Overview

Overview: Department of Robotics and Automation

The Department of Robotics and Automation Engineering at Walchand College of Engineering (WCE), Sangli, stands as a beacon of excellence, shaping the future of technology and innovation since its inception. Established in 2024, the department has consistently upheld its commitment to fostering technical expertise, research acumen, and ethical leadership in its students.

The department has cultivated a reputation for academic rigor, blending foundational knowledge with cutting-edge technological advancements. With a carefully crafted curriculum aligned to industry needs and global standards, it prepares students to thrive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. The emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, problem-solving, and real-world applications has made its graduates highly sought-after by top-tier organizations.

The department maintains strong ties with the technology industry, enabling students to bridge the gap between academia and professional practice. Partnerships with renowned companies for internships, and collaborative projects ensure that students gain hands-on experience and exposure to real-world challenges.

The department has a state-of-the-art infrastructure, including modern laboratories, high-performance computing facilities, and access to the latest software tools. These resources empower students to experiment, innovate, and excel in their endeavours. Additionally, a robust library and online resources provide the intellectual backbone for comprehensive learning.

At the heart of the department is its student-centric approach. Faculty members serve as mentors, guiding students not just in academics but also in personal and professional development. The department actively promotes extracurricular activities, technical clubs, and community engagement, fostering a holistic growth environment.

Objectives

The Department of Robotics and Automation Engineering aims to achieve the following objectives:

Provide Quality Education:
Deliver a comprehensive, industry-relevant curriculum to empower students with foundational knowledge, technical skills, and problem-solving abilities in the field of robotics and automation engineering.
Foster Research and Innovation:
Promote a culture of research by encouraging students and faculty to explore emerging technologies, develop innovative solutions, and contribute to advancements in fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, and data science.
Develop Industry-Ready Professionals:
Equip students with the technical expertise, professional ethics, and communication skills required to excel in diverse roles within the global technology landscape.
Encourage Lifelong Learning:
Instil the importance of continuous learning and adaptability, preparing graduates to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology and industry demands.
Strengthen Industry-Academia Collaboration:
Establish partnerships with leading companies and research organizations to provide students with exposure to real-world challenges, internships, placements, and collaborative projects.
Promote Entrepreneurship and Leadership:
Nurture entrepreneurial skills and leadership qualities among students, inspiring them to create startups, lead teams, and innovate in the tech ecosystem.
Contribute to Society:
Develop socially responsible engineers by engaging students in projects and activities that address societal challenges, leveraging technology for the betterment of humanity.
Enhance Global Competence:
Prepare students to compete and collaborate on an international scale through global exposure, participation in international competitions, and collaborations with universities worldwide.
Maintain Academic Excellence:
Continuously improve teaching methodologies, resources, and infrastructure to deliver a world-class educational experience that meets the highest academic standards.
Empower Alumni Engagement:
Build a strong alumni network to support current students through mentorship, career guidance, and collaborative opportunities, while celebrating the achievements of past graduates.

Policy

The Department of Robotics and Automation Engineering is committed to upholding the highest standards of education, research, and professional integrity. Guided by its mission to foster excellence in computing and technology.

Vision

To produce capable Robotics and Automation Engineering graduates with an aptitude for research and leadership.

Mission

To promote excellence in Robotics and Automation Engineering education through relevant academic curricula and innovative teaching learning processes.
To offer different opportunities to the students for development of professional skills.
To nurture critical thinking and creativity in the students.
To inculcate in the student’s life-long learning attitude and sensitivity towards society & environment.

Strength

The Department of Robotics and Automation Engineering stands out for its key strengths, which include:

Experienced and Dedicated Faculty
Robust Curriculum
State-of-the-Art Infrastructure
Research and Innovation
Strong Industry Connections
Holistic Development Opportunities
Continuous Improvement:

These strengths collectively position the department as a leader in Robotics and Automation Engineering education, research, and innovation.

Areas of Expertise

The Department of Robotics and Automation Engineering excels in the following areas of expertise:

Autonomous Systems
Intelligent Robotics
Aerial Robotics
Mobile Robotics
Soft Robotics
Simultaneous Localization and Mapping
Navigation and Path Planning
Drone Development
Robot Operating System
Industrial Articulated Robotics
Industrial Automation
PLC and SCADA
Hydraulics and Pneumatics

These areas of expertise enable the department to provide students with advanced knowledge and practical skills, preparing them for leadership roles in the ever-evolving technology landscape.

Salient Department Features

The Department of Robotics and Automation at Walchand College of Engineering stands out for its unique features and strengths, including:

Academic Excellence:
- Industry-aligned curriculum focusing on foundational and advanced topics.
- Highly qualified faculty with expertise in cutting-edge technologies.
State-of-the-Art Infrastructure:
- Modern Robot Modelling and Simulation labs are equipped with high-performance systems.
- Access to advanced tools, software, and cloud computing platforms.
Research and Innovation:
- Active research in emerging fields like Aerial Robotics, Drone Development and Autonomous Systems
- Regular publications in reputed journals and conference participations with Scopus and SCI indexing.
Strong Industry Interface:
- Collaborations with leading tech companies for internships and projects.
- Industry-expert guest lectures, workshops, and certifications.
Skill Development Opportunities:
- Emphasis on hands-on learning through robotics competitions, hackathons, and projects.
- Active technical clubs and student organizations fostering innovation.
Global Competence:
- Exposure to international competitions and exchange programs.
Student-Centric Environment:
- Personalized mentoring by faculty for academic and professional growth.
- Focus on holistic development through extracurricular and co-curricular activities.
Placement Excellence:
- Dedicated training for technical interviews, prototype building, tests, and soft skills.
Continuous Improvement:
- Regular updates to the curriculum and teaching methodologies.
- Feedback-driven enhancements for a superior learning experience.

These features collectively position the department as a leader in producing highly skilled, innovative, and socially responsible engineers.

Leadership

Dr. Jahier Abbas Shaaikh is a dedicated, result-oriented, and dynamic academic leader with over 19 years of teaching experience and 7 years of diverse industrial experience across the aerospace, defence manufacturing, compressor systems, and advanced engineering sectors. At WCE he has been instrumental in strengthening academic rigor, laboratory infrastructure, and the department’s strategic direction in emerging technologies.
Dr. Shaaikh holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, preceded by an M. Tech and B.E. in Production Engineering. His professional journey spans reputable organizations such as Walchandnagar Industries Limited and Skanda Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., where he contributed to Akash Missile integration, defence production systems, and aerospace component manufacturing. He has also served at Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited, working on compressors and large-scale engineering projects. His rich industrial exposure deeply informs his academic leadership and the industry-aligned curriculum he fosters at WCE.
In academia, Dr. Shaaikh has contributed significantly through his service at leading institutions affiliated to Shivaji University, Pune University, Solapur University, and Debre Tabor University in Ethiopia, where he also engaged in community-focused technological intervention projects adopting multidisciplinary approaches.
He has published a design patent along with several research papers in Scopus and SCI-indexed, national, international journals and conferences. He has guided M. Tech research projects both in India and abroad. Dr. Shaaikh has a strong interest in Design Thinking with Aerospace Manufacturing, leveraging it as a structured methodology to drive innovation in product development, engineering design, and problem-solving frameworks.