Category Archives: Robotics

The Surrey Technology for Autonomous Systems and Robotics (STAR) Lab is currently conducting a four-year research project into the potential uses of robotics within the nuclear sector, funded by the UK Nuclear Industry and Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)s Impact Acceleration Account. The team is working in collaboration with Sellafield and the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) to examine how robotics could be used within nuclear decommissioning specifically.

The project, known as Automated Robot Waste Processing, began last year and is making fast progress. As the worlds nuclear fleet ages an increasing number of reactors will need to be decommissioned, a traditionally expensive and hazardous process. The STAR Lab is hoping to help by using robust robotics running autonomously to dismantle and clear nuclear sites.

Their robots combine a number of technological advancements to suit nuclear decommissioning, taking inspiration from space robotics. They include high-performing visual imagining systems, along with robotic arms, combinations of which are entering the testing stage of the project.

STAR Labs main focus since its inception in 2007 has been space robotics, and the new research reflects this. But according to Professor Yang Gao, who leads the Surrey team, nuclear sites and space actually have a lot in common. Space is remote and hostile, and overcoming these problems has provided many clues for working within nuclear sites.

One area [of comparison] is autonomous software, as you can imagine space missions tend to deal with locations that are very, very far from earth so remote operation in many scenarios is not feasible, says Gao. So were developing software that can potentially do the models which involve the mission goals and then make decisions. Essentially autonomous software.

"Space is remote and hostile, and overcoming these problems has provided many clues for working within nuclear sites."

Because of the very high requirements of space missions, software has to be very reliable and robust, so we have techniques while designing autonomous software to take into consideration robustness and reliability.

The nuclear decommissioning process, which can cost anything from $13m to $19m, currently takes years and necessitates humans working to dismantle the site and decontaminate the waste. This is often made more challenging by the remote location that nuclear plants are often purposefully situated in, and the hazardous residual radiation.

Another aspect of comparison is probably more in line with what is happening with the hardware of the robotics systems, says Gao. It needs to be radiation proof, so the mechanisms we develop, the different actuators, the different censors, they all need to be able to cope with that sort of environment. These challenges are very much shared with the space environment, there's a great synergy in that respect.

The obvious and most important benefit of robotics in nuclear decommissioning is removing humans from harms way. The environment is classified as an extreme environment as there are many hazards, so using humans to perform those tasks is risky, says Gao. Using machines, using autonomous systems to replace humans from that sort of environment is definitely more desirable.

This is particularly relevant for nuclear sites which have deferred dismantling, and have instead enclosed the site for anything from 40 to 60 years. When such a site is eventually dismantled, surveys must be undertaken to ensure that the radiation level has dropped as much as expected and is below 25 millirem per year, the level required for the site to be redeveloped for other uses. When entering a site, however, it is difficult determine the amount of residual radiation, and whether it will affect the humans undertaking the survey. Using robotics would remove this danger.

There are other benefits to increased use of robotics, too, such as accuracy and productivity. Sometimes there are some anomalies in sites that, although they are visible the human eye, could [be] quite hard to see, because either they are quite small or because some of the facilities are actually very homogeneous, says Gao. For the human eye to react to that sort of homogeneity is not easy. The machine would do a better job.

The robots are equipped especially for this, with 3D light scans and cameras. We can also introduce measuring techniques such as deep-learning to allow us to very reliably map the site and detect what has changed, says Gao. Even though this change could be very, very small and probably quite difficult for human eyes to detect, with our learned-visual model we can achieve this anomaly detection reliably.

Decommissioning nuclear sites requires a lot of monotonous dismantling, tasks well suited to robots whose productivity is not deterred by fatigue or boredom. For the decommissioning task we envision using robotic arms, which could definitely improve productivity because it's actually just repetitive work, says Gao. A machine cannot be annoyed by that because there is no emotion, they will actually be able to keep to the same rate of productively.

The project has already overcome challenges, but Gao is expecting more as integrated trials begin at the NNLs testing facility. We'll never stop facing challenges I'm afraid that's just reality. In the research phase, and currently in the development phase, there have been a lot of challenges in terms of getting the actual hardware working at the actual conditions that we anticipated.

These challenges were created not just by the environment but also by the integration of technologies. Once you start putting different hard components together, integrating different software packages, you start to find some real problems, says Gao. Some of them are due to communication issues, and some of them due to signal issues within some of the components.

"We envisage that challenge might come from the culture of such a traditional sector."

Whilst this research collaboration only began last year, it relies on theoretical elements Sellafield and STAR have been working on for years; it is often in fitting these aspects together that things do not run smoothly.

A further challenge may be the nature of the nuclear industry, as change can take a long time to be accepted. I think we envisage that challenge might come from the culture of such a traditional sector. Of course people need to get used to things, even if they know, they agree and they appreciate that this is coming in to help, says Gao. But you can imagine when you introduce new machines into a sector people are not used to, there will always be some cultural impact.

Professor Gao and her team are working on nuclear decommissioning but there are several projects running parallel to each other tackling different elements of the nuclear industry. The current project is to try and solve decommissioning problems, so waste management, but I also want to mention that at the same time we're running projects looking into other areas, for example atomic fusion, says Gao.

As such she believes that robotics is set to play a much bigger role in the nuclear industry in the future. Gaos team is currently running subsection trials, with full integrated system trials coming up in the next couple of months, and hopefully a full test within an actual nuclear site by the end of the year. If successful this technology could soon become commonplace in the nuclear industry.

Looking ahead, the success of robotics also relies on training a new generation of engineers. At the moment we work closely with engineers and scientists at NNL, but what we want to do next, probably towards the end of this year or early next year, is to help also train the site engineers and operators, says Gao. This will eventually allow STAR to step back, and allow others to use the robots for decommissioning, site maintenance and other areas.

The STAR Labs research is progressing at an impressive rate thanks to collaboration. At this rate, it seems that robots are likely to become a key tool in nuclear decommissioning.

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Nuclear decommissioning: sending the robots in - Power Technology

Industrial machines that build cars and the machines that work in your home are worlds apart.

But the CEO of Kuka, one of the biggest industrial robot makers, said in an interview in the Financial Times on Sunday that the company is planning to make a personal consumer robot.

Germany-based Kuka was bought by Chinese home appliance maker Midea last year in a $5 billion deal. Industrial robots from Kuka are used to build cars for Tesla and airplanes for Boeing.

Midea is not doing any robotics or automation, so Kuka is automation for Midea, said CEO Till Reuter And they are very well connected to the consumer industry. So together we want to do consumer robotics.

Right now, most digital assistants for the home dont leave the tabletop, and are essentially internet-connected speakers with adroit voice-enabled artificial intelligence software, like Amazons Echo and Googles Home.

But Kukas expertise in building machines that move on their own, combined with Mideas deep understanding of home appliances, could be the right combination for making a consumer home robot thats actually useful.

Home robots that move generally only do one chore, like vacuum or mop, but they continue to sell. Last year, the market value of domestic robots grew nearly 26 percent from the year before, according to research from Loup Ventures and the International Federation of Robotics. By 2025, the market for home robots is expected to grow to $4.4 billion. To put that growth in perspective, the market value of domestic robots in 2016 was $1.4 billion.

Midea isnt the only company poised to enter the home robot market. Earlier this month, the Japanese company SoftBank announced that it is buying Boston Dynamics, as well as Japanese legged-robot maker Schaft, from Google parent company Alphabet for an undisclosed amount. Boston Dynamics is considered one of the best robotics firms in the world for its versatile, legged robots that can maneuver over diverse terrain, as well as environments made for humans. But those robots have been primarily built for military research, not for the home.

Since it acquired a majority share of robot maker Aldebaran in 2012, SoftBank has been working to bring its humanoid Pepper robot to more retail settings, and even to some homes in Japan. Pepper has a wheeled base so it cant climb stairs and only uses its hands to gesticulate. The robot is mostly at work in stores, helping shoppers find things and answering basic questions. Combining Boston Dynamics ability to build agile machinery with the team behind the friendly-looking Pepper could position SoftBank to build a robot thats much more useful.

Japanese carmakers Honda and Toyota have also been working on robotic assistants for the home. Their inventions, so far, have primarily focused on addressing the needs of Japans growing elderly population.

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The company that builds the robots that make Teslas wants to build home robots - Recode

Robots are getting softer.

Borrowing from nature, some machines now have arms that curl and grip like an octopus, others wriggle their way inside an airplane engine or forage underwater to create their own energy.

This is technology that challenges how we think of, and interact with, the robots of the not-too-distant future.

Robots are big business: by 2020, the industry will have more than doubled to $188 billion, predicts IDC, a consultancy. But there's still a lot that today's models can't do, partly because they are mostly made of rigid metal or plastic.

Softer, lighter and less reliant on external power, future robots could interact more safely and predictably with humans, go where humans can't, and do some of the robotic jobs that other robots still can't manage.

A recent academic conference in Singapore showcased the latest advances in soft robotics, highlighting how far they are moving away from what we see as traditional robots.

"The theme here," says Nikolaus Correll of Colorado University, "is a departure from gears, joints, and links."

One robot on display was made of origami paper; another resembled a rolling colostomy bag. They are more likely to move via muscles that expand and contract through heat or hydraulics than by electricity. Some combine sensing and movement into the same componentjust as our fingertips react to touch without needing our brain to make a decision.

These ideas are already escaping from the lab.

Rolls-Royce, for example, is testing a snake-like robot that can worm its way inside an aircraft engine mounted on the wing, saving the days it can take to remove the engine, inspect it and put it back.

Of all the technologies Rolls-Royce is exploring to solve this bottleneck, "this is the killer one," says Oliver Walker-Jones, head of communications.

The snake, says its creator, Arnau Garriga Casanovas, is made largely of pressurized silicone chambers, allowing the controller to propel and bend it through the engine with bursts of air. Using soft materials, he says, means it can be small and agile.

For now, much of the commercial action for softer robots is in logistics, replacing production-line jobs that can't yet be handled by hard robots.

Food preparation companies and growers like Blue Apron, Plated, and HelloFresh already use soft robotics for handling produce, says Mike Rocky, of recruiter PrincetonOne.

The challenge, says Cambridge Consultants' Nathan Wrench, is to overcome the uncertainty when handling somethingwhich humans deal with unconsciously: figuring out its shape and location and how hard to grip it, and distinguishing one object from another.

"This is an area robots traditionally can't do, but where (soft robots) are on the cusp of being able to," said Wrench.

Investors are excited, says Leif Jentoft, co-founder of RightHand Robotics, because it addresses a major pain point in the logistics industry. "E-commerce is growing rapidly and warehouses are struggling to find enough labor, especially in remote areas where warehouses tend to be located."

Some hope to ditch the idea that robots need hands. German automation company Festo and China's Beihang University have built a prototype OctopusGripper, which has a pneumatic tentacle made of silicone that gently wraps itself around an object, while air is pumped in or out of suction cups to grasp it.

The ocean has inspired other robots, too.

A soft robot fish from China's Zhejiang University swims by ditching the usual rigid motors and propellers for an artificial muscle which flexes. It's lifelike enough, says creator Tiefeng Li, to fool other fish into embracing it as one of their own, and is being tested to explore or monitor water salinity.

And Bristol University in the UK is working on underwater robots that generate electrical energy by foraging for biomatter to feed a chain of microbial fuel-cell stomachs. Hemma Philamore says her team is talking to companies and environmental organizations about using its soft robots to decontaminate polluted waterways and monitor industrial infrastructure.

This doesn't mean the end of hard-shelled robots.

Part of the problem, says Mark Freudenberg, executive technology director at frog, a design company, is that soft materials break easily, noting that most animatronic dolls like Teddy Ruxpin and Furby have rigid motors and plastic casings beneath their fur exteriors.

To be sure, the nascent soft robot industry lacks an ecosystem of software, hardware components, and standardsand some companies have already failed. Empire Robotics, one of the first soft robot gripper companies, closed last year.

RightHand's Jentoft says the problem is that customers don't just want a robot, but the whole package, including computer vision and machine learning. "It's hard to be a standalone gripper company," he says.

And even if soft robots find a niche, chances are they still won't replace all the jobs done by human or hard-shelled robots.

Wrench, whose Cambridge Consultants has built its own fruit picking robot, says he expects to see soft robots working with humans to harvest fruit like apples and pears which are harder to damage.

Once the robot has passed through, human pickers would follow to grab fruit hidden behind leaves and in hard-to-reach spots.

"It's a constant race to the bottom, so there's a pressing business need," Wrench said.

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Snake on a Plane! Don't Panic: It's Probably Just a (Soft) Robot - Fortune

Agenda

Conference sessions will be listed here soon! Please check back.

Robot Tracks

Stuart Singer

Schneider Optics, Inc.

Advanced Optics for Vision - CVP-Advanced Certification

Designed for the engineering professional, this course concentrates on real world techniques for putting together optic systems that work. Youll learn how to select proper lens components, optomechanical layout, including system bends, and mounting techniques. Prior attendance at a Basic Optics course is encouraged, but not required.

Vision Tracks

Stuart Singer

Schneider Optics, Inc.

Advanced Optics for Vision - CVP-Advanced Certification

Designed for the engineering professional, this course concentrates on real world techniques for putting together optic systems that work. Youll learn how to select proper lens components, optomechanical layout, including system bends, and mounting techniques. Prior attendance at a Basic Optics course is encouraged, but not required.

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The Collaborative Robots & Advanced Vision Conference welcomes: - Robotics Online (press release)

News & Observer (blog)

Google backing off robotics, but Japanese firm banks on robots with ... News & Observer (blog) Meet Pepper, Handle and SpotMini. These new robots are cute, frightening and useful but may require an attitude adjustment. SoftBank buys robotics leader Boston Dynamics from AlphabetNewburgh Gazette SoftBank acquiring Boston Dynamics as Alphabet finally sells off ...Leicester Post all 3 news articles »

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Google backing off robotics, but Japanese firm banks on robots with ... - News & Observer (blog)

June 19, 2017

In a world transformed by globalization, many individuals find themselves working with others across national borders and cultural barriers. This international cooperation in the world of business has become even more important as the social dynamics between the leaders of the United States and the rest of the world shift in the modern era.

ASU alumna Anisha Hindocha, director of logistics at FIRST Global, deals with international governments and corporations on a daily basis, ensuring that students from over 140 countries have the opportunity to take part in a global robotics competition. ASU alumna Anisha Hindocha Download Full Image

Since she deals with countries with differing social norms, Hindocha has had to adapt and her years at Arizona State University's School of Politics and Global Studies (SPGS) has enabled her to take it in stride. One of the challenges, according to Hindocha, was getting used to the work schedule of other cultures.

Before this job I knew that the Muslim world doesn't work on Fridays but I had never been affected by it," Hindochasaid."Now, though, I know I can't make calls there on Fridays, which means changing my schedule a lot.

Hindocha has also had to manage the trickiness of international politics while working at FIRST Global, dealing with the State Department and other international groups. This means coping with policies, such as President Trumps proposed travel ban on Muslim-majority nations, as well as ensuring students in nations that are economically sanctioned have access to the robotics kits vital to the competition.

My learning experiences at SPGS have taught me to be detailed and meticulous which are key to my job," Hindocha said. "Additionally, I have learned to communicate best with people from around the world, who are of my faiths, creeds and cultures.

During her time at ASU, Hindocha completed a junior fellowship with political science lecturer Gina Woodall.

I think that opportunity helped me a lot. It taught me to be dedicated to students, which has translated into what I do now, Hindocha said.

Reflecting upon her time at FIRST Global, Hindocha remarked that helping the students, whether with visa applications or ensuring their robot was received, was the most rewarding part of the job.

[Its] about the kids and giving them the opportunity to build a robot, and when one of those things becomes a reality, nothing is more rewarding.

Written by Henry Campbell

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ASU alumna unifies students across borders through robotics - Arizona State University

By Christian Yapor Daily News Staff

MEDWAY - Tapping away at laptop keyboards, about 20 participants in the 4-H youth science workshop learned basic coding skills to bring robots to life Saturday in the Medway Public Library.

Youth learn early Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) skills in 4-H, which is a youth development program.

"Two of the things we are trying to teach these kids are engineering and computational thinking," said Kim Pond, extension director for 4-H."There is science in everything we use every day, and through programs like this, we are encouraging kids to think about how things work, as well as prepare them for the work force."

The robots, which were made using Lego Mindstorms, were equipped with infrared sensors, color detection sensors, touch sensors, gyroscopes and ultrasonic sensors. Programming the functions of these sensors, the children worked together in teams to tell their robots how to navigate certain obstacles such as weaving through poles, and going up and down a ramp.

We are making robot commands so that it can act like a pet, said Jackson Alessandri, 12, of Medway. It's a lot of fun because I like building things.

"I am looking forward to controlling the robot and making it do special commands," said Jason Huff, 11, of Franklin.

"These robots are designed for younger kids that want to get their feet wet," said Nathan Shepherd, 18, of Franklin, who volunteered to help at the workshop. "The programming consists of simple drag-and-drop functions."

Shepherd said he started working withrobotics in Middle School when he himself was a participant in the 4-H program. In high school he entered competitions and worked with robots that were a lot more advanced. This fall he will attend Boston University to study mechanical engineering and continue working with robotics.

I think it's the process of getting something to work, and the end goal will be having something that works that appeals to these kids, said Shepherd.

"Building a robot and programming a robot are both equally hard, but keeping it stable so that it is not falling apart is important," said Hunter Ross, 9, of Medway.

"Actually, putting the robot together, coding it and bringing it to life is a lot of fun, and each robot is very unique," said James O'Connell, 10, of Holliston.

Shepherd said a lot of trial and error takes place when you're building and programming a robot.

You might not get it at first and it might frustrate some people, but you need to keep working at it."

"The hardest part is knowing what wires go in what holes," said Jeffrey Cadorette, 9, of Fitchburg as he worked on building his team's robot.

"It's such a great accomplishment when it's done," send Joshua Brennan, 9, of Franklin.

Most of the children who participated in the workshop have high hopes of working with technology in the future.

"It's a lot of fun and I want to build a robotic cat, or build a robot so small it can kill a disease," said Wyatt Uhe, 8, of Medway.

Christian Yapor can be reached at 508-634-7521, or at cyapor@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChristianYapor.

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Robotics program taps young innovators in Medway - News ... - Wicked Local Medway

WARREN Local residents interested in robots got to see some up close Saturday.

The sixth annual FIRST Robotics Day was noon to 4 p.m. at the Packard Museum, featuring robotics teams from Warren, Champion and Austintown middle and high schools. Students demonstrated how their robots shoot balls, climb ropes and hang gears.

Travis Hoffman, adviser and lead engineer for the Warren G. Harding Delphi ELITE Team 48, said it was important for students to get involved in the robotics teams because the activities use many of the skills potential employers seek.

If you get that information hands-on before college, it really gives you a step up, Hoffman said.

Andy Yantes, lead technical mentor for the Austintown Fitch Falco Tech 3193 team, said schools have decreased technology classes in recent years, relegating such training to career centers.

We can teach the kids how to do programming, electrical wiring, public speaking, writing scripts, essays. Theres so many different aspects, Yantes said.

Jacob Scheidegger, 18, of Warren, serves as the captain of the project and management team, which includes behind-the-scenes tasks such as writing awards, helping with general management and fundraising. Initially beginning with an interest in STEM science, technology, engineering and mathematics Scheidegger learned after four years on the team he liked business and management, which gave him an idea of what he wanted to do after school.

Scheideggers fellow teammate Alex Richards, 14, of Warren, in his first year, is more direct as the human player on the drive team, which involves operating their robot, Xtremachen20, as well as other duties including assembly and fixing the robot.

I plan to be on the team until I graduate, Richards said.

Although they are technically robotics teams, Barb Hummel, a mentor with the Champion High School Lightning Bots, said the groups draw in students for much more than robotics or technology. She compared the team to a business requiring the students to be able to manage many facets such as public relations and financing aside from the obvious technological aspect of the team.

Kids build the robot, but we also have graphic design, photography and finance, Hummel said. We utilize all skills.

Lightning Bots team member Cole Engle, 17, of Champion, corroborated Hummels statement, saying he participated in a lot of sports before joining the team four years ago. Now he works on the electronics for their robot, the Ironclad.

The best moment is when were building the robot and you see the new kids get involved, Engle said. You can see them getting excited.

Elise Yantes, 15, of Austintown, was operating Falco Tech 3193s robot the Talon Hydra. Elise, who spent three years on the middle school team and three years on the high school team, said her role is co-captain of the support team. This includes working on awards, presenting the awards, outreach and helping on the robots.

The team environment is the best thing, Elise said. I met my best friend in my first year on the team, theres a lot of camaraderie.

For anyone interested in seeing more of what the robotics teams can do, Hoffman recommends attending the Mahoning Valley Robotics Challenge, which will feature at least 24 local robotics teams, Sept. 23 at Warren G. Harding High School in Warren.

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Students put robots through the metal paces - Warren Tribune Chronicle

NOVI, Mich. (WJBK) - School is winding down for most area students this week, but even though school year is ending the impact of some students in Novi goes on.

Novi High School's robotics team is giving a helping hand to kids all over the world.

"It really makes me feel amazing to be able to see that high schoolers can change the world. That high schoolers can have the ability to help someone out in a literal helping hand way," says Heidi Aguas.

They call the project Helping Hands, and it's part of the outreach efforts of Frog Force 503.

"Frog Force is the high school robotic team, and what we do is build these 120 pound robots to complete a specific challenge, and that challenge changes year from year," explains Eric Mazza.

Frog Force is known for their impressive record. They have qualified for the world championships 16 of the past 17 years. They've proven themselves in robotics - but they're also known for giving back.

"We really don't just build robots. There's so much more going on. Outside of the robots, we do a lot of volunteer work," says Mazza.

"Last year, we held over 93 different events that gave back to the community," says Fenton Lawler.

'We'd have community nights where we have demos, where we try to get more kids involved with robotics and create more teams," says Anne George.

"There's just a ton of different opportunities that students get to work with people, make connections, and help out and have a sense of joy," says Mazza.

Their Helping Hands project is a partnership with an organization called e-NABLE - a global network of volunteers using 3D printers to create free prosthetic hands for those in need around the world, focusing on children in underserved countries where a typical prosthetic hand would be too expensive.

"A normal prosthetic costs so much. The good thing about 3D-printed prosthetics is that you can easily replace them and it's for such a low cost," says George.

With a 3-D printer donated by Bosch and the enthusiastic support of the Novi School District, Frog Force started reaching out across the world.

"Obviously our students are very talented and gifted in the classroom in regards to their achievements academically, and with this group their achievements are at the world level, even but we take things a step further," says Novi High School principal, Nicole Carter. "One of the taglines of the district is service over self, and Frog Force definitely embodies that."

So far they have donated 75 hands - and they're just getting started.

"We are actually looking to expand it here in the community since the school district got some new printers were hoping to print at different schools, start activities with people at the schools so we want to go in and have kids assemble hands," says Lawler.

Their hope is to inspire children in the Novi community to help children around the world. It's a global movement bringing together creative and kind people, using technology to change lives.

"Last year we were able to give a hand to a girl in Tbilisi, Georgia. She is about six. Her name is Misha," says Aguas. "I got a thank you picture of her holding her Barbie for the first time while I was at a competition, and it sounds really cheesy but IO actually started tearing up because she looked so happy holding her doll for the first time with the pink prosthetic that we gave her."

"It's like, 'Oh, she's holding her Barbie for the first time with her prosthetic' - and it just hits you. It's a younger kid finally holding her Barbie. When I was little I used to pick them up with both hands, but to think that she's never held it with both hands, it really hits you," says Shivani Bongu.

Frog Force may be Novi High School's robotics team but they're not just building robots, they're building a better community.

"Anyone can take initiative, which anyone can find something that they love, run with it, give a helping hand to someone else -- you may be helping something bigger than yourself," says Aguas.

All of that wonderful video of kids using their prosthetic hands came from e-NABLE. They're hands made by volunteers from all over the world just like Novi's Frog Force volunteers.

If you would like to support the cause, CLICK HERE for the e-NABLE site and HERE for the Facebook page.

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Novi High robotics team gives helping hand to kids around world - Fox 2 Detroit

The Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) will offer a camp this summer for 9- to 15-year-old students interested in robotics.

Activities kick off June 26-30 with a camp for both those with robotics experience and first-timers. During the five-day event, campers will learn to build, program and operate LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots and participate in the World Robot Olympiad the final day.

The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at RCBI Huntington. The cost is $125 for each camper and includes lunch and snacks.

Students are encouraged to register as small teams. Sign up at http://www.rcbi.org/go/robotics1.

RCBI Huntington also will host a free, two-day Boot Camp from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 7-8 focused on boosting participation in FIRST LEGO League (FLL) robotics and promoting STEM education in southern West Virginia counties. Groups interested in forming teams are encouraged to apply for the free camp by contacting Mike Friel at 304-781-1686 or mfriel@rcbi.org.

Five teams will receive a free Mindstorms EV3 robot and expansion set after completing training and agreeing to compete in future FLL events. Teams must include two adult coaches and between two and six students age 9 to 14.

Both camps will be taught by employees from NASAs IV&V Educator Resource Center and the West Virginia Robotics Alliance. Campers will learn to program robots for specific missions and work on core values and team-working skills that align with the FIRST LEGO League robotics vision. Additionally, campers will engage with guest speakers who have knowledge of real-world robotics and see demonstrations from advanced high school level robotic competitors.

RCBIs robotics program is made possible by the support of the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium.

For information, contact RCBIs Mike Friel at 304-781-1686 or mfriel@rcbi.org.

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RCBI camps offer students opportunity to explore LEGO robotics - Charleston Gazette-Mail (subscription)