NCMS Teams Up to Show "Robots Transforming Lives" on Michigan Robotics Day

The 2015 Michigan Robotics Day, presented by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) and the University of Michigan’s Department of Engineering, was held April 9 at the NCRC (North Campus Research Complex) at on the University of Michigan Campus. The event was free to the public and hosted as a celebration of the field and future of robotics in the state of Michigan, as part of a country-wide National Robotics Week instated by the United States Congress.

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The event brought talent of all ages, from elementary school robotics teams to advanced researchers, manufacturing leaders in the field of robotics, and researchers. As NCMS President Rick Jarman said, this event is part of the effort in “making this technology a real part of our lives.” Robotics are becoming integrated with consumer and industrial products for greater autonomy, precision, and efficiency in concentrated areas like autonomous vehicles, safety features, advanced surgery, factories, and on the battlefield. NCMS has been especially involved in several robotics projects for military applications, such as one with the United Sates Army to build an exoskeleton for warfighters.

The event has grown significantly each year, with the attendance for the 2015 event exceeding 600, nearly 200 visitors more than last year’s event. Of the 600 attendees, Robotics Day enjoyed functionally diverse event with attendees spanning through sectors at an estimated 34% education, 22% industry, 36% research & development, and 8% non-profit. These areas together form the basis of the future of robotics and all the areas it touches.

Of the Michigan organizations and companies in attendance were Lawrence Tech and the Michigan State Police with land, air, and aquatic robots, including one 800 pound robot for bomb retrieval. Several robotics research groups were also present, including SoarTech, Mars Fly, MAAV, and the U of M Engineering team PERL with a laser mapping robot. An all-girl robotics team from elementary school Canton Charter Academy presented a Deep Sea Mining project using Minestar building program. Others at the junior level included several LEGO teams, while high school students from the Advanced Technology Academy in Dearborn exhibited a robot for a recycling application that could sort and stack boxes.

Many of the event attendees and speakers feel that Michigan has an important role to play in the commercialization of robotics technology, a part that can only be emphasized with the gathering of young people and education in the push for relevancy and excellence in this field. Governor Snyder stated by video that “talent, infrastructure, and capital” are needed to make Michigan a leader in advanced robotics.

Keynote Speaker State Representative Debbie Dingell (D-13) stated that the United States needs to stay at the forefront of innovation, technology, and development and Michigan itself should be at the forefront of manufacturing. “I frequently say our young people are twenty-five percent of our population and one hundred percent of our future,” she said. “I think it’s really important that we focus young people on the importance of math and science and engineering and that we talk about the new jobs that are being created. I want to see more young people getting excited and engaged in STEM, and wanting to be at the forefront of where we’re going to go as a state and a country leading innovation and technology for the world.”

Chief Engineer at Ford Motor Company Craig Stephens also spoke at the event of the need for engineers, as mobility has become a growing concern in the automobile industry. Ford is working to add autonomous features to vehicles, like lane keeping systems, forward collision, and parking assistance. Stephens also spoke of Michigan’s need for emphasis on STEM and Ford’s participation in robotics competitions for young people and research groups such as FIRST Impact and DARPA; the company has also more than doubled its investment in STEM in the state of Michigan this year. “We [at Ford Motor Company] would like to do a lot more than we’re doing now,” Stephens said. “We are just looking for ways that we can engage with educators, with parents, with competitions [like DARPA and FIRST Impact] to try and get people excited about science, technology, engineering and math in all its forms.” These initiatives mean growth for Ford in this field, while also engaging deeply with sponsorships, engineers, and student leaders.

Though robots inspire futuristic images, applications as yet may be everyday as administrative and bureaucratic considerations continue to emerge. Stephens says these are “useful visions” for interpreting and tackling the challenges that yet need to be solved in the field, including cost, legality, and infrastructure. “There are a lot of problems that need to be worked out together, so that’s one of the great things about being here today is to start to share some of that.” More of these challenges were also mentioned by University of Michigan Aerospace & Engineering Professor. Ellen Atkins, such as FAA regulation, zoning laws, point to point delivery, data collection, and air rights. Robots may be used commercially in the near future, but now many are used for practical defense and police purposes. As Lt. Chris Bush put it, “We use tech rather than put one of our officers in harm’s way.”

STEM informs our present and our future, and robotics is a field that provokes what we imagine our futures to be. The state of Michigan looks to continue efforts, education, industrialization and awareness on the field of robotics through partnerships and organizations that stimulate interest and collaboration. The NCMS and the University of Michigan are pleased with the success of this year’s event, and look forward to the advancements, developments and partnerships that will be fostered and flourish in the present year until next year’s event in 2016.

Full Webcast (Includes University of Michigan Presentations)

For more information please visit:

www.mirobotics.org