S2644 Intro to Industrial Robotics
Class | Registration opens Monday, March 16, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
This class offers a high-level introduction to industrial robotics, exploring both its history and future. Participants will begin with traditional hard automation and trace the development of modern industrial robots. The session highlights the wide variety of robot types, styles, and sizes, along with the many applications in which they are used—some unexpected. As robotics and automation continue to evolve, the class concludes with a look ahead at emerging trends and what the future may hold.
In Person at The Hawk - Recorded
Jacob Gardner
Jacob Gardener started life like so many engineers, building LEGO contraptions in his bedroom. In High School he participated in both the worldwide FIRST Robotics competition and the local Oakland County OCCRA robotics competition. After graduating from University of Michigan in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Gardner joined FANUC, the largest industrial robotics company in North America.