Research
The University of Waterloo has the largest and most active group of robotics and automation researchers in Canada. With over 45 faculty members (primarily based in Waterloo Engineering) conducting research across more than a dozen related topics, we have a wide breadth of expertise in all areas of advanced robotics, factory automation and complementary fields.
In addition to the many labs, centres, and institutes focused on research related to the field of robotics, the Fall 2018 founding of the Waterloo RoboHub and its dedicated facility in Engineering 7 have enabled our researchers to further revolutionize robotics.
Education
Waterloo is also home to a wide variety of internationally celebrated student design teams which focus on robotics and automation challenges. Many of these teams regularly achieve top-three placement in the numerous local, national, and international competitions they take part in.
The University of Waterloo also hosts the longest-running FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) in Canada, with the first Waterloo-based competition held in 2005. Annually, more than 30 high-school robotics teams compete at the Waterloo FRC event.
Industry
The Waterloo Region is well known for its robotics expertise. Just a short drive from campus, many robotics companies founded by Waterloo Engineering graduates have earned reputations as global industry leaders, including Aeryon Labs (now part of FLIR), Avidbots, Clearpath Robotics, Intellijoint Surgical, Otto Motors, and Voyis (previously 2G Robotics).
There are also numerous national and international robotics and automation companies with facilities in the area that take advantage of the co-op model and industrial partnerships available within the Waterloo ecosystem, including ATS Automation, Brock Solutions, Deep Trekker, Eclipse Automation, Linamar, Magna, Octopuz, Toyota, Visionary Semiconductor, and many more.