics Technology


The School of Engineering Technology has two new research-based degree programs in Robotics Technology leading to the M.S. and Ph.D., starting Fall, 2024! The M.S. and Ph.D. in Robotics Technology programs at Purdue will prepare students to effectively respond to current issues, trends, and challenges in robotics and related technologies through a wide variety of platforms and media. These graduate degree programs are designed to respond to the rapidly increasing demand of a highly-skilled workforce to support the adoption of robotics technologies and a plethora of smart products that sense, think and act in various industries in the state of Indiana, the United States, and the world at large.

Detailed Plan of Study


The Ph.D. in Robotics Technology consists of the following courses:

Robotics Technology POS

Robotics Technology Summary

MATH CORE - Select three of the courses below:

  • MA 51100 – Linear Algebra with Applications
  • ME 58100 – Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering
  • MET 50300 – Applied Optimization
  • STAT 51100 – Statistical Methods
  • STAT 51200 – Applied Regression Analysis
SYSTEMS CORE - Select one of the courses below:
  • ECE 56900 - Introduction to Robotic Systems
  • CNIT 54600 – IoT in Info Technology
  • IE 57400 - Industrial Robotics and Flexible Assembly
For the Ph.D. degree, you must take one course from each of the three Perception/Cognition/Actuation core selectives.

PERCEPTION CORE SELECTIVE - Select one of the courses below:

  • ECE 66100 – Computer Vision
  • ECET 54900 - Advanced Applied Computer Vision for Sensing and Automation
COGNITION CORE SELECTIVE - Select one of the courses below:
  • CS 55800 – Intro to Robot Learning
  • CS 57800 - Statistical Machine Learning
  • ECE 57000 – Artificial Intelligence
ACTUATION CORE SELECTIVE - Select one of the courses below:
  • ECET 53600 – Embedded Systems Security
  • ME 58800 - Mechatronics – Integrated Design of Electro-Mechanical Systems
  • MET 43200 - Hydraulic Motion Control Systems

FOCUS AREA ELECTIVES - You must choose a focus area with at least three elective courses (total). You should choose this carefully with the advice of your primary advisor. Focus areas include:

  • Manipulation and Manufacturing
  • Mechatronics and Control
  • AI & Data Science (decision science)
  • Cyber-Human Systems and Assistive Robotics (requires CPSS Core)
  • Cyber-Animal Systems and AgRobotics (requires CPSS Core)
  • Autonomous Systems
  • Sensing and Computer Vision
  • Internet-of-Things (IoT)
Example focus electives include:

Manipulation and Manufacturing
	ECE 63700 – Digital Image Processing I
	IE 57400 - Industrial Robotics & Flexible Assembly
	MET 54600 – Industrial Applications of Computer Integrated Manufacturing
	MFET 44000 - Smart Manufacturing Autonomous Human Robot Systems
	MFET 55700 – Smart Manufacturing Enterprise: Exploring the Applied Technologies
	MFET 64200 – Programming Robots and CPS with Robotics Commons
Mechatronics and Control 
	ECE 63700 – Digital Image Processing I
	ECET 54400 - Real-time and Embedded Systems
	IE 57400 - Industrial Robotics & Flexible Assembly
	ME 57500 – Design of Control Systems
	ME 58600 – Microprocessors in Electromechanical Systems
	ME 58800 – Mechatronics
	MFET 64200 – Programming Robots and CPS with Robotics Commons
AI & data science (decision science) 
	CNIT 56400 - Intro to Assistive Technology and Robotics
	CS 52900 -- Security Analytics
	ECE 60000 – Random Variables and Signals
	MFET 64200 - Programming Robots and CPS with ROS
	TECH 69000 – Machine Learning in Robotics
Cyber-Human Systems and Assistive Robotics (requires CPSS Core)
	ECET 54900 - Advanced Applied Computer Vision for Sensing and Automation
	IE 690 - Gestures and Bodial Interaction Systems
	TECH 690 – Machine Learning in Robotics
Cyber-Animal Systems and AgRobotics (requires CPSS Core)
	ENGT 54200 - Cyber-Animal Systems 1: Technology-Enhanced Animal Welfare
	CS 52900 -- Security Analytics – NONE (f)
	ECET 54900 - Advanced Applied Computer Vision for Sensing and Automation
	IE 690 - Gestures and Bodial Interaction Systems
	TECH 690 – Machine Learning in Robotics
Autonomous Systems 
	MFET 64200 Programming Robots and CPS with ROS
	ECET 54400 Real-time and Embedded Systems
	ECE 63700 – Digital Image Processing I
	IE 57400 - Industrial Robotics & Flexible Assembly
Sensing and Computer Vision
	ECE 66100 – Computer Vision
	ECE 63700 – Digital Image Processing I 
	ECE 64100 – Digital Image Processing II 
	ECET 54900 - Advanced Applied Computer Vision for Sensing and Automation
	MET 54900 – Micro and Nanomachining
Internet-of-Things
	CNIT 44600 – Advanced Wireless Networks 
	CS 52900 Security Analytics
	ECE 63700 – Digital Image Processing I
	ECET 53600 – Embedded Systems Security
	ECET 54400 - Real-time and Embedded Systems
	ECET 54900 - Advanced Applied Computer Vision for Sensing and Automation
	ECET 63800 – Selected Topics in Sensor Networks
	MFET 64200 - Programming Robots and CPS with Robotics Commons

You must also choose at least two (total) courses from a RELATED AREA ELECTIVE.

You must register for a 1-credit or 0-credit GRADUATE SEMINAR (Either ENGT or Robotics Seminar) at least three times.

Writing is a key component of this research-based degree. If you have not published a first-author paper, you must take MET 52700. Waivers for this course must be approved by the Robotics Technology Faculty Committee.

To get more detailed information, click the PDF link below:

Thesis or Dissertation


A thesis is required for both the M.S. and Ph.D. There is no "courework only" option, nor a project-based option. You are expected to perform hands-on research, directed by your major advisor, and to publish those results in conference and journal venues. You will also be required to write and defend your thesis in both oral and written forms to graduate.

Applying to the Program


To apply to either of the programs, start here:

Apply Now

and under "Campus and Program" choose "Purdue West Lafayettte (PWL)" as your campus and select "Robotics Technology" as your proposed graduate major (may not appear for all users at this time).

CODOing to the Program (for existing students)


Contact Niedra Davey in the SoET Main Office in KNOY 150.

rvoyles [at] purdue [dot] edu

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, (765) 494-3733