Designing the Future of ARMS Education: Integrating Industry Needs and Student Feedback into Engineering Curricula Academic Article in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • This manuscript investigates the relationship between industry demands, academic curricula, and student experiences in Autonomous Robotic Mobile Systems (ARMS). The analysis examines educational programs at leading universities, industry requirements from job listings, and feedback from students engaged in ARMS projects. Through quantitative analysis of 103 identified skills across these domains, patterns of overlap and differences are revealed, with significant gaps identified between academic coverage and practical requirements. The methodology incorporates normalized frequency analysis and complementary visualizations to analyze skill patterns. The student survey (n=29) highlights frequent use of programming tools and robotics middleware in practical projects, despite limited academic coverage. Based on these insights, a one-year ARMS concentration curriculum is proposed for Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering programs, integrating industry requirements and practical experiences. The curriculum emphasizes programming proficiency, system integration, and industry-standard tools like ROS and Linux, while maintaining core robotics fundamentals. While developed for Tecnologico de Monterrey, the findings have broader applicability for institutions seeking to develop ARMS specialization programs. The study provides a framework for bridging theoretical education with practical application, ensuring graduates are prepared for the evolving demands of the autonomous systems industry. © © 2025 The Authors.

publication date

  • January 1, 2025