Advancing Mechatronics Education to Include Industry 4.0 Concepts and Skills

先进制造领域正在通过自动化与数字数据交换的集成进行变革。 这种物理和数字系统的集成通常被称为工业4.0。 工业4.0技术的例子包括人工智能、物联网和云计算。该项目旨在帮助满足对准备在机电一体化和工业4.0就业的高技能工人日益增长的需求。该学院的南格鲁吉亚服务区是150多家制造公司的所在地。 目前的行业合作伙伴包括Polar Bestrom、Kelly Manufacturing Company、坎贝尔科学公司、NextEra Energy、Dillard's Distribution、Letica Corporation、巴斯夫和Innotek。为了运营和维护现代化的制造设施，这些公司需要具备工业4.0技能的技术人员。再加上对工业4.0合格技术人员的需求不断增长，能够教授工业4.0概念和技能的教师短缺。为了满足教育工作者和工人的双重需求，该项目计划：1）在现有的机电一体化计划的基础上开发一个新的机电一体化-工业4.0学位，可以培养劳动力就绪的技术人员; 2）从当地高中机电一体化计划到新的机电一体化-工业4.0计划开发教育途径; 3）支持工作场所工业4.0能力的教学和学习; 4）增加计划入学人数，特别是代表性不足的学生群体，包括女性和拉丁裔学生。综合评估将确定该项目的影响，并提出修改建议。该项目旨在将学生从高中先进制造课程培养成大学水平的机电一体化课程，包括工业4.0培训。利用行业专家作为共同教师，专业发展活动将为大学教师提供必要的培训和认证，以提供工业4.0概念和技能的高质量教育。该项目将开发混合学习资源（即面对面和在线），并深入了解混合环境如何影响学生的学习。该项目的预期成果是一个先进的机电一体化学位，重点是工业4.0，以及从高中到社区和技术学院的自动化制造的衔接途径。对行业合作伙伴的预期好处包括：1）稳定的高技能，随时准备工作的先进制造技术人员; 2）更能反映行业需求的课程;和3）一个机会，塑造未来的教育感兴趣的学生在先进制造业作为一个职业道路。这个项目是由先进技术教育计划，重点是教育的技术人员，为先进的，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The field of advanced manufacturing is being transformed by the integration of automation with digital data exchange. This integration of physical and digital systems is often called, Industry 4.0. Examples of Industry 4.0 technologies include Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Cloud Computing. This project is designed to help meet the rising need for highly skilled workers who are ready for employment in Mechatronics and Industry 4.0. The College’s South Georgia service area is home to more than 150 manufacturing companies. Current industry partners include Polar Beverages, Kelly Manufacturing Company, Campbell Scientific, NextEra Energy, Dillard’s Distribution, Letica Corporation, BASF, and Innotek. To operate and maintain modern manufacturing facilities, these companies need technicians who have Industry 4.0 skills. Coupled with this growing demand for Industry 4.0-competent technicians, there is a shortage of faculty who can teach Industry 4.0 concepts and skills. To meet the dual need for educators and workers, this project plans to: 1) build on an existing mechatronics program to develop a new Mechatronics – Industry 4.0 degree that can produce workforce-ready technicians; 2) develop educational pathways from local high school mechatronics programs into the new Mechatronics – Industry 4.0 program; 3) support the teaching and learning of workplace Industry 4.0 competencies; and 4) increase program enrollment, especially of underrepresented student populations including female and Latinx students. A comprehensive evaluation will determine the impact of the project as well as make recommendations for modifications.This project intends to develop a pipeline of students from a high-school advanced manufacturing program into a college-level Mechatronics program that includes Industry 4.0 training. Using industry experts as co-teachers, professional development activities will provide college faculty with the necessary training and certifications needed to provide high quality education in Industry 4.0 concepts and skills. The project will develop blended-learning resources (i.e. in person and online) and generate insights into how a blended environment affects student learning. Anticipated outcomes of the project are an advanced mechatronics degree with an Industry 4.0 focus and articulated pathways in automated manufacturing from high schools to community and technical colleges. Anticipated benefits to industry partners include: 1) a steady stream of highly skilled, work-ready advanced manufacturing technicians; 2) a curriculum more reflective of industry needs; and 3) an opportunity to shape the educational future of students interested in advanced manufacturing as a career path. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.