By Joshua Koch
Public Communications
In today’s high-tech and highly-automated world that we live in, the field of robotics plays an integral part of our daily lives.
Students in Humble ISD have the opportunity to get immersed in this world during their high school years, which could propel them into careers in the robotics industry. Through the Humble ISD Career/Technical Education (CTE) program, Robotics I and Robotics II are offered at Atascocita, Humble, Kingwood and Summer Creek High School. For Kingwood Park High School students who would like to take the courses, they travel over to Kingwood High School.
In Humble ISD’s Robotics I course, students transfer academic skills to component designs in a project-based environment through implementation of the design process. Students build prototypes or use simulation software to test their designs.
In Robotics II, students explore artificial intelligence and programming in the robotic and automation industry. Through implementation of the design process, students will transfer academic skills to component designs in a project-based environment. Students will build prototypes and use software to test their designs.
The robotic and automation industry that students learn about in Robotics II plays a major role in the airline industry, especially when it comes to the sensors that help pilots keep the planes in the air.
In the Spring of 2024, Atascocita Architecture and Robotics teacher John Cobb along with Humble ISD School Board Member Mike Grabowski took robotics students to a maintenance hangar at the airport to get a closer look at the planes that pilots, like Grabowski, fly.
“To see the planes up close and to see the limited view that the pilots have during operation gave the students a sense of how important sensors are to the pilots to keep the operations,” Cobb said.
As students were taken around the Boeing 777, Grabowski explained to them how the sensors helped him fly the plane, while Cobb informed the students about the design process and design features from the technical side.
In the cockpit, students got to see the displays and all the data that a pilot gets while in flight.
“This gave the students a sense of how important automation is for the pilot during emergency situations,” Cobb said. “How all of the different sensors: pressure, temperature, IR, sonic, gyroscopic, etc., work together to assist the pilot in the safe operation of the aircraft.”
The biggest takeaway from the day, according to Cobb, was students seeing the amount of automation that it takes for an airplane the size of a Boeing 777 takes to fly and ensure the safety of all on board.
Taking Robotics I & II courses in Humble ISD could lead students to careers such as Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators, Semiconductor Processing Technicians, Industrial Engineers, Industrial engineering manufacturing and nuclear engineering.
The programs can also prepare students to pursue Associate Degrees in Instrumental Technology, Industrial Technology, Robotics Technology and Automation Engineer Technology; Bachelor’s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Electronics Engineering, Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Technology and Electromechanical Engineering Technology and Master’s, Doctoral and Professional Degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering/Industrial Management, Industrial Engineering and Electrical and Electronics Engineering.