CMRA, PTC, and Aurora present at the Future Ready Conference in McMurray
By Vu Nguyen
March 21, 2023 – PITTSBURGH, PA – Aurora Innovation, Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC), and Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy (CMRA) presented at the Future Ready conference, an event that convenes educators, superintendents, program coordinators, and industry partners to discuss workforce pathways and partnership opportunities.
The presentation began with CMRA’s SMART Robotics Technician program and its suite of micro-certification courses, along with examples of how these were implemented in collaboration with community partners. Pittsburgh Technical College followed with an overview of its former Robotics & Autonomous Engineering Technology (RAET) associate degree program, highlighting the practical workplace experience it offered students through internships and capstone projects. Aurora concluded the session with a presentation on its mission, the progression of autonomous vehicle technology, and the growing demand for skilled technical talent to support the industry.
About the RAET Program
PTC’s RAET program, developed in partnership with Aurora Innovation, was designed to prepare service engineer technicians—professionals responsible for maintaining and supporting robotic and autonomous systems. The 18-month program integrated coursework from electronics, mechanical engineering, electrical systems, and information technology, and emphasized hands-on learning with robotics, electronics, and CAD technologies. It culminated in a required internship or capstone experience intended to bridge academic learning with real-world application.
Though PTC and the program are no longer active, it served as a model for industry-academic collaboration focused on addressing workforce needs in fields such as manufacturing, transportation, and automation.