Robotics Technician

Other Titles

Automation Technician, Electrical and Instrumentation Technician (E and I Technician), Field Service Technician, Instrument and Automation Technician, Instrument Specialist, Instrument Technician, Instrumentation and Controls Technician, Instrumentation and Process Controls Technician, Process Control Technician, Programmable Logic Controllers Technician

Build, install, test, or maintain robotic equipment or related automated production systems. Robotics technicians are tasked with designing, developing, testing and maintaining robotics as well as related automation systems. These technicians work alongside robotic engineers and implement the ideas to build robotic components. In this role, they are also responsible for compiling and testing the robotic components and equipment. A part of their job is to perform various tests and record the performance data which may then be used by the robotics engineers. Their job activities also include identifying any malfunctions or faults with robotic components and performing timely repairs.

Make repairs to robots or peripheral equipment, such as replacement of defective circuit boards, sensors, controllers, encoders, or servomotors.

Troubleshoot robotic systems, using knowledge of microprocessors, programmable controllers, electronics, circuit analysis, mechanics, sensor or feedback systems, hydraulics, or pneumatics.

Install, program, or repair programmable controllers, robot controllers, end-of-arm tools, or conveyors.

Maintain service records of robotic equipment or automated production systems.

Modify computer-controlled robot movements.

Perform preventive or corrective maintenance on robotic systems or components.

Align, fit, or assemble components, using hand tools, power tools, fixtures, templates, or microscopes.

Attach wires between controllers.

Evaluate the efficiency and reliability of industrial robotic systems, reprogramming or calibrating to achieve maximum quantity and quality.

Test performance of robotic assemblies, using instruments such as oscilloscopes, electronic voltmeters, or bridges.

Train customers or other personnel to install, use, or maintain robots.

Build or assemble robotic devices or systems.

Document robotics test procedures and results.

Assist engineers in the design, configuration, or application of robotic systems.

Install new robotic systems in stationary positions or on tracks.

Program complex robotic systems, such as vision systems.

Develop robotic path motions to maximize efficiency, safety, and quality.

Fabricate housings, jigs, fittings, or fixtures, using metalworking machines.

Train robots, using artificial intelligence software or interactive training techniques, to perform simple or complex tasks, such as designing and carrying out a series of iterative tests of chemical samples.

Inspect installation sites.

Maintain inventories of robotic production supplies, such as sensors or cables.

Develop three-dimensional simulations of automation systems.

Repairing→ Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Troubleshooting→ Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Equipment Maintenance→ Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Operation Monitoring→ Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Quality Control Analysis→ Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Operation and Control→ Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Equipment Selection→ Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Installation→ Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Systems Analysis→ Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Systems Evaluation→ Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Learning Strategies→ Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Mathematics→ Using mathematics to solve problems.

Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment→ Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical principles.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Controlling Machines and Processes→ Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment→ Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment→ Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic principles.

Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others→ Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Handling and Moving Objects→ Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Performing General Physical Activities→ Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Assemble equipment or components.

Maintain electromechanical equipment.

Repair electronic equipment.

Determine causes of operational problems or failures.

Program robotic equipment.

Maintain operational records or records systems.

Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.

Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems.

Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.

Train personnel on proper operational procedures.

Fabricate products or components using machine tools.

Design electromechanical equipment or systems.

Document design or operational test results.

Prepare procedural documents.

Install production equipment or systems.

Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards.

Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.

Create graphical representations of industrial production systems.

Operate industrial equipment.

Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Visualization→ The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Control Precision→ The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Visual Color Discrimination→ The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

Flexibility of Closure→ The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Perceptual Speed→ The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Far Vision→ The ability to see details at a distance.

Mathematical Reasoning→ The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Memorization→ The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

Originality→ The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Reaction Time→ The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

Speed of Closure→ The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Computers and Electronics→ Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Engineering and Technology→ Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Mechanical→ Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Design→ Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Production and Processing→ Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Physics→ Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Analytical or scientific software -- Analytical software; Simulation software; Logic Design RoboLogix; The MathWorks MATLAB

Computer aided design CAD software -- e.g., Autodesk AutoCAD; Bentley MicroStation; Dassault Systemes CATIA; Dassault Systemes SolidWorks

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software

Database user interface and query software -- Database software; Structured query language SQL

Development environment software -- e.g., ABB RobotStudio; Ada; C; Ladder Logic

Electronic mail software -- e.g., Microsoft Outlook

Enterprise resource planning ERP software -- e.g., Sage; Xero; Sapama; ebizframe; Odoo; Macro 2000; SYSPRO ERP; QuickEasy BOS; TrueERP; Microsoft Dynamics; NetSuite ERP; Oracle Hyperion; SAP

File versioning software -- e.g., Git

Industrial control software -- Human machine interface HMI software; Programmable logic controller PLC software; Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software; Variable frequency drive VFD software

Object or component oriented development software -- e.g., C#; C++; Oracle Java; Python

Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office; Google Workspace; Apache OpenOffice.org

Operating system software -- e.g., Apple macOS; Bash; Hewlett Packard HP-UX; Job control language JCL; KornShell; Linux; Microsoft Windows; Oracle Solaris; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Shell script; Ubuntu; UNIX; Windows Embedded Compact

Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Apple iWork Keynote; Corel Presentations; Microsoft PowerPoint

Project management software -- e.g., Confluence; Sapama Projects; Sciforma PPM solution; Xero Projects; Microsoft Project; Easy Projects; Microsoft SharePoint; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management

Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; Google Sheets

Web platform development software -- e.g., JavaScript

Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs

Adjustable widemouth pliers

Binocular light compound microscopes

Chart recorders

Coordinate measuring machines CMM

Flowmeters→ Flow meters

Force or torque sensors→ Force gauges

Frequency counters or timer or dividers→ Frequency counters

Hammers

Hydrometers

Integrated circuit testers→ Logic analyzers

Interferometers→ Laser interferometers

Laser fax machine→ Laser facsimile machines

Laser printers

Microcontrollers→ Programmable automation controllers PAC; Programmable logic controllers PLC

Multimeters

Ohmmeters→ Volt-ohm meters VOM

Open end wrenches

Oscilloscopes→ Waveform monitors

Personal computers

Photocopiers→ Copy machines

Portable data input terminals→ Hydraulic dataloggers

Potentiometers

Power drills→ Electric drills

Scanners→ Laser scanners

Screwdrivers

Shielded metal arc welding or stick welding machine→ Shielded arc welding tools

Signal generators→ Function generators

Soldering iron→ Soldering tools

Voltage or current meters→ Voltmeters

Welding robots→ Robotic teach pendants

Workshop cranes

Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Working Conditions→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Achievement→ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.