The purpose of this program is to help graduates prepare for career opportunities in a variety of positions in field including automation, process control, PLCs, robotics, packaging, power generation, mining, machine design, and building automated systems, maintenance, transportation, systems integration, component testing, technical sales, quality control and a host of other fields.

New Automation Technician Program at George Brown College

Colin Simpson | George Brown College Robotics Technician Training Program

 

Tell us a bit about George Brown Colleges online Robotics Training.

The Robotics Technician training program introduces the concepts of industrial robots and explains how they can be used in a plant or manufacturing system. The primary focus of the program is on automated manufacturing processes, as well as the role of robots and all of their support equipment.  Students receive both theoretical and laboratory instruction through a combination of multimedia learning resources and a robotics simulation software package to allow for the programming, testing, and debugging of robot-control programs.

The robot simulation software, Robologix, provides access to a range of industrial robots including Cartesian and SCARA designs and includes various end effectors. Students gain practical, "hands on" programming of an industrial robot through a combination of teach-pendant programming, and 3D animations displaying the robot arm movement.

 

You just introduced a new Automation Technician program, tell us a bit about this program. 

The Automation Technician program provides an introduction to industrial automation including digital electronic, process control and programming of PLCs, robotics and SCADA systems. The program examines applications and examples of automated manufacturing systems including both the theory and function of digital and industrial electronics hydraulics and pneumatics, robotics systems, digital programming languages and alarm management

Similar to the Robotics technician program the Automation Technician programs is a self-paced computer-based program that allows the student to work and complete the program at a pace they are comfortable with.

 

What prompted this new program? 

The Automation Technician program was developed in response to today’s requirements that technicians have a comprehensive “inter-professional” knowledge of electricity, electronics, electromechanics, robotics, and automation (PLCs).

 

Who would benefit from taking this program? 

Automation Technician program is designed for adult learners seeking independent study in the rapidly growing field of manufacturing technology. It was created for those who cannot attend college on a part- or full-time basis due to other commitments such as work and family.

 

What prerequisites are required to register? 

This program has no post-secondary academic prerequisites and is open to anyone who wishes to obtain their Automation Technician certificate.

 

With an online course how are you able to provide hands on training? 

The cornerstone of this program is the simulation software, which is fully integrated within the learning material and bridges the gap between theoretical and practical usage

Students who enrol in the program receive a licensed copy of LogixSim.

LogixSim is a suite of software products that provides “real world” laboratory simulation of electricity, electronics, robotics, and programmable logic controllers. It combines four simulators and offers unlimited possibilities for the design, testing, and  debugging of control devices and automated equipment as well as circuit schematics and systems. From the simplest control circuits to the most complex, LogixSim has the versatility to suit almost any requirement for real-world simulation.

 

What type of jobs does will this prepare the student for? 

The purpose of this program is to help graduates prepare for career opportunities in a variety of positions in field including automation, process control, PLCs, robotics, packaging, power generation, mining, machine design, and building automated systems, maintenance, transportation, systems integration, component testing, technical sales, quality control and a host of other fields. Other career opportunities include areas as machine assembly, troubleshooting and testing, systems integration, application support, maintenance, component testing and assembly, automation programming, robot maintenance and programming, technical sales and services. 

 

What type of support is provided to George Brown students? 

While enrolled in the program, students receive technical and tutorial support from our program’s Technical Training Distance Learning Student Support Center. The Student Support Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am until 10:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm(EST) and is available by phone, online  or email.

Our Student Support Centre can assist with a range of questions relating to installing  the program material, solving content-based tutorial questions, submitting  online tests or answer registration questions.

 

 

About Colin Simpson
Colin Simpson has been employed at George Brown College for the past 20 years and has held a variety of positions, including roles in faculty and administration. As Dean of the college’s Centre for Continuous Learning for the past eight years, he has grown continuing education enrolment from 35,000 to 65,000 registrants per year.

His innovative approach to lifelong learning has played a significant role in establishing George Brown College as one of the largest providers of distance education in North America with nearly 11,000 distance education learners. He is recognized as a leading authority on distance education and has been interviewed on the subject by several media outlets, including the CBC, PBS, CTV, TVOntario, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Macleans and the Chicago Tribune.

Colin has a doctoral degree in electrical engineering from the University of Hawaii and was awarded a Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, from Nipissing University. He has lectured in universities across North America, including MIT and Texas A&M University. He is also an award-winning author and has over 300,000 textbooks in print.  His best-selling book, Principles of Electronics, is used by over 1,000 colleges and universities around the world. 

 

 

The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of RoboticsTomorrow

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