On April 12, Michigan Robotics Day was held at NCMS Headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan to coincide with National Robotics Week. NCMS partnered with The Michigan Defense Center (MEDC) and Soar Technologies for this event to celebrate robotics in the State of Michigan. Industry leaders addressed a capacity crowd while the corridors and rear parking lot of NCMS were overrun by robots and enthusiastic students.
The event brought together the state robotics community to discuss how to best leverage its industrial and academic resources to make Michigan a global leader in this emerging field. Students were exposed to companies and researchers who are creating jobs and award winning technology in their own backyard. Judging by the optimism and creativity of the attendees robotics has a bright future in Michigan.
The event was emceed by Andrew Dallas, Vice President (Soar Technologies), a nationally recognized leader in the robotics industry.
NCMS President & CEO Rick Jarman shared his vision of Michigan companies using collaboration to be a global leader in the design and manufacturing of advanced robotic technologies. Congressman John Dingell (D-MI), who was detained in Washington to due to the budget crisis, welcomed attendees via video and expressed his enthusiasm for the event.
Keynote speaker Jim Overholt, Senior Research Scientist of Robotics for the U.S. Army, gave an entertaining and enlightening talk on the state of robotics technology. Overholt was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Sara Blackmer (Michigan Defense Center- MEDC) titled Robotics in the 21st Century (and Beyond), bringing together local industry experts to provide insight into the future opportunities for Michigan companies.
The afternoon began with Professor Ed Olson (University of Michigan) detailing the award-winning efforts of Team Michigan in the Multi Autonomous Ground-Robotic International Challenge (MAGIC 2010) last year in Australia. He also brought along some of his robots to demonstrate their capabilities.
The speaking agenda concluded with a panel discussion with noted experts in various disciplines critical to the success of robotics in Michigan.
The rest of the day was dedicated to experts from industry and academia interacting with the Michigan FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) teams who were displaying their robots. They also appreciated the opportunity to see firsthand a DARPA challenge vehicle provided by Cybernet Systems Company which navigated autonomously through the rear parking lot.
The event is the latest effort by NCMS to help support the development of robotics on a national scale. The Robotics Technology Consortium (RTC), an NCMS subsidiary, was formed in 2008 to speed the creation and deployment of ground robotics technology for the Defense Department and other Government organizations.
Michigan Robotics Day Web Site (Agenda, Webcast Info, More)
