Automatic Control, Robotics and Vision

Description

Origin and framework of the programme
The doctoral programme in Automatic Control, Robotics and Vision (ARV) was established in 2006 by combining the Advanced Automation and Robotics programme of the Institute of Industrial and Control Engineering (IOC) and the Control, Vision and Robotics programme of the Department of Automatic Control (ESAII), both of which had received quality awards from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. The merger was the result of an increasing affinity and convergence in the content and activity of the two programmes and served as an opportunity to adapt to the new system for official postgraduate programmes within the framework of the European Higher Education Area. From the first year that the new doctoral programme was offered, it was recognised with a quality award from the Ministry of Education and Science (code MCD2007-00150, years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010). The programme has also been granted the Pathway to Excellence award by the Ministry of Education (code MEE2011-0453, valid from 2011-2012 to 2013-2014).
The doctoral programme in Automatic Control, Robotics and Vision provides a framework for students to complete doctoral theses in these fields, which are of vital importance in traditional industry and many service applications. Work is carried out mainly under the supervision of professors associated with the programme, using research facilities made available by the two units responsible for the degree (IOC and ESAII); the Institute of Robotics and Industrial Informatics (IRI), which collaborates very actively with the programme; and the research groups involved.
The doctoral programme in Automatic Control, Robotics and Vision is a natural continuation of the master's degree in Automatic Control and Robotics (a UPC programme taught in English). Students who complete this master’s degree are therefore eligible for direct admission to the doctoral programme. Students with degrees in related fields may also be considered for admission. The academic committee will require that students admitted with other degrees complete specific bridging courses from the master’s degree in Automatic Control and Robotics (selected on a case-by-case basis) to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills needed to conduct research and complete a doctoral thesis in one of the areas covered by the programme.

Automatic control and robotics play an increasingly important role in contemporary society, from both a social perspective (habits and greater convenience and quality of life) and in terms of their direct and indirect economic significance. Consequently, research and development in this field is of vital importance and marks a clear difference between developed and developing countries. In the latter, products are marketed, or in some cases manufactured (basically due to lower production costs), but there is usually no know-how or capacity to innovate or produce graduates qualified to work in R&D, and this is where the difference lies. Producing professionals who are capable of innovating and working in highly specialised areas with the latest technologies constitutes a clear and direct contribution to our society. Moreover, all developed countries offer doctoral degrees equivalent to the doctoral programme in Automatic Control, Robotics and Vision.

Aim of the programme
The aim of the programme is to provide students with rigorous training that builds on knowledge acquired in previous stages of their education and prepares them to undertake a career in scientific and technological research and to innovate in highly specialised areas on advanced aspects of automatic control, robotics and computer vision. The goal is therefore for doctoral students to develop the ability to find innovative solutions by drawing on solid theoretical knowledge and applying new technologies.

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