Advancing Mechatronics Education to Include Industry 4.0 Concepts and Skills

自动化与数字数据交换的结合正在改变先进制造领域。这种物理和数字系统的集成通常被称为行业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日益增长的高技能工人的需求，这些工人准备好在机电和工业4.0中就业。学院的南乔治亚州服务区是150多家制造公司的所在地。目前的行业合作伙伴包括Polar Beverages、Kelly制造公司、Campbell Science、NextEra Energy、Dillard‘s Distribution、Letica Corporation、BASF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Industry 4.0技能的技术人员。再加上对工业4.0技术人员日益增长的需求，能够教授工业4.0概念和技能的教师短缺。为了满足对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，开发新的机电一体化-工业4.0学位，能够培养出可供劳动力使用的技术人员；2)发展从当地高中机电一体化计划到新的机电一体化-工业4.0计划的教育途径；3)支持工作场所工业4.0能力的教与学；以及4)增加计划招生，特别是代表不足的学生群体，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项目发展到包括工业4.0培训在内的大学水平的机电一体化项目。利用行业专家作为合作教师，专业发展活动将为大学教师提供必要的培训和认证，以提供高质量的工业4.0概念和技能教育。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以工业4.0为重点的高级机电一体化学位，以及从高中到社区和技术大学的自动化制造方面的明确途径。行业合作伙伴的预期收益包括：1)源源不断的高技能、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；以及3)有机会塑造对先进制造感兴趣的学生的教育未来，将其作为职业道路。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.