Automation & IT

Developments in IT have had a major influence on automation technology. The importance of these developments for the hardware as well as the software sector is further increasing. Currently, a process of integration of industry automation equipment is in progress. In particular, the technical and commercial use of computer and internet technologies are of great importance for the development of local and globally distributed automation solutions.

The usage of computer science in the automation of industrial processes is a major element of automation engineering. Examples include the use of microcontrollers (μC) and digital signal processors (DSP), which are increasingly being programmed in an object-oriented manner in high-level languages.

Considering the major trends in technology it seems likely that the disciplines of computer science and automation engineering will increasingly overlap. Automation engineers will have to pay greater attention to IT and computer science. Computer scientists will play an even greater role in the development of automation technology. New developments like ubiquitous computing will offer promising opportunities for both automation engineers and computer scientists.

Current career prospects in automation engineering are generally considered to be excellent. Potential employers are:

• Users of automation technology in manufacturing, process and power station engineering as well as facility engineering
• Automation engineering system integrators
• Engineering and software development companies
• Producers of industrial automation components (devices, control systems, etc.) and digital communications systems

Ubiquitous computing will result in an increased demand for well trained and qualified
computer scientists and automation engineers from

• Hard- and software manufacturers
• Information technology system integrators
• IT service companies

The course will focus on the following areas:

• Automation and Control
• Modelling and Simulation
• Industrial IT
• IT security
• Communication systems
• Robotics

The Master's program consists of 4 terms:

* Terms 1 and 2 procure technological know-how in the form of lectures, tutorials and laboratory courses.
* In term 3 case studies are carried out in small teams of three to five students.
* In term 4 the programme is concluded with the Master's thesis.

By emphasizing knowledge transfer, the first two terms provide the methodical and technical foundation for the Master program .

In the third term, students develop technical and methodical, as well as social and individual competencies by working on team-oriented case studies. The case studies are based on and related to actual research problems.

The programme ends with the award of the degree Master of Engineering (MEng).

Beginn: WS
Bewerbungsverfahren/-frist: FH Köln/ 30.06.