At Mujin, we’re here to empower you in harnessing all of your skills and embarking on an exciting journey to become a masterful robotics engineer.
Do you have a keen interest in robotics and are passionate about technology and engineering? Do you find joy in solving real-world problems and aspire to quickly deploy solutions for industrial robots to perform previously impossible tasks?
If so, then the field of robotics may be just the right fit for you. Although challenging, with the right skills and mindset, it is an industry that can be conquered and immensely rewarding.
First of all, let’s get one thing straight – you don’t have to be an expert in everything. Robotics is a combination of many different technologies, and it’s impossible to be an expert in all of them.
However, you do need to have a solid foundation in the basics, such as physics, mathematics, and software development. But the real key to success in robotics is having a commonsense approach. Some people can’t understand that a two-ton machine won’t stop in one millimeter even if you press the E-stop.
Hardware at the office
Precision is a critical aspect of robotics, and size plays a significant role in achieving it. The laws of physics dictate that as the size of an object increases, so does its weight, which affects the machine’s movement and behavior. A small robot may only deviate 1% from its endpoint when moving 100 millimeters, but a larger robot that moves one meter could experience a deviation of up to 10 millimeters, which can be a significant problem in the real world.
All of these factors make bigger machines more prone to errors and issues, which is a significant problem when dealing with automated systems. While precision is essential, achieving it on a large scale can be difficult, and every millimeter counts.
How many actual robots do engineers have to play with?
Mujin provides customized solutions to accommodate different projects and applications, acknowledging the importance of precision and reliability. Many of the robots we work with are owned by our customers. At our integration office, we assemble and ship robots directly to our clients, so the number fluctuates frequently.
We have machines that can handle up to 190 kilograms, with grippers that can weigh up to 70 kilograms. Our new machine, TruckBot, is particularly heavy and requires significant space to operate. There are 60+ different machines available for our developers and testers to use, and we work with various robot makers and manufacturers depending on the client’s needs. We don’t see the need to have identical robots for testing and development. In fact, we try to have a diverse range of robots to accommodate different applications and projects.
There are 60+ different machines available for our developers and testers to use, and we work with various robot makers and manufacturers.
The choice of robot model and gripper depends on the payload size and the specific application. For example, in logistics, depalletizing and palletizing require robots with a specific range of capabilities. Customer requirements determine the robot model and gripper used for a particular task, whether that’s a standard gripper or a custom-made one.
So, only robots?
We offer conveyor systems, automated guided vehicles (AGV), and other equipment for engineers for testing, and our simulation capabilities allow us to emulate the entire system or warehouse process. Since testing in the real world can be time-consuming and require a lot of space, we also have simulation tools, servers, clusters, and reserve systems which are designed to handle ongoing automated testing, while our robots are engineered to simulate the physical influences of the real world, like motor heating. We have our own servers in our facility for this purpose. If a laptop or desktop isn’t sufficient, we also have additional resources available.
Our headquarters in Tokyo has undergone a significant transformation since we started. Our first office was only 41 square meters, but now we have a 14,500 square meter office that still can’t accommodate everything we need as we cannot transform our office only for testing of one project (Mujin new office – the place where innovation is born). We’re committed to helping our customers integrate our systems into their facilities without disrupting their existing production.
What about software?
We’re revolutionizing the world of robotics with our cutting-edge technology, MujinMI, that controls multi-axis machines and enables smarter applications with multiple degrees of freedom. From six degrees of freedom to ten, we’re enabling robots to move with precision and flexibility.
From every angle, it’s evident that software poses greater difficulty. Robots already outshine us in terms of strength, speed, and even responsiveness. However, the software aspect still has room to grow. Our flagship product, MujinController, is powered by our proprietary software and a combination of open-source tools that help us create the best possible solutions for our customers. We pride ourselves on using the latest and greatest programming languages, including C, C++, Python, Go, and C#, to ensure that our software is always up-to-date and able to handle any task.
But programming languages aren’t everything. What matters most is a deep understanding of programming concepts and the ability to operate with them freely. After all, programming languages are just tools, and anyone who understands how to use them can pick up any prominent language in no time.
We value our team and make sure to provide them with the best resources to do their job. That’s why we’ve developed our own proprietary simulation tools that help our software engineers create the best possible solutions.
How does Mujin empower engineers to overcome challenges and have fun doing it?
Discovering your own path and goals is a vital part of personal growth, and at Mujin, we understand that everyone’s journey is unique. We’re committed to providing opportunities for our employees to develop and progress. One of our employees started as an intern and became a team leader in just five years, demonstrating our dedication to helping our staff achieve their goals.
We prioritize knowledge sharing and have experts in every field of robotics, from electrical setup to software development for entire warehouses. Regardless of your experience level, we have professionals who can guide you through hardware, software, vision systems, motion planning, and more. Robotics is a complex field that merges various technologies, but our team of experts works together seamlessly to deliver automation solutions to factories around the world.
Solving problems in robotics can be extremely challenging, as some issues do not have optimal solutions. For instance, when it comes to motion planning, even with six degrees of freedom, there are infinite possibilities for moving the robot. Real-time motion planning requires finding a sufficient solution quickly, as nobody wants to spend too much time optimizing trajectories. Finding the right balance can be difficult, especially when unexpected hardware failures or other constraints arise.
The feeling of accomplishment when seeing your software and applications in action, liberating humans from doing dangerous jobs, is truly rewarding.
For young people, it’s important to focus on gaining as much knowledge as possible to become better engineers. After graduating from university, bridging the gap between academia and the real world is crucial.
For mid-career professionals, it’s essential to find what motivates them personally and strive for a sense of accomplishment. At Mujin, we offer a stimulating and supportive environment where engineers can work together to overcome challenges and have fun doing it. Our robots are accessible, and our company culture values open face-to-face communication, ensuring that you can always find a way to connect with our founders, leaders, or head of engineering.
If you’re passionate about robotics and enjoy solving complex problems, Mujin might just be the perfect place for you. With our challenging projects, rewarding work, and company culture, we’ll help you achieve your professional and personal goals while making a real impact in improving the quality of life for people with robotics automation.
If you are interested in being a part of the Robotics System team, please apply directly through our career website.
