High school students in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties have the opportunity to earn a robotics and automation career studies certificate this spring through Laurel Ridge Community College. The Go Virginia-funded Robotics & Technology Academy is also open to adults living in the region of the college’s Fauquier Campus.
The Robotics & Automation Academy is a 16-credit career studies certificate program that introduces students to robotics and automation systems that use Industry 4.0 technologies. Industry 4.0 is the growing trend towards automation, technology and data exchange in processes within both the information technology and the manufacturing industries. These cyber-physical systems use technology that includes artificial intelligence, cloud computing, network security, robotics, programming and the Internet of Things.
“The academy has a dynamic learning environment,” said Heather Burton, the interim dean of Early College and High School Partnerships. “It’s not just learning from a book. It’s field trips and hands-on experiences. Students are exposed to businesses and corporations. We bring in guest speakers.”
Academy students will have the chance to work with NAO robots and various robotic arms.
“It’s really learning how to make society better with robotics and technology,” said Computer Science Professor Melissa Stange, who is the program lead for the Technology Academy.
In Virginia, the average robotics technician’s annual salary is $55,335.
High School students enrolled in the academy would take buses from their school to Laurel Ridge every morning, and return to their home schools late morning to take their regular classes. Among the college-level classes they would take at Laurel Ridge are Introduction to Robotics, Automated Manufacturing Systems I, Industrial Robotics and Robotics Programming and Preventive and Predictive Maintenance.
The spring academy comes on the heels of the Drone Academy offered this past fall at the Fauquier Campus, which will again be offered in fall 2024. Together, the academies are known as the Technology Academy.
“Both academies fit into our associate degree in technical studies,” said Dr. Stange. “If they earn these two certificates, they can take four general studies classes to earn that associate degree.”
Interested high school students should reach out to their school counselor as soon as possible because classes start Jan. 16. Adults interested in the program should call 540-351-1505. There will be an online info session at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 20. Use this link to join: https://vccs.zoom.us/j/84279667051