Engineering Science with a course focus in Robotics New Graduate Student Overview

So in 10 seconds it's counting down. People will be able to automatically start entering, uh, so they'll start filling in in the next 2 minutes.

Wonderful.

Really appreciate your help, really.

Always happy to help.

Yeah, it's just awesome.

Right, I see these people are starting to come in. Welcome welcome.

Yeah.

Good morning everyone. I know everyone's gonna start trickling it over the next minute on. So in this time we'll just do a quick introduction on ourselves. My name is Kaylee Perri. Hopefully light if you already got emails from me. I'm the graduate coordinator for this program so I'm gonna be when your primary points of contact for anything student services related. So throughout my presentation today, if you have questions on Ed missions

Um, I'll try to answer some of the best that they can, but I'm I ask if anything admissions would isn't answered during this. Just send an email to grad edge. UM, graduate admissions have their contact information at the end. This presentation, which will get a copy of, but I think as it relates to registration, the course scheduling orientation over the summer, things like that I'm going to be your point of contact, so reach out to me anytime as well and they get. I'll try to answer your chat as we go along and at the end of the presentation we will also.

Do a Q&A to go through all the chat. All the questions that you pose in the chat today.

Alright, so it looks like I think a lot of people are already here, so I think we can go ahead and get started then.

And I'm going to pass off the voice last to do introductions and talk a little bit about the program.

Right?

Wonderful thank you so much. Um, I'm going to speak slowly. I do not know if your reception is uhm as fast as it should be, but at least we're going to try to compensate for any kind of delays that this communication gives of. First of all, I would like to welcome you. I hope you're all staying safe and healthy, uh, in these challenging times.

I'm not.

Those of you on other continents, I wanna wish you a good evening, right? Uh, do to this a time difference. But to all of you are welcome to our program into this opportunity to join us and to continue our work together. Um, my name is voice talk. I'm a professor of practice at mechanical and aerospace engineering within School of engineering and Applied Sciences program.

I am also a director of engineering. Um, Um Science Ms Robotics program and I'm director of the miners program in robotics at our school.

My area of expertise is a robotics, an control, so valid for mechanical systems and I have been working in this area for a series of decades. Here I have been involved both on the industrial side and also on the academic side. I have a business flexible robotic environment that is first in module robotic applications. This business has been active.

For over 20, three years, and uhm, I can. Then you know, look at the Robotics Education or from the practical standpoint as well, which which gives a good flavor and need a favor to the educational involvement that I'm working on. So our program as you can see, is placed within a very fruitful environment. University of Buffalo.

Uh is a very, uh, again, powerful institution. We are, uh, uh, we have the capabilities of Interdisciplinary and cross disciplinary studies where a student can actually tailor their interests according to what they see as a perspective. What they see as a need, especially now when you look at industrial needs as far as robotics is concerned, you can find several.

She forced foci if you will, stemming from artificial intelligence across the relations of control strategies on the joint level, then across the actual design of robots as mechanisms, perception, and then all the way up to sensor Fusion. Applications that enable robots to function within complex industrial environment.

Or environment in general, uh, which actually opens up industry 4.0 applications throughout, so that's how we tailor our our measure, our major focus within the within, the master's program, and that's what is making us the leaders in the field. When you look at the opportunities that you have within the program, you're going to have, like Haley, is going to.

Express' later in the presentation, a series of four courses and you know, obviously in academic experience, but this academic experience is also going to allow you to develop a skill set that you can readily diploid industry right now their needs according to these four steps that I have mentioned, and this is not only within our country here, but across the world. These trends are quickly developing.

And seeing robots that are being deployed across the board, I wear the number of diploid robots in the world are still exponentially growing.

So Having said that, um, you're going to join this program that is going to allow you to open up your perspective and open up your capabilities to an extent that you want to grow. And from all the angles that actually will appeal to your specific interest. Again, you're going to be using the power of this University to expand across disciplines.

And this will definitely going to be something that is, uh, that is going to be working towards your advantage.

Come with me in line with the flexible program if you will. We are also leaning on the smart program as you probably have seen it later. This is Center for sustainable manufacturing advanced robotic technologies. This is a program from which our Masters program has originated and it is focused on advanced manufacturing applications, sustainable energy and robotics.

So this this is probably the root from which you can come. You can grow and you can realize what your ultimate skills should be shaped into.

The program is supported obviously bye bye bye departments within the school of engineering and Applied Sciences. There eight programs that are within within this umbrella and also by the other schools such as Medical School of Management, schools and so forth. But the point is that you can definitely go into various kind of research applications.

That are standing throughout those programs, like for example within the mechanical and aerospace engineering, there's some robotic related research activities that you can be involved in right away, such as advanced manufacturing, module, robotics, artificial intelligence you can reach across computer science as well that are dealing with artificial intelligence as well. Vision processing systems fatter recognitions.

Um, pattern recognition algorithms and as well as remote vehicle guidance, so these are just a few topics. If you will stop for my head, but you can definitely search for various kinds of opportunities once your program start, we very much encourage and provide opportunities for you to work with industry during your Ms program. So we have a cumulative experience. Again, this very is going to talk about that.

But the idea is to definitely trying to tie you in within the opportunities that exist with the local industry so that you can have a flavor of what it is to really deploy your knowledge and tailor your knowledge. Again, according to your skill set and your interests.

So.

Um, with that type of an orientation, and with that kind of an opportunity, we feel that the program is flexible enough so that you will definitely bring forward or you will be able to bring forward your complete interest set that will ultimately form you as a scaled robotics expert specialized in.

Specific areas if you will, that in turn will unable to function with this very competitive industrial branch, so that will pretty much summarize what I wanted to say today. Obviously you have any questions you're going to have an opportunity to ask me. I believe at the end of the presentation, but for now, let's go into the nuts and bolts and with that again.

Pause.

Call Mom

I would like to, um, um, did the torch back to Mrs. Perry and uh she will be able to expand this program into more detail. Thank you once again and welcome.

Gay.

Thank you, I'm so one of the questions I just popped up in the chat. Um is related to something that voice off just went over in terms of how our program is supported by smart, which stands for the sustainable manufacturing ambience, robotic technologies. It's a community of excellence here on campus and it has dedicated facilities in faculty. So this program is interdisciplinary so students are not part of any one specific Department in the school of engineering.

But you have the ability to be exposed and be able to work with faculty who have research in labs all across engineering. Definitely with a focus on either mechanical and aerospace engineering or computer science and engineering. So I did share a list of faculty from both of those departments and the chats, and students are able to pick their own advisor from any of these Department. So faculty that are doing research, robotics related research, and I these departments in engineering. Our faculty that you'll be able to work with.

Smart undoes specifically havum some of their own facilities and equipment, but other faculty may have their own labs and research facilities available to you, depending on who you choose, your advisor. But within smart, they have the automation, sandbox fabrication, factory motion capture lab, and thermal imaging camera. So in the chat I just included a link so you can check out on the smart, learn more about the research opportunities, the facilities new equipment available to students, but again, you're not limited to that.

It's just one of the many examples, um later in the summer when we are able to have our orientation before classes start. We always invite faculty. They have some prominent research going on related to robotics to talk to you about what they're working on, and they'll be able to give some more specific insight about their current research. Ongoing research, as well as some other facilities that you may be able to use if you are interested in researching with them.

So to move on to an overview of the degree. Uhm, this program is 30 credit hours. Students are going to take 10 three credit courses. So in order for students to be full time, if you plan on taking the program full time, you would be required to take 12 credits a semester unless it's your final semester of study and you don't need 12 credits to meet that 30 credit hour requirement. So typically how the program is broken up is that students will take 12 credits in their first master, 12 credits in their second semester.

7 six credits in their final semester an for students say if you write a Visa and you need to be full time equivalent for your visa requirements, we have things that we can do to certify you for full time status that you're working on. The last year requirements for that final semester.

Depending on your status, you could potentially be able to do the program part time. You're not necessarily bound to full time, but again, if you're on a student visa then you will be required to maintain those full-time requirements where you would be following that 1212 six format. So there are six core courses in the program, and then you'll have the ability to choose your own electives and do accommodating experience. So the number of electives that you choose is actually going to depend on what commenting experience that you decide to take.

Uhm, you can either do it integrated project or you can do a research thesis so we have a list of electives on our website, but it's not all inclusive, but they were chosen because they include on the different areas of training throughout our program. Robotic integration, motion control, development, electromechanical system designed device, Spencer Development Automation platforms, artificial intelligence. There are always classes that are being offered every semester. Switches like special topics to different departments.

I'm so our list of electives is not exhaustive, it just meant to give you an idea based on these areas of concentration and training. So as it relates to advising Doctor, Voice Lab is the program director Anne I'm the graduate coordinator, so were primary points of contact throughout the program. But as I mentioned before, going to be choosing your own major advisor, so you'll be choosing advisors based on your personal research interests.

So there going to be a mentor to you hub. Oversee your research or the project that you're working on on an answer questions as it relates to maybe elections that you want to take. So he was certain area of research they're going to be the best person to help you identify how you should construct your course plan outside of those core required classes, but anything day today about the program, the curriculum, your scheduling getting registered specific requirements or policies for robotics students.

That's definitely gonna be me. That you'll be reaching out to, um, it is a stump program. So if you are an international student, you will be eligible for that 24 month old PT extension and most students will be able to complete the degree in either 1 1/2 or two years. So most students who are doing a research thesis don't finish their program in 1 1/2 years and those three semesters. So a lot of times they have to continue registering for research credits and they'll usually finish in that extra semester in about 2 years.

But most students who are doing their project option that we are finding that students are really interested in doing industry based research projects, which is awesome. That would definitely qualify an internship for your project coming experience requirement in. With that, it's only a semester long, so that's where most students taking that option will finish in 1 1/2 year. and I do have a copy of the schedule coming up in terms of like recommended flow sheets for this.

I'm so here is the core classes, so there's six core classes that all students have to take. You can't wave anything unless you've already taken an equivalent graduate course, so if there are any students from you, be on here and maybe you have already taken at the undergraduate version of one of these courses. I know some of them are cross listed, then in that case we can definitely work with you. I'm doing like an independent study or take an advanced course related to that.

But unless you've already taken the equivalent of one of these classes, there are no waivers, so everyone are going to be taking these courses. You'll get a copy of this PowerPoint in case it's too small for you to read these classes. I know a couple of them are what voice software we talked about will be taking robots, algorithms, computer vision, and image processing, machine learning, engineering analysis, continues control systems in robotics one. So I do have in parentheses if when they're offered so not all classes are offered every semester.

A lot of the courses are usually follow only spring only and some are offered every semester, but it definitely varies. Uhm, so I put that in there so that when you're ready to register, you have an idea of how you may want to build your schedule based on when they are offered. 'cause you really do want to complete all of your core classes in your first 2 semesters of the program. But we do realize that some of these classes maybe prereqs to advanced electives that you want to take, and that's where I'm happy to map out based on your interest. It allows Devs.

What the best course planned for you specifically would be?

So next we have our electives and you can see that there are based on four specific areas. I realize it's a little bit hard to read, but you again you'll get a copy of the presentation and all these electors are listed on our website. So the four main groupings or concentration that we put together, our pre approved electives are robot control sensor analysis, machine learning and mechanics of special mechanisms in design. So you'll actually.

Notice if you can look closely at the slide that there are some classes that are in multiple categories, so there's a lot of overlap with these courses and how you may be focusing them. You don't have to pick just a lot goes from one category, you can pick and choose classes from any of the categories that you're interested in, and as well we can also review based on each semester's course offerings. If there's anything not pre approved, but that is directly related to robotics that you would be interested in taking, so this list isn't exhaustive.

Uh, we can definitely flexible based on your other interests. If with classes offering the school of engineering and applied Sciences. But again, you definitely need to make sure that you are on track with your core classes.

So I see, UM, when the last questions in there was about deep learning we have left is an advanced machine learning and deep learning on those are definitely popular classes and I also see some questions about taking more than 30 credits. So for students, depending on what your option is in terms of calming experience, you might need to take additional octaves to help with your research or your project. Your schedule is going to really allow for you to take any additional classes above and beyond the 30 credits.

Only in your final semester. Uhm, and any additional classes aren't going to count in your degree requirements, but you do have some room in your schedule to take additional octaves, as long as it doesn't impede your ability to finish your project or your research these tests so we do have a couple.

So it's coming up on an example that schedule where I can show you that.

So comedy experience. We talked about this a few Times Now. There are two different options, so all students in the Masters Program have to have some sort of comedy experience to wrap up their program. So this means that it's usually when the last things that they do and it's just putting together everything that they've learned in the program and showing how you applied it. So you can. You can do a thesis or a project with the project. Most students are either doing a research project with a faculty member in one of their labs.

Or they have found a project to be an internship, so they're doing industry based project which is really great hands on experience for students. You're only going to do one of these options, so you're not going to do an internship for your project and then do a thesis. A common experience. You only are going to choose one of them and I know that this is going to be something that will be important for students to choose which which experience there doing as it's going to affect if you want to do the project or an internship.

Your body to apply for your work authorization via curricular practical training or CBT. I'll talk about that in a few slides. Your internship does not have to be in Buffalo, it can be anywhere. It's just going to depend on what semester you are registering for your internship. So about that, and if you'd slides and we're talking more about internship. Typically, if students are interested in going on for a PhD, we recommend that you do the Masters thesis.

That way you can never really rich to research, uhm, that you can show on your application for future PhD studies. If you're interested in going into industry right away. The project is a really great option.

So some of the most common questions that I got as a pertains to the curriculum and their research are do I have to take all six core classes? Yes, went over this little bit before, but unless you've already taken the equipment gradual of that course, in which case we would work with you individually on independence study orange arrangement for content in that area, you have to take it so if you took a course on robots algorithms.

But it was an undergraduate level course, now equivalent to the content covered in that class. We're not going to be able to waive that requirement for you. Also, we get questions on mixing matching electives or taking them with, uh, would concentration I mentioned that before? You can definitely mix and match. We want you to build your curriculum based on your specific interests. So even as I said, there are other courses that may be offered in the given semester, not listed on the elective listener website, just to email me and send me a description of the chorus.

Will work together to figure out what that's going to be a suitable alternative. There are tons of seminar courses at Department offer every semester. Those unfortunately would not count towards your degree requirements, but that doesn't mean you can't add them to your schedule and take them In addition to your technical electives. Again, they just wouldn't count in your program requirements. In most of these seminars are only one or two credits, so this must be found. Quite a few students who have registered for 14 credit, so they took 2. One credit seminar issues because they were interested in it.

But your life is do it to be technical in nature. Uhm, so that's why we will have to approve. All those opportunities went of- an and the last question list is it? Can I take a lot does not list on the previous slides or website which I just went over it. Definitely. As long as we have prove it. So we do have sample course flow sheets so any gyno got a copy of this PowerPoint in case it's not showing too big for you but essentially we have are these flow sheets created for students to help you figure out.

Try to how many quart classes in the lattice should I be taking and they given semester? So ideally we would recommend that in the fall you take your fault only core classes and then in the spring you take your last two core classes that are offered both semesters with two electives than your last message with the ability to do your elective. Or maybe your project or your research thesis. However there are classes that have specific sequencing where you may need to finish your last core class in your last semester.

And so ideally you'd always be taking core classes in your first 2 semesters. Um, if you don't like I sat, there are four classes that are fault only, so if you don't take all those in your first semester, it's going to mean you're going to be taking them in your third semester. You might not, and you're going to have to be paying for additional courses to meet your degree requirements at that point, because you will have met everything and will be taking the show forces those first 2 semesters to meet your full time requirements, which again, is that taking 12 credits this semester.

If you're doing the program full time and you have to meet your visa requirements for student international students on an F1 visa SOB.

So if you are interested and mapping out specifically what you want your core schedule look like, I am happy to help with that. You can email me at anytime big things to know you will not do your project your thesis until after you've completed your first 2 semesters in the program. You could start your research thesis in your second semester, as long as you formulate a what that looks like and then you have your core classes taken before 'cause, you'll probably need that content to build on what that research is looking like.

Um, so I have a copy. Two options for what your thesis registration would look like. Now registration did begin a man you can register between now and August 30th, which is rare before classes start. However, you can't actually register until you finish the enrollment process, so you'll have needed to have completed everything with admissions. If your international student, that would mean sending in your financial documents to be able to get your I-20.

You'll need to get your visa approved, so with that there is an international student on line check in that you would need to complete in order to meet that requirement in terms of finishing enrollment. And then you also will have to set in your health documents. I realized that for some people might be hard to humans right now. A lot of things are closed, there are no deadlines for signing in like your tuition deposit, your health documents or your financial documents if you need, and I20.

Um, we just ask that you send them in as soon as possible so we can continue the enrollment process and again hopefully get all those holes are moved to get you registered for classes. So we do have seats saved and all the core classes so you're not going to have an issue getting into any of these classes for the fall semester. So it's one thing I want to make sure that no one is concerned about. If you are unable to register, say until middle of August, it's not going to be a problem.

Um?

You can see if you have holds on your account, which would prevent you from being able to register by logging into your hub student center and you'll see in a service indicator by renaming something called the To Do List, and that's going to show you everything that you need to do before your moment here at you be. So I always recommend checking into your hub student center at all times and checking are you be. Email will be getting notifications about things that you'll need to be doing, but again, we are very aware that things are tight and money.

Different locations right now because of the Cove in 18 situation. So we are being fluid. We are not having any immediate deadlines for you, just send it as soon as possible and again if you have questions about deadlines or questions about like your financial documents or sent getting your I-20 or the tuition deposit email grad edge at the end of this and they will be happy to answer those for you.

I'm so poor sequencing with something that I had imagined. Um, a couple slides ago in terms of how you're picking your classes, so there's definitely going to be a few things to keep in mind. While we do recommend you take your fault only courses first, we realize that a lot of you are going to be interested in some of these advanced courses, so specifically machine learning, advanced machine learning and deep learning are some of our most popular locked is, and you have to take the enter to machine learning.

For CSC 574. Before you can take those other two courses it as a prerequisite, so you should definitely take introduction to machine learning your first master. If you think that you will be interested in taking any of those later on. Deep learning is usually offered both semesters. Advanced machine learning is usually spring only, so it's not like you're not going to get another chance to take these later on in your program. But if you know you want to take those in your second semester, then we would definitely recommend you take that class first another.

Corey said is in that situation is robotics one, so if you are interested in robotics to the Mechanical Engineering Department, you definitely want to take me 593 from your first semester because robotics 2 M 8590 four is only going to be offered in the spring. So if you enroll in the fall, you're actually not going to have the ability to take that robotics to course again in your program unless you take me in your first semester. Again with robotics algorithms, CSC 568, we do have an advanced Robotics Course which is.

Typically spring only, but it is not offered annually, so if you don't take robots algorithms in your first semester, you're going to have to wait a full year.

And you're gonna miss your opportunity if it's offered to be able to take it because you can't. Cohen role in robotics algorithms and take it dancer bikes, algorithms and the same semester. So that being sad.

You know most students would always be taking me 593 in their first semester. Robots algorithms in the first semester. If you do decide to take machine learning in your first master, you cannot take computer vision and image processing. CSC 573 year first semester as well. 'cause if you take both of those at the exact same time, you're not they have any core classes to take in your second semester, which means you'll be taking only electives. You'll be taking four electives and again going to be graduating with extra degree requirements.

Because that next semester you're going to have to take either your project or thesis course and the last of your core classes so that right there is going to be a minimum of nine credits when you know that you typically would only need 6 going into your last semester. So all these things are what I'm here for to walk you through that and help give you some of those scenarios.

We really don't let students take both of those two classes in the first master. Even if you want to take extra credits because you should have all of your core classes done before you start your project or thesis. An if you take both of them that first semester, you're going to be taking two core classes in your third semester, and you should have no more than one, so that's kind of our one rule of the program is that you cannot go into your final semester needing more than one core class, so hopefully that clears up any.

Maybe questions or confusions about that?

So in terms of Masters, he says it's going to be 6 credits. Uhm, so it's going to mean that you will only meet meeting a minimum of two electives, but again, you can take more and you may need more for your research. So you're going to pick a major adviser to oversee your research thesis an you formulate your thesis topic by the end of your first master, but ideally no later than the middle of your seconds master, so you can never register for thesis or project credits until you have formulated.

What that opportunity is? Uhm, so your second semester, you might have said, yeah, I know I'm doing a thesis, but you don't have an overview of what that's going to look like, what your research topic is, or a title you will be able to register for that at that point. So important thing to keep in mind, this is going to be something similar with the robotics project.

Is going to, um, either be an individual product idea that you have a faculty based research project, or a project based research industry. Your intern jet so your internship is going to have to be directly related to the curriculum and it does have to be approved by the program Doctor Annuar major advisor so you know you can't just pick any internship that's out there. We do have to make sure that it has integral relations to our program, and that's really important because.

If you are an international student and you need to apply for a curricular practical training or CPT that your work authorization so CPT has some really specific requirements that say that you need to, you're if you're doing an internship, it has to be a requirement of your program, so we have that option by building that into our project course, which is EAS 561. So that part is side. But when you're actually applying for CBT, there's an application that.

Actually asked you to say what are the skills you're learning and how is that directly related to the program, and you even have to put in. What courses did you learn those skills N and what are you doing in this internship and how does that relate to the work that you did in the program? So if you don't have the ability to tie in the project that you're working on in this skill, is your guiding out the internship to the program? The CPT application is going to be denied so really important things to keep in mind with that.

Um, so your research projects can be completed with any faculty member that soon. Robots really to research. And again, who you pick is your major advisor and your first semester is going to be the one overseeing this. So we did list a couple of faculty that it presented their research to us or that have already taken on robotics students as students that they are advising voices, blah, frankly, Gore, Elnora Botta, Asinus behind it or cash karthik done 2K West Avenue.

This list is not exhaustive, it just to give you a couple ideas of maybe faculty that you want to go on our website San. Take a look at what research they're doing and just get an idea of who aligns with what your interests are.

So curricular practical training. I definitely find that throughout the year I'm getting a ton of questions for students who are really interested in these internship opportunities and therefore able at questions about CPT. So one my eligible for CPT. You can't start until after completing two semesters of full time study on campus. So if you enroll in the fall you can apply for a CPT as early as summer 21 or fall 21 if you defer.

And you roll in the spring. We do have a spring and take so if something happens with the coronavirus situation in your unfortunately unable to make it to campus and you don't want to start online. If that's an option or you just for whatever reason are unable to finish your enrollment for fall. You can defer to spray in that case. Then there early should be eligible for CPT would it be until either the winter break, or spring 2022 in your final semester. Others regulations with CBT are about full time or part time.

So you actually can't work full time if it's your final semester of study, so we have quite a few students that are doing internships this summer and they're doing that because they have forces definition the fall. So that means that they can do a full time internship opportunity in the summer semester, and that just means that they can work up to 40 hours a week. So for students who are doing their opportunities in the fall semester, that still perfectly fine, they're just limited to working no more than 20 hours per week.

If you are interested in graduating in UM, one year, that would mean that students would have to take five classes this semester, but that eliminates your ability to be able to do an internship fun because you'd be done by the end of that second semester where most students are here for three semesters. So I have it. A couple of people reach out to me that they are interested in finishing the program in one year. That could potentially be an option, but again, you'd be taking over the minimum requirements that you need to semester in. The only issue. Maybe your ability to really finish.

A project because again, you're going to be doing all of your core classes in that time frame. So it might be a little bit of grass. If so again. There's going to be some issues in terms of your scheduling with your ability to finish earlier than you want to or extending your program later so that's again, where I come into play asking those types of questions. So we can formulate your schedule in advance.

Hum, so again, anytime that you want to do CBT, it's going to have to be related to a course which is going to be the EAS 561 Robotics Project. So you had to be registered for a course in order to keep your application moving along for that work authorization.

Other popular question that we got about our how many opportunities for CPT are there? You can only have one internship in your program unless for some reason you did not finish your project in your first CBT opportunity. So for an example, if you're interviewing for a company and this time are they have you working on is taking longer than anticipated, you might not be able to finish it by this must you're enrolled in the internship course, so in that case you might need to work.

You know six more weeks with them into the next master and you would need and use ebt application. So what we would have to review it you have to apply for CPT again you would have to limit your hours because if you're going to your final semester of study you would be able to work more than 20 hours per week and you have to register for another credit other project. But if you don't finish it up or it could be that international student services dot legal to see this as OK, it makes sense that you would need more CP T because it's directly related to what you're working on.

But if you do a full time project in the summer, you pass it. You get greeted for it and that's the fall semester and there's just a new internship opportunity out there for you. You've already met your project requirement for the program, so therefore this new internship unfortunately isn't really integral to the curriculum anymore. So your application for CPT would get scrutinized by international student services, and it could be denied. So really important things to keep in mind as you're looking for these opportunities to make sure.

You're picking, you interject based on your research jobs. You're going to want to eventually do when they're going to be related to the curriculum, and that ultimately the avast experience for you.

I do see a question about assisting and internships related to the program. We were really great career services, office, I campus and there is a woman named Holly Justice who works with all the school. All the students in the school of engineering and Applied Sciences. We have our own platform called handshake where you can upload your resume, apply for jobs and internships, jobs in ships, concerts for your information for resumes uploaded. You also can sit down with M101.

Help find opportunities they can look at your resume. They can look at your cover letter. They could even do practice interviewing with you so we have a lot of great resources on campus, but your faculty are also going to be really good resources for you as well. This past semester we did have Tesla Comma campus and they talked about their internship opportunities. An interview students run campus as well and our students even got a tour of the local Tesla plant which was really cool. So oh, and there's also a job internship fair every semester as well.

And there is a, um, engineering focused and um, internship fair and the fall semester as well. So there's always a lot of things on going on campus to help you. Um, you're looking for specific opportunities. Just reach out to us so we can help you find them.

Alright, so some general questions that I also got um are can I do an internship Anna thesis then answer is no. We talked about a little bit before you have one culminating experience in the program. So you're picking either between an internship or doing a thesis. It should always be one or the other.

Unless you're doing, unless you find an internship in that research is going to be integral to your thesis, that's going to be really the only opportunity that you could potentially apply for CPT. But you're going to really have to make that case to international student services in order for them to approve your CPT application. If they know that you're doing the thesis option and not the project.

This is because CPT is meant to be integral to your curriculum. It requires students to be registered at the internship approved course, and that's only that robotics. Ms private course EAS 561. So since there's one coming experience in the program, you choose between one or the other and your CPT application does have the risk of being denied if you're enrolled in thesis credits and you really are therefore unable to prove their research is integral to your curriculum at that point, and then you'd really be added to make the case of how it's integral to your.

Jesus research.

Other questions, can I complete the program in two years? Definitely. Most students who are doing the thesis option are going to have to take an extra semester to finish their research.

So if you have not finished that project requirements releases requirement you may be paying for additional credits because you have to maintain continuous enrollment which means you have to be right every semester but in that situation you know you if you need it then it's going to be an option for you.

Can I take moral octaves so absolutely caught by this couple times? Most students going at these as it may need additional research and additional courses, take further research. That's completely fine. So our program requirements is 30 credits. But if you need more, there's going to be room in your final semester to take those classes.

Oh, also a lot of questions that I got are, um, what's my schedule look like? If I defer, so it's going to be pretty similar. You know, you're still going to be taking 12 credits in the spring and fall in the spring. You'll be taking those two spring only core courses, so you'll do 2 core courses into a lock devs and the following two of your core courses and then in the spring you'd be doing your project, your thesis, or any electives that you didn't finish. Now with that, you only have 6 credits left that you need in that final semester.

Not if you start in the fall or spring, so you have plenty of time in room in your schedule to add more classes so you can always take at least two additional octaves in your final semester. No? Say you do an internship. You start in the fall. You do it in the summer. You only have one class in the fall. You can take three extra electives. Net fall semester that not going to count your program requirements, but you have room in your schedule. If there's other things that you're interested in that you didn't get to take in the program.

The only big thing, um, in terms of starting in the spring is that summer CBT is not going to be an option. So students spring students are only the elbow for that. CBT work authorization, earliest winter break, or going into that final semester of spraying on. There's just unfortunately not going to be any way around that, because even if you didn't finish all your credits for some reason that spring semester you took extra classes. I just wanted your program and then you want to do your project in that summer. It's still your final semester of study.

And that's a nono. With CBT that you can't be full time in your final semester of study. Um, not that it's a huge loss. You're still getting 4 full months of a great internship experience in working 20 hours a week, which is a lot of work still. But something to keep in mind is that with 40 hour week internship is important to you.

So that is all that I have in terms of my presentation. Uhm so I'm going to go back in the chat to ask and answer your questions so if you do have questions. Please put them in the chat now and both of us will answer them as best as we can. I see one of them are all core courses offered in fall and spring that answer is no computer vision and machine learning. All the only courses that are offered in the spring on the other four courses are not.

Their fault only? UM, requirements for getting in assistantship so we don't have. We don't offer in use students assistantship, so if that's something that you're waiting for, your funding letter. Unfortunately we don't have those opportunities for new incoming students, but we have had quite a few students who enrolled in the fall that, when finding their major advisor, were actually able to get research assistantship opportunities by making those connections and doing research in their labs.

And so that's something that if you want to research assistantship, you'll have to seek it out on your own. Uhm, by reaching out to faculty who have research interests related to you. Or is it just seeing what ever choose available that they have? So even though we don't have anything for you right now, that doesn't mean that they're not available. If there are missing ships that open up in faculty are allowing anyone engineering to apply, four will also email those opportunities to as well.

So you know it'll just be things that you'll seek out individually on your own.

Um, a question actual octaves other than 30 credit hours? Are they free? No, you always have to pay for every course that you're registering for, so if you do want to take above and beyond the hurry credit hours, that's fine, but you would be paying for them.

We do not have a detailed curriculum brochure, but if there are specific questions that you're looking for and they're not on the website, just email me and I will try to answer them for you. Um, voice. Laugh we are getting some questions about the program. How is it different from an Ms in computer science? And then another question about opportunities for PhD studies. Do you want to answer those and talk a little bit about that?

Sure that it's right as far as the difference between the computer science and robotics program is concerned. The major difference is that.

Computer science skills are basically treated as a as a tool. When you're in the robotics area. So when you're entering the robotics area, you're typically looking at the applications and then you're trying to design controllers that actually make those mechanisms or electromechanical systems. If you will perform in the way that you want him to perform so.

The what that leads into is the controller design, because on all the degrees of freedom that you're trying to run, you have a controller that has its own specific characteristics that are going to dictate the dynamic desired performance of your system. So this now incorporates the fact that programming skills need to be deployed and say very corfield in computer science. You're also going to be looking at deploying.

Artificial intelligence as a complementary asset to the controller that you're designing hands again, a computer science component and then you might be looking at the sensory integration, especially as far as vision is concerned is pattern recognition is concerned. Hence you will be using the methodology's that are integral with computer science, but those are all the tools that now need to fit within the overall control design so that you will be looking at.

And on in your control systems skills in order to implement those, you're going to be looking at the Interfacing. If you actually want to go into system realization that you need to be skilled and integration itself, so there are going to be a component of EE, they're going to, there's going to be a component of sensor analysis, and then again, like I said, there's going to be a component in the actual understanding of the dynamics of the system at. Again, is the mechanical engineer strategy.

You have to understand a dramatic analysis. The way the system actually lose, and it's analyzed in 3D. Those are all the skills that are coming in now from mechanical engineering. You're coming in from the mechanics and physics if you will. So the computer science to make a Long story short, what is different between the computer signs and the actual robotics is that a computer science skills are actually the integral part within your Masters.

Program in robotics as a skill that is going to make these systems operate in the way that you wanted to.

What was the other question related to pH D?

See.

Didn't wanna know, um, what types of programs PhD programs can be applied to after earning this Masters degree?

Absolutely, if you, uh, get a Masters degree in robotics, you can go into the PhD arena that relates to, um, basically in number of fields you could go into controls, right? That will be kind of a natural expansion in your knowledge. You can go into the actual sensor analysis and vision analysis and the deployment of AI.

In that particular field, and when I say controls, you can never it look at nonlinear control strategies. You can expand on variable structure systems if you will, and then of course into an official intelligence that compliment the all these traditional control algorithms that will actually make the system running and more optimal an model independent matter. Right now the trend is really to see if you can design.

A controller improvement controller that is model independent for such complex shelter mechanical 3D systems such as robots. So artificial intelligent plays, machine learning, deep learning that we have talked about a minute ago actually plays an extremely important role. So PhD opportunities are abundant.

Awesome, thank you.

I miss I scroll back through some of the earlier questions anesa question by do an internship. Why be awarded 3 credits for them? Yes, um this semester that you do your internship, you would be simultaneously registered for EAS 561 Robotics Project. So it's satisfying your calming experience requirement so therefore you register for that associated class when you're doing your research work, you'd be registering for your Masters thesis course, which would be EAS 562 robotics pieces.

And so you can choose which comet experience you want. Um, one of the questions I saw also was when do I did make that decision? So ideally you should be formulating this in your first semester. If you need longer in your second semester, that's OK, but by the middle of your second semester, you really should know if you're going which route, because if you're going project route, you're really going to want to replying specifically for internships really over that winter break in early in the spring semester, if you start in fall.

Um, or if you want to do a faculty research project, you're going to want to make sure you have those opportunities with your advisor, and you know when what semester will you be able to work on that with that, and so you want to kind of confirm your spot with that research project. Is it really as possible? The seemly thing with your thesis? I'm having questions that I'm seeing about how long does it take to graduate with the thesis. That's going to depend on how it really you start working any research topic. So if you start working on it in the spring semester.

Should have the ability to continue working in focusing on that on the fall semester, and then if you need more time, you can come back for a fourth semester again, you're going to pay for additional credits. **** ** your research 'cause you have to be registered for credits every semester to graduation, but the earlier you identify these opportunities, the moron check for graduation evil be.

Um, one of the questions. I'm also seeing a more related to the curriculum for fall, so if the fall semester is going on line, or if the curriculum is going to change because of the coronavirus, so we do have an ethic you on the engineering website. Uhm so if you go to school of engineering and Applied Sciences on the right hand, sign it. There is Koba 19 information. I'm going to put that link and then she at right now. So guess we're going to find the most.

Up to date information about what is going on with this situation here. So currently we are a status quo. Our spring semester did go on line. We don't always have a ton of summer classes offer it, so all of those are naturally going on line as well. Just because honestly there are so few of them anyways. And while we're still practicing social distancing and you know what's the healthiest far students, the fall of our classes are scheduled to be in person as they would usually be offered, but.

Things could obviously change between now and August, so it's a fluid situation. It's growing as we get updates. If the schedule is going to be changing, we will let you know. We just unfortunately don't have anymore details about it at this time, but all students will be notified an will be giving you what those options do look like. So That being said, if at that point over the summer you said that you want to defer to litter term, or maybe you have to if you couldn't get your visa or things like that.

You have the option to defer up to one year and you would be able to start in either the spring or the fall. Uhm, unfortunately we don't have too many details other than that you know we're working on every type of scenario to make sure that you don't have to delay your enrollment. If you don't want to. I will say if you don't get your visa in the summer and online classes are an option, you can start online without a visa. You only need your visa to physically attend classes in the states. However, we don't know how that might impact your CPT.

Because right now, if you want that work, authorization for an internship CPT would require you to actually be in the United States on campus. Uhm, so like currently in our spring semester, all of our classes moved to on line, but the students were in the USA and they were here. And even though their classes were changed on line, they were originally campus based. In there on campus. So those students are still eligible for their CBT. We don't know how that might change.

I'm a God. Those are definitely the questions that will answer for you as soon as we have more information about the situation, so I know that's another question I saw on their two about starting on line, or deferring how that effects your CPT. I'm sorry that we don't have more specific information, but it is coming and we will get that she was soon as we can.

Um, what other?

Russians are we seeing?

Let's see.

OK, so one of the questions is uhm, is there an option for international students inside a part time in their first semester? If you were on campus, no. Uhm, you are always enough to maintain that full time enrollment. If you come here and you do experience academic difficulty or any issues with like US based teaching methods or English proficiency, there are things for international students called a reduce course load an it's really free difficulties in your first semester of the program.

Where we would certify you full time but it would allow you to do a reduced schedule of, uhm, you know, maybe two or three classes that is going to impact your ability to do internships later on in your schedule in terms of your for classes in your electives. So we would have to look at that option once you are here and what difficulties you're having in the first semester. We want to be successful, so that's why the program is set up. But we also want you to be aware of the long-term implications of not taking that number of credit hours in your first semester.

Uh, but if you're on campus, you absolutely cannot be part time unless you have an equivalent an approval for full time status. And however, if you ended up starting on line, if they did end up being an option and you were not in the US, there would not be requirements about the number of credit hours you need to take. Again, though that might impact future semesters enrollment, so we want to talk about an individual schedule at that time.

Absolutely.

Um voice off one of the students asked about the job opportunities after earning a Masters degree in robotics. Do you want to talk a little bit about that? I know it's going to be.

Their background but.

That is right again, exactly depending on your background and depending on your skill set.

1.

Call

Knock, knock.

Definitely actually I should back that a little bit. Uhm, whatever your skill set is within the robotics area today, you are definitely going to be able to find a job. And those jobs can range anywhere from the actual system designer all the way down to the Integrator. Just fading. Actually, in a team of Engineers for.

No.

Composing um a system or robotic where are advancing and manufacturing system if you will for various kind of applications. So what you will be doing is you will be specializing in motion platform design and that can be as complex or simple as you can imagine. Depending on your skill set. When I say as simple as you can be programming on a TP level forming in place the teach pendant programming all the way up to very complex program development.

Not.

Show

And system integration with other equipment that needs to be all all put together. If you will into an overall working system. This also includes your capability to devise and design user interfaces because you're going to be composing systems that obviously everybody should be using and not everybody is going to be a robotics expert. In order to be using the equipment that you're designing. So there a great deal of opportunities, especially right now when you seek robots.

How?

That are that are infiltrating industry on all levels where you have obviously a robot in a human interface in together in various kind of applications. This is another specialized opportunities of now if you will quote Unquote, that actually gives you a perspective of what kind of a job you will be working on. But you know to make my story short, there's an abundance of jobs that are related to.

After robotics, uh, with with the skill set that you're going to be acquiring, coming out of this program, you're definitely going to find a very good and interesting challenging spots in industry that keeps on growing and keeps on using these skills, right?

Is there another process?

Awesome, thank you.

Another question as are there for scissor skills that we need to develop which will be helpful when we start and so, um, like are there any like programming languages or general skills that students should brush up on over the summer before they start classes in the fall?

Yes, we definitely encourage interdisciplinary aksan cross disciplinary studies, because that gives a unique and very special flavor to the program, so you know the usual suspects if you will, you know are.

Very much recommended in terms of the courses in terms of the scales and those usual subset subset suspects would be your knowledge of dynamics, right? Hopefully you had some feel of 3D dynamics modeling of multi degree of Freedom Systems. Maybe you had it feel like grunge differential equations that will help you understand how these systems can be analyzed and modeled very good under all circumstances. Very good math skills.

Are very much recommended and as far as programming is concerned you should have a pretty good knowledge at least in algorithm development. I don't really mind you choosing any kind of programming language that will fit, but understanding the algorithm development that will be very good so that you can develop your own code and um, ultimately code what you're trying to test or see and then have the capability to to learn some software existing software platforms.

How how?

Such as Matlab or simulate that is going to give you a kind of a feel so that you can test your ideas throughout the throughout the course work. Also the assignments that you're going to be getting projects that you're going to be getting are going to be encouraging that type of interactivity, so it kind of a prep before hand would be a good idea. It will definitely be recommended, but not something that would. That would be a show stopper for you.

Awesome thank you. Um, I see another question at their research opportunities for human robot interaction. Is doctor esfahani tar caches.

I thought so.

That's exactly right. That was gonna say yes.

He we do doctor esfahani UM in mechanical engineering, actually does teach a course. Me 502 called human robot interaction. So I would definitely look him up on the website. Uhm, I think that there is a couple more faculty members that could potentially be doing research related. I know industrial engineering has a similar course on their schedule, so they have cross departmental research as well. But Doctor Asinus Honey.

Definitely going to be someone if that's a research area of interest to you to look up and again earlier in the chat I shared the links to faculty from both mechanical and aerospace engineering and computer science. You go to both of those departmental websites. There is a tab for research and you can see all the different research areas in both departments and therefore all the faculty that are doing research related that you may want to pair up with.

And I just see a concern that someone couldn't hear through the whole web. And are you will get email to link in a copy of the slides later on. Um, I think today or tomorrow. So we apologize for any technical difficulties, but you'll definitely be able to access this information later. Questions about deferring admission? Yep, you can make you can defer up to one time we're asking students to wait to defer into July when we have more information, but all the options for enrollment for the fall semester and see how things continue to change with Globe in 19.

But all you would do if you need to defer as log back into your application an update your intent to enroll. It isn't editable form so really easy process. If for some reason that it's not working, email gradenginebuffalo.edu and they can help as well.

Um, see I see a question. How are professors assigned for thesis? They are not. You will seek your own adviser to oversee your research and whether that's a project or a thesis.

Hum.

Can you talk about the scope of robotics software development in specializing in it?

Sure.

Then you know when you when you go into the field or robotics.

Software development and definitely the capability of.

Of being able to interact with your systems in such a way that you can control, and you know is is an imperative so.

When you when you start to look at the robotic system as a control system, you can address the software development on various levels. Again depending on what is it that you're trying to do with the system. If you're trying to interact with the system and actually just be familiar with its capabilities, then maybe teach programming is the level that you should be at. Or if you're trying to go into a little bit of a deeper level then you be concentrating on programming languages.

Ha ha ha.

She.

Not.

That are unique to your robot manufacturer Robot Controller. Let's say such as Carol. If you're using FANUC robots. However, if you're trying to address the robotics from the standpoint of integration, or if you're trying to overcome some difficulties that might be imposed by the robot controller and you would be actually going into a professional Rome of.

Developing and working on software platforms like for example code. This is would be a very good example of that where you would be actually.

Programming in a five standard programming languages that would be unique for that platform that at the same time you'll be treating the robot as a slave within that type of relationship.

Development relationship, then, um, as a As you progress throughout the system, you would also need to have other programming capabilities that make the system in reality, such as developing, let's say Codesys platforms right? That will allow you to integrate.

With men across the board from there is kind of a manufacturers so that you will be able to. Let's say integrate that type of equipment through OPC server client relationships. So that is now the programming capability that you should be versed on when it really comes to system realization when you are doing research, obviously then you can choose whatever programming platform is of your choice and it gives you enough versatility to use varies kind of library so that you can.

Define.

Involved with simulation, we can get involved with with system testing in the virtual type of environment. Um, some operating systems are out there that are actually commercial and are open ended. Its freeware. As a matter of fact that you can actually use to emulate the robots behavior before you construct anything that you feel can be deployed on the integration level so that software development.

Again, is a tool for what you actually want to do, and your ultimate goal is to understand your electromechanical system and be able to control it in in most efficient way in order to achieve a specific application so you are a motions expert, your emotion, platform development, expert. After you get your degree on where programming tools and skills are just one of these.

One of the components that make up your strength.

Awesome, thank you.

So I think we can start wrapping up a little bit. I'm seeing a couple of questions about, uhm, the structure for fall. If it's on line or you should refer right now. It's on campus. You don't have updates. If it is moving on line, we're hoping table offer multiple options depending on the situation. Ask Lee to defer until we can give you that information. If you want to learn more about faculty and research, go to the individual Department websites.

If you already paid your deposit for fall and you do need to defer, you don't have to repay the deposit it will carry with you to another semester. So that's why we want everyone to finish the enrollment process. Send in all your documents. Pay your deposit sudden health documents. Get your eye 20 ready. If you defer, you'll get a new I-20. If your international student for that new semester. But if you're spending in your deposit in your health documents and you start later, you just don't have anything left to do for the moment process and it will be smoother and you'll be all set for when you are ready to start.

Um, so it looks like I think we answered most of the questions there. Um, 01. Quick question. We have time till June, right to defer. You can actually defer until August. So if it is, you know the week before the semester starts and you can't make it this semester. You can still defy you. Just email graduate admissions if you already have very 20, you can defer. You're just going to update your intent to enroll form on the application page, but again.

You know we're going to have a lot more information available to you, but with the fall semester looks like um, at a later time in the summer. So just hold tight up unless you absolutely know for whatever reason that you cannot start in the fall, but you're waiting on these decisions, then we will have more information to you. I'm hopefully, you know, in June, July and time frame, I also did see a question about doing internships, working in more of a computer science or artificial intelligence.

Yields um your project should be related to our curriculum now machine learning is definitely a big part of our curriculum. You know it is a core class and there's the ability to take action reluctance to explain or knowledge, but you need to make sure that your job is going to your internship opportunity has a good relation between robotics and machine learning and artificial intelligence. You have to prove in your CPT application how the internship is directly relevant to your curriculum.

So it seems like it's not as directly related. Uhm, that is where you know you're going to have the UM issues with that, so it's not a no, but it's not a definitive yes, depending on what that opportunity looks like.

Um?

Voice life, I think one last question I'm some students will have uhm, someone that they have a bachelors degree in engineering that's different from mechanical engineering. Uhm? What skills from the mechanical side should they pre learn? I think you went over this a little bit but I know a couple people joined late.

Sure, right it would be recommended first. All math skills are a given. I keep harping on that one. But to be specific it will be definitely an advantage if you had skills in dynamics branch of mechanics that deals with kinematics and genetics, right? So if you have a basic course in that.

Requisite being statics, that would be very uh, that would be a very good advantage for you to have. Also, um, um at least the basic course in controls engineering. So if you went through a course in linear control systems and you know have a conceptual knowledge of block diagrams abilities that he stay there and have to go into any kind of list here.

Again, would be helpful because when we start to look at a robots at least in introductory course, we're going to go through the analysis of robots as spatial mechanisms. That means we're going to be looking at coordinate trains, the way coordinate frames are related in space, and then start to hook up into kinematics, right? That is associated with general play motion.

A concept that is, for example, first touch the pawn in a regular dynamics undergrad course, which is a software course is a matter of fact, so that's that's what I would recommend. Again, this is not a deterrent because we definitely are very sensitive to students who are coming into robotics from other backgrounds, and the reason for that is because robotics is a multifaceted field.

I'm not.

You're going to see it, uh, analyze from different angles, especially nowadays where information is so available and where just that fact serves as an inspiration to look at robotics as a multifaceted area. So those are very loose recommendations that I just gave you, and that is something that.

You can take it under face value, but if you go through an effort of getting that kind of preparation, it will definitely be in asset.

Awesome, thank you and so I think that we were able to answer most everyone's questions. If there is anything that we didn't go over today, please email me an again. Admissions questions please email gradenje. My email is an this last slide. I'm going to put at the end of this chat right now. Real quick two and you can find both of our information on our robotics program website, so I'll share that link one last time as well. We really appreciate you joining us today. We hope you had.

Uhm, you know all your questions answered and get every good idea about what to expect in the program. What you'll learn a Portuguese available for you? Um, so thank you so much for joining us and we hope to see you on campus soon and working with you in the program. Thank you.

Same here, all the best to you all and thank you for joining us. Hope to see you soon. Welcome to the program.

Yes, congratulations on your acceptance. Welcome and have a great day.

Wonderful.

Right?

Bye.

Goodbye.