Build the future, don’t just study it: My journey into robotics at Cranfield

When I decided to pursue a master’s degree, I wasn’t looking for a textbook education; I wanted a subject that would help launch my future career. I was searching for the fastest path from theory to building, deploying, and validating real-world systems. That’s exactly what I found at Cranfield University, a smart campus that focuses intensely on industry partnership and applied technology.

My name is Atharva Anil Watharkar, I’m an Indian national residing in the UK, and I’m a recent graduate of the MSc in Robotics at Cranfield (class of 2025). This course wasn’t just challenging – it was transformative!

Why Cranfield’s Robotics MSc is different

I chose Cranfield because of its reputation for being intensely hands-on and close to industry. The Robotics MSc stood out for its small class sizes and unparalleled access to real research labs. The curriculum is a robotics engineer’s dream, covering everything from:

• Robotics control
• AI/machine learning
• Human-robot interaction (HRI)
• Machine vision
• Autonomy

The course is structured to mirror the skills required in a professional setting, making it the perfect training ground.

From formulas to field-ready systems

The course was challenging in the best possible way, as it emphasised constant building over mere formula memorisation. The real highlights were moments of deep practical application: from implementing complex kinematics and trajectory planning in MATLAB to seeing that code execute perfectly on actual robotic hardware.

The experience truly became complete when we covered vision and autonomy. We were able to train and deploy vision models, seamlessly integrating them with ROS 2 for autonomous movement.

During my Individual Research Project, I integrated a Unitree GO2 robot dog with an advanced AI vision pipeline to spot anomalies—overgrown weeds and surface cracks—along Milton Keynes’ Redway’s (dedicated paths for pedestrians and cyclists). As the robot patrolled, it automatically captured photos of each issue and compiled a clear report for the maintenance team, helping deliver safer paths and faster, data-driven repairs. It reinforced the Cranfield mindset I value most: build, test, iterate, and make the technology genuinely useful beyond the lab.

These practical exercises, combined with applying systems thinking to Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and ethical design, fundamentally shifted my philosophy. I now prioritise building systems that are safe, trustworthy, and user-centric over simply “making it work.”

The demanding group project complete with realistic constraints like tight deadlines, integration headaches, and the critical need for teamwork, effectively simulated the “pressure cooker” environment of a real robotics team. Cranfield pushed me far beyond simply writing code. It instilled a systems-level focus: taking perception, HRI, and autonomy from lab demos to field-ready platforms, with an unwavering emphasis on safety and validation.

Prepared for the real world, from day one

We weren’t using outdated tools; we mastered industry standards like ROS 2, Gazebo, SLAM, MATLAB, C++, and Python—tools you actually find in every job specification.

We worked through a constant build-test-iterate cycle, documenting our work, performing risk assessments, and debugging under pressure. This rigorous approach gave me the “muscle memory” essential for a fast-paced robotics team.

A typical day on campus was a dynamic blend of focus and collaboration: a morning stand-up with teammates, blocks of coding to tune a controller or test a vision pipeline, lab time in the afternoons, and often a quick sync in the library to fix an integration bug when something inevitably broke at 7PM!

Launching my career in autonomous systems

The payoff was immediate. Just days after completing my MSc, I joined Smart City Consultancy, diving headfirst into projects involving autonomous shuttles in Milton Keynes and service robots like Temi Go and Pepper.

Week one was intense. I quickly jumped into prepping for a European Robotics League competition, testing routes, tuning HRI flows, and supporting rapid field iterations. This experience where I even had to crash-learn a new android coding language to get a service robot working in a coffee shop setting, taught me invaluable lessons in reliability, teamwork, and delivering under real-world pressure.

“My future aspiration is clear: to be a robotics software engineer in the UK, building autonomous, vision-driven systems that are safe around people. My goal is to lead teams that integrate AI + HRI into reliable, useful products that make tough jobs safer and smarter.”

Advice for future robotics engineers

If you’re interested in smart technology, my advice is simple and practical:

1. Get your foundations right: Focus on clear thinking, problem-solving, and basic maths. Consistency beats genius every time.
2. Start small, start now: You learn more by trying out quick, simple projects than by waiting for the “perfect” idea.
3. Think about people: Smart tech must be safe, helpful, and easy to use. Ask yourself: “Would this make someone’s day easier?”
4. Show your work: A short video or a one-page summary of your projects speaks louder than any long CV.
5. Be curious, not scared: The tools change fast. Your curiosity and your habits, practice, reflection, and seeking feedback are your most valuable assets.

Cranfield University isn’t just a place to study; it’s a place to do. If you’re ready to put your hands on the technology that’s shaping the world, the MSc in Robotics is the blueprint you need.