Page 7
Cougar Cry
New Engineering Instructor
The Wilkes Community College Industrial and Engineer
ing Division has a unique new instructor. Although he
works for no salary or benefits, this new addition to the
college's team of instructors is touted as a most valuable
addition. WCC’s newest instructor is a robot.
The ADEPT robot, designed to assemble electronic cir
cuit board, was donated to Wilkes Community College
by General Micro-Circuits of Mooresville, NC. The ro
bot is fully-functional and in need of no repair; therefore,
when the company upgraded with a faster, more detailed
model it was decided to donate it rather than sell or scrap
it. Thanks to their generosity and the professionalism of
WCC instructors, the robot has found a new home on the
campus of Wilkes.
The robot has four axes of movement with fully-
functional cameras attached that can monitor each move
ment from a remote location. Interfaced with any com
puter in the college, these cameras allow instructors and
others to monitor the robot’s performance of the opera
tions it has been programmed by the students to
perform. Each movement and control of
the robot is performed as specified by a
program the students create and save
through the robot’s teach pendant.
When instructors from the college’s
Industrial and Engineering Division,
Richard Stone, Shawn Redding, and
Robert Doyle, attended a three-day
automation seminar in Nash
ville, Tennessee sponsored by
the Allen Bradley Com
pany, they became
acquainted with
Cliff Greene,
an electri
cal engi
neer at General Mi
cro-Circuits. Mr. Greene
was anxious to learn about
the electronics-based pro
grams being offered at
Wilkes and invited the in
structors to
bring their
students
for a field
trip to Moores
ville to tour Micro-
Circuit’s operation.
Lead instructor for the college’s Industrial
Maintenance Technology program, Richard Stone,
described the robot: “This robot is an immeasurable asset
to our program. For the students to have the opportunity
to actually gain hands-on experience programming and
operating a piece of equipment of such cutting-edge
technology is invaluable to our program. We appreciate
the interest General Micro-Circuits has shown in our stu
dents and this generous gift.”
Skeptics may ask, “What’s in this for a large company •
like Micro-Circuits?” The answer is simple- graduates.
There is a growing demand for good employees with ba
sic skills in electricity and electronics. Graduates from
WCC’s Industrial Maintenance Technology and Elec
tronics Engineering Technology programs fit the bill per
fectly.
The Electronics Engineering Technology curriculum pre
pares individuals to become technicians who design,
build, install, test, troubleshoot, repair, and modify de
velopmental and production electronic components,
equipment, and systems such as industrial/computer con
trols, manufacturing systems, telecommunication sys
tems, and power electronic systems. A broad-based core
of courses, including basic electricity, solid-state fun
damentals, digital concepts and microprocessors,
ensures the student will master the competencies
necessary to perform entry-level tasks. Emphasis is
placed on developing the student’s ability to think,
analyze, and troubleshoot. Graduates should qual
ify for employment as engineering assistants
or electronic technicians with job titles
including electronic engineering asso
ciate, electronic engineering techni
cian, field service technician, mainte
nance technician, electronic tester,
electronic systems integrator,
bench technician, and pro
duction control techni
cian.
The Industrial Mainte
nance Technology program is
designed to prepare or upgrade
individuals to service, maintain,
repair, or install equip
ment for a wide
range of indus
tries. Instruction
includes theory and
skill training needed
for inspecting, testing,
troubleshooting, and diag
nosing industrial equipment
and physical facilities. Students
(i 'onfinucc/ on pa^c / 2)