Studies suggest the research apprenticeships can have a profound effect on students’ learning and future career choices. This paper describes undergraduate students’ research projects and lessons learned from a summer research program focusing on mechatronics, robotics, and automated system design. Students gained both general skills—such as design, troubleshooting, and breaking a large problem into several parts—and specific technical skills in areas such as Arduino programming, LabVIEW, MATLAB, and artificial neural networks. The majority of participants also noted gains in research-related skills such as reviewing the literature, scientific writing, and presenting their research. Finally participants noted gains in confidence in their ability to contribute to science, comfort in working collaboratively with others, and ability to work independently.
Dr. Sheng-Jen ("Tony") Hsieh is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution and a member of the Graduate Faculty at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. His research interests include automation, robotics, cyber-manufacturing and Industry 4.0; optical/infrared imaging and instrumentation; micro/nano manufacturing; and design of technology for engineering education. He is also the Director of the Rockwell Automation Laboratory at Texas A&M University, a state-of-the-art facility for education and research in the areas of automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0 systems. He was named Honorary International Chair Professor for National Taipei University of Technology in Taipei, Taiwan, for 2015-21. Dr. Hsieh received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
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