Robotics education in the liberal arts curriculum

Abstract

The United States Military Academy is offers a liberal arts curriculum. This paper describes how robotics topics are integrated where possible in that curriculum. The military leadership recognizes the need for its members to have knowledge of robotics in today's technological Army. Among soldiers and officers the depth of knowledge needed ranges from awareness of capability to a deep engineering understanding of design paired with hands-on skill. West Point educates young men and women who are to be future Army officers. This paper presents several methods used at West Point to build robotics knowledge according to the need of the individual. Robotics education is executed in spite of a crowded liberal arts curriculum. Methods include K-12 outreach, projects, internships, courses for non-engineering majors, and engineering degree programs. Knowledge is transferred not only by graduates, but also by the rotating officer faculty who return to serve in the Army at large after teaching at West Point.