Robotics

Why Study Robotics?

At Caltech, our robotics minor program links expertise in mechanical design, computer programming, artificial intelligence, and real-world problem solving, making it one of the most practical skill sets to pursue in the modern era of science and engineering.

Studying robotics allows you to physicalize machinery with your algorithms, program robots to perceive their environment through sensors, and influence them to make intelligent decisions to take action. This minor complements any major, adding a skillset in building intelligent systems to help tackle problems across industries, from healthcare, where robotic arms improve success in neural surgeries, to environmental monitoring, autonomous space exploration, and tomorrow's more ethical and efficient manufacturing.

Why Robotics at Caltech?

What if you could collaborate with researchers designing robots that explore Mars, perform delicate surgeries, or clean up ocean plastic? Caltech's robotics minor offers access to interdisciplinary scholars and scientists in computing and mathematical sciences, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering who teach in the context of their active robotics research.

Robotics experts at Caltech are often affiliated with research centers, including NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where rovers like Perseverance and Curiosity were developed. You may find yourself testing underwater autonomous vehicles with the Caltech Robotics Team, or working in the same lab that recently created a groundbreaking solution to the widespread problem of weather and seasonal changes impacting how robots understand and navigate their surroundings using vision.

What You'll Learn

You may have built robots before, but the minor program curriculum focuses on advanced hands-on mini projects and group builds that seek to answer real-world research questions, such as making working AI systems more efficient at collecting and interpreting colors and images, creating next-generation innovations—including mobility and sensor systems—or influencing the commanders and foundational logics of robots. You'll start with fundamentals like sensor integration, then progress to programming complex autonomous behaviors using Python and the Robot Operating System.

Core technical skills include mechanical design and fabrication, familiarity with computer vision, and motion planning to facilitate collision-free navigation. While you will work with 3D printing and circuit design, the minor extends beyond traditional engineering to investigate the frontiers of human-robot interaction, ethical considerations in AI, and research lab experience that equips you for the realities of industry or academic careers at the forefront of tomorrow's robotics knowledge.

View the Caltech catalog for degree requirements and curriculum information.

Who You'll Learn From

In small, focused classes connected to your primary area of study in science, technology, or engineering, you'll learn from mechanics, robotics, and computing experts who are part of the 25 Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering professors, along with specialists from the Division of Engineering and Applied Science. These leaders are experts in autonomous systems, design bipedal robots, develop swarm intelligence for robot teams, and create surgical robot technology. Some researchers hold positions with JPL, providing unique opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge automation and artificial intelligence research in aerospace applications.

Career Possibilities

A robotics minor supported by leading experts in robotics research and engineering enhances your ability to tackle challenges in any field. You will graduate with a blend of hardware experience, software proficiency, and systems thinking that employers across various industries value. Immediate career paths in biomedical engineering, environmental science, manufacturing, and aerospace or aeronautics include:

• Robotics engineer
• AI/Machine learning engineer
• Hardware engineer
• Control systems engineer

Graduates are well-prepared to pursue advanced degrees in robotics, AI, or related fields. Others join startups or established companies through Caltech's entrepreneurship incubator system, where their ability to connect theory with practice and space to create real, practical innovations makes them and their contributions valuable.

Curriculum Components and Prerequisites

Pairing focused robotics minor curriculum with your primary major can build practical skills with a structured progression from core robotics knowledge to advanced engineering applications across biomedicine, aerospace engineering, and more. After completing the first-year core and starting your major curriculum, requirements for the robotics minor include:

• Computer science fundamentals
• Mathematics and engineering courses
• Advanced robotics, controls, and machine learning
• Research track culminating in a mentored report available

Pursue a Minor in Robotics at Caltech

Step into the future of technology with Caltech's robotics minor program. Whether you're studying biology and wish to understand biomechanics, majoring in computer science and seeking real-world applications, or pursuing engineering and aiming to specialize, minoring in robotics offers the tools to develop intelligent systems that provide solutions to challenges across diverse industries with immediate, real-world impact.