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Programming is a major component of robotics in manufacturing that sometimes gets overlooked by people who want to make a career out of working with robots.  However, programming for industrial robotics is an essential part of a robotics career, and you'll encounter it in some form or another whether you become a robotics technician or a robotics integrator.

There are also roles in robotics that are primarily focused on programming for industrial robotics. For example, some companies have positions for software engineers who work exclusively on developing the code that runs robots and other automated equipment.

If you're interested in a career in robotics, it's important to have at least a basic understanding of programming for industrial robotics. Below, we'll go over some of the fundamental roles that programming plays in industrial robotics.

Industrial Robotics Programming as a Means of Communication Between Robots and Workers

Programming is the primary means of communication between robots and workers in a manufacturing setting. This is done through what's called a robotic cell controller. The controller acts as the central nervous system for the robotics cell, and it's responsible for handling all of the input and output signals that come from various devices in the cell.

These signals include things like commands from workers telling the robot what to do, information about the current state of the cell, and error messages. All of this information is conveyed through code, which is why programming is so essential to robotics in manufacturing.

It's also worth noting that many modern robots are equipped with touchscreen interfaces that allow workers to input commands directly. However, these interfaces are still powered by code, so even if you never write a line of code yourself, you'll still be working with it indirectly. It’s no exaggeration to say that every job in robotics or manufacturing interacts with industrial robotics programming in some form.

How Programming for Industrial Robotics Ensures Safety in the Workplace

Another important role that programming plays in industrial robotics is safety. In any manufacturing setting, there are always going to be safety concerns that need to be taken into account.

For example, let's say you're working with a robot that needs to lift heavy objects. If the programming for that robot isn't done correctly, it could drop the object and injure someone in the process.

That's why safety is such an important consideration in industrial robotics. Programmers need to make sure that the code they're writing is safe and won't cause any accidents in the workplace.

To do this, they need to have a thorough understanding of the safety concerns in the manufacturing setting and how to address them through code.

How Programming for Industrial Robotics Improves Efficiency in the Workplace

Programming also plays a role in improving efficiency in the workplace. In any manufacturing setting, there's always going to be a need to optimize processes and make sure that they're running as smoothly as possible.

Programmers can help with this by writing code that automates certain tasks. For example, let's say you're working in a factory that manufactures car parts.

The process of manufacturing a car part usually involves a lot of different steps, and it can be time-consuming. However, if you have an industrial robotics programmer on your team, they can write code that automates some of those steps.

This will free up time for workers to do other tasks and ultimately improve efficiency in the workplace.

Overall, programming is a vital part of industrial robotics. It's responsible for everything from ensuring safety in the workplace to improving efficiency. If you're interested in a career in robotics, it's important to have at least a basic understanding of programming.

Find Industrial Robotics Programming Courses With Our Search Tool

If you're interested in learning more about industrial robotics programming, we can help. The RoboticsCareer.org search tool allows you to sort through thousands of robotics programs around the country to find the right fit for your education.

You can start by heading to the home page and using the search tool at the top to search for "robot programming." Next, filter the results for location, program format, and credential earned to find exactly the program you're looking for.

From there, the rest is up to you. Be sure to contact the schools you're interested in and get more information about their program. Good luck!

About The Author

John Zappa

John Zappa is the Director of Product Management at the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute. In this role, he is responsible for developing and promoting services that help the organization fulfill its mission to train and empower the manufacturing workforce for careers in robotics. 

An industry expert on lifelong learning, John has spoken at numerous industry conferences including Chief Learning Officer Symposium, Society of Human Resource Management, and The Conference Board, and has co-authored articles on corporate tuition assistance programs and talent management.  

During his career, he helped to found and serve as CEO of EdLink, LLC a leading provider of tuition assistance management services.  Under John’s leadership, EdLink grew to manage over $220 million in education funding. The firm was acquired by the Fortune 500 firm Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM).  A pioneer in the field, he created the industry’s first education network to address the rising cost of education for adult learners. It is now considered the industry standard. 

With thirty years’ experience, John has built and led marketing, operations, and product management teams in software-based companies across multiple industries.  John began his career at IBM implementing robotics as a manufacturing engineer.  He received his Bachelor of Science Degree with University Honors in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and his MBA from Dartmouth College.