The Raven 4 surgical robotic system from Jacob Rosen's lab at UC Santa Cruz, which is launching a robotics engineering degree program.

Robots no longer are just a part of the world of entertainment. From space exploration to assembly-line work to life-saving medical advances, robotics has a hand in virtually every aspect of industrial life.

The impact of robotics on the medical field has been profound, and the University of California has been right at the forefront. Surgeons at UC Irvine have been the first on the West Coast to use a robotic arm to precisely place screws to stabilize a patient's spine. At UC San Francisco, giant robots process medications for patients, cutting the error rate. Cardiothoracic surgeons at UC Davis pioneered robotic-assisted cardiac bypass in California.

That's a sample of the advances made now. We're also looking to the future. UC Santa Cruz has just announced a new major — the system's first — in robotic engineering. The interdisciplinary program combines electrical, computer and mechanical engineering. "The students definitely wanted this degree," says Richard Hughey, a professor of computer engineering who was instrumental in developing the robotics program. Those young scholars will be prepared to make a difference in a wide array of industrial fields, including health care — and will make a difference in the lives of all Californians.

Read more about UC's work in medical robotics:

• UC Santa Cruz launches robotic engineering degree program, first in the UC system
• UC Irvine surgeons perform first robotic spine surgery on the West Coast
• UC Irvine surgeon performs robot-assisted lobe removal to treat lung cancer
• UCSF's robotic pharmacy aims to improve patient safety
• UC Irvine is West Coast pioneer in robot-assisted thyroid surgery
• UC Davis surgeons get robotic assist in cardiac bypass surgery
• Robot aids UC San Diego physicians in treating irregular heartbeat
• DaVinci robotic system, now commonly used in surgery, unveiled at UC Irvine (video)