April is a great month for STEM, as we celebrate both Mathematics Awareness Month and National Robotics Week (April 2-10, 2016). While Math Month activities may be best suited to high school and college students, “RoboWeek” is fun and intriguing for kids of all ages.
National Robotics Week aims to:
- Celebrate the U.S. as a leader in robotics technology
- Educate the public about robotics’ impact on the current and future global economy
- Inspire students to pursue careers in robotics and other STEM fields
Robotics and Our Future
Next-generation robotics products and applications are already transforming fields as diverse as manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, transportation and national security. Meanwhile, robotics is also enabling students to embrace fundamental STEM concepts and consider STEM careers.
Activities from iRobot
The technology firm iRobot, one of RoboWeek’s primary sponsors, has the dual mission of making practical robots a reality, and promoting STEM education. iRobot’s multi-faceted outreach program invites students, parents and educators to share in their excitement, through activities such as:
- Tours of their Bedford, MA facility, which often include a robot demo
- Presentations from iRobot scientists, at your school
- Mentoring, career introduction and internships
One of iRobot’s most exciting educators’ resources is the Create 2 Programmable Robot, an affordable mobile robot platform that helps students grasp the fundamentals of robotics, computer science and engineering. With Create 2, your students can program robot behaviors, sounds and movements, while attaching sensors, electronics, cameras, grippers, etc. ($200)
See a summary of all iRobot’s RoboWeek activities here, including a 30-second video previewing some of their “coolest stuff.” Or, check out their 20-minute tour on YouTube.
Free Robot App on iPad
Your students will also love IEEE Spectrum's award-winning Robots app for iPad. This app is available FREE on iTunes. With the app, students can:
- Interact with 158 robots from 19 countries
- Choose the coolest robot in a face-off match
- Listen to audio interviews with top roboticists
- Learn how to get started in robotics
Careers in Robotics
RoboWeek is the perfect opportunity to spark your students’ interest in robotics careers. This excerpt from the iRobot career page may provide some inspiration:
“Researchers. Engineers. Marketers. Salespeople. We live and breathe robots…and paintball. We’re a mix of technical superheroes, strategists, creative minds and dreamers. And we’re here to help people achieve what has never been done before.”
Jobs currently available at iRobot include positions like:
- Electrical Engineering Intern – As an iRobot intern, you will directly support the engineering staff, on tasks ranging from data collection to design projects.
- Robotics and Vision Engineer – In this hands-on job you will help create iRobot’s next generation of consumer robotics products. Duties include designing, implementing, testing and documenting robotics algorithms in C/C++ on a variety of platforms.
- Senior Visual Merchandising Manager – Shopping, anyone? This marketing position requires a knack for retail as you design the iRobot global merchandising center, creating the best possible robot shopping experience, to help iRobot sales teams attract customers.
More Top Robotics Companies
KUKA Robotics USA, with locations all over America, creates industrial robots, PC-based robotic controllers, medical robots, etc. Industrial robots are used in manufacturing to load and unload heavy parts and equipment, weld, bond, assemble, etc. Medical robots perform tasks in radiology, surgery, laser osteotomy and rehabilitation. Specialty robots are made for unique environments, such as cleanrooms, or to operate in extreme conditions that are inhospitable to humans.
Jobs are plentiful at KUKA, including, for example, the current opening for a Field Service Engineer. In this job you’d be responsible for executing robotic/automation jobs, including onsite installation, troubleshooting and repair, for KUKA customers all over the world.
Recon Robotics, headquartered in Minnesota, is the world leader in tactical micro-robot and personal sensor systems. The company's robots have been deployed by the U.S. and international military, law enforcement agencies, bomb squads and fire/rescue teams. Recon Scout® and Throwbot® devices protect personnel, minimize collateral damage, and gain reconnaissance within dangerous and hostile environments.
SpaceX, probably the most well-known commercial space exploration company, was founded in 2002 with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. Their Dragon spacecraft, which is basically a robot, was the first commercial spacecraft in history to deliver cargo to the International Space Station and safely return cargo to Earth, a feat previously achieved only by governments. Dragon was also designed to carry humans, and under an agreement with NASA, SpaceX is now developing the refinements that will enable Dragon to fly crew. Dragon's first manned test flight is expected to take place in 2-3 years.
SpaceX has multiple listings for both careers and internships. They have facilities in California, Texas, Virginia and Washington State.
Get Involved
RoboWeek organizers urge schools to host their own robot-focused activities and events. Click here to see the map showing all the participating schools and events around the country.
You can also get involved on Facebook and Twitter!
If RoboWeek produces any aspiring roboticists in your class, have them check out these Envision programs:
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