Category Archives: Robotics

The First Robotics Club at Lynn Camp High School is ready to make a run. The group recently received the goals their new bot needs to achieve in competition. They will have six weeks to design and build a robot capable of climbing, accurately turning a table, and picking up and shooting a ball.

Natalie Hosman-Collopy, a senior in the club since freshman year, described the competition simply as working together to solve a goal. The production begins with deigning 3-D models and digital sketches before beginning construction. Parts for the robot are sourced from different places and 3-D printed in the engineering department. Although she plans to major in education, Natalie hopes to mentor future club members.

Lynn Camp is set to compete in March in Memphis. The competition will feature about 60 schools and a strong enough finish could send them to the world competition. Junior Rodney Alcorn is one club member whos already experienced the worlds stage. He described robotics as the best thing about high school to me, although he also has a fondness for football.

First Robotics is poised to carry on a strong team in the future with students like freshman Adrianna Hamilton. She acts as an understudy to one of the seniors and enjoys learning the ins and outs of programing. Like many she discovered the club through engineering class. Fellow freshman Bryson Riffe brings experience from the Lynn Camp Elementary Lego Robotics Team with him. Riffe wishes to enter into the engineering field in college and is helping develop a ball loading system for the robot.

Coach Hank Gevedon described the club as a sports team given the long hours they put in after school. Gevedon is in his first year as coach after being an assistant last year. Hes very proud of his club and of Lynn Camp itself. Gevedon gives his students plenty of credit and encouragement along the way. He placed Natalie in charge of conducting the interview for this article with a grade attached. She certainly received an A+.

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Lynn Camp First Robotics Club gears up for season The News Journal - The News Journal

The global market for surgical robots market is being driven by ongoing technological advancements in the sector as well as the increasing purchasing power of hospitals.

This is according to the latest market intelligence study by Transparency Market Research, entitled Surgical Robots Market.

The global surgical robots market was valued at approximately $4.2 billion in 2018 and is projected to expand at an annual growth of 13 per cent from 2019 to 2027.

Key segments

In terms of method, the minimally invasive segment is anticipated to account for over 60 percent share of the market.

Technological advancements allow surgeons to perform less invasive surgical procedures and increase in purchasing power of hospitals and other healthcare settings are expected to propel the minimally invasive segment during the forecast period.

Demand for robots for minimally invasive surgical procedures is likely to increase during the forecast period.

Efficiency of such robots is speeding up the recovery time, shorter hospital stays, increasing the accuracy and safety of surgical procedures, and less intra-operative radiation exposure to patients & healthcare providers.

Easy performance mapping and therapy customization are the major factors projected to drive demand for such robots across the globe.

Research and development in the technology, design, efficiency, and safety of spine surgical robots is anticipated to present significant opportunities in the segment in the near future.

Based on application, the gynecological and urological surgery segments accounted for major shares of the surgical robots market in terms of revenue in 2018.

The segment is expected to expand at a moderate annual growth during the forecast period.

Robotic surgery has developed rapidly, and its use in gynecological conditions as well.

Robot-assisted surgery was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1999 for urologic and cardiac procedures and in 2005 for gynecological surgery.

In 2018, robot technology was applied widely in gynecological surgeries such as for hysterectomy, sacrocolpopexy, myomectomy, adnexal surgery, and malignancy staging.

In terms of end user, the hospitals segment is likely to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period, due to benefits associated with the use of surgical robots coupled with the resources and capabilities to deploy these platforms.

Moreover, rise in investments in the hospital sector, particularly in developing countries, is projected to increase the number of hospitals in countries such as China, India, and Brazil, thereby boosting the need to procure surgical robotic systems.

Prominent regions

North America held the largest share of the global surgical robots market in 2018. The market in the region is driven by the presence of key players, large number of research activities, and highly structured health care industry.

In terms of revenue, the US is likely to dominate the surgical robots market in North America during the forecast period, owing to early adoption of technologies such as the da Vinci Surgical System, Navio Surgical System, Mazor X, and increase in the geriatric population.

The country is projected to be the most attractive market for surgical robots, with high attractiveness index.

The market in the US is anticipated to expand at annual growth rates of approximately 12 percent during the forecast period.

Increase in adoption of surgical robots by hospitals, technological advancements, rise in research & development of surgical robots for new applications, and surge in demand for rapid and safe minimally invasive surgery procedures are driving the surgical robots market in the US.

Asia Pacific accounted for a significant share of the surgical robots market in 2018.

The market in the region is expected to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period.

Increase in investment by key players in Asia Pacific and rise in surgical procedures are likely to propel the surgical robots market in Asia Pacific.

Emerging economy, government funding for research, improving healthcare infrastructure, and rise in presence of major global players in countries, such as China and India, are projected to augment the surgical robots market in the region during the forecast period.

Key players

Key players are expanding their footprint to strengthen their positions in the surgical robots market.

These players are collaborating with other companies to secure and strengthen their positions in the market.

Additionally, regulatory approvals is expected to be a key trend going forward, leading to an increase in competition in the market.

For instance, in January 2018, Medrobotics received the FDA regulatory clearance to market its Flex Robotic System for robot-assisted visualization in general surgery, gynecological, and thoracic procedures in the US.

Leading players in the surgical robots market include:

Main image courtesy of ValueConnected.com

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Surgical robots market driven by technological advancements and increase in purchasing power of hospitals - Robotics and Automation News

If youre a current student and you love robots and the AI that drives them you do not want to miss out on TC Sessions: Robotics + AI 2020. Our day-long deep dive into these two life-altering technologies takes place on March 3 at UC Berkeley and features the best and brightest minds, makers and influencers.

Weve set aside a limited number of deeply discounted tickets for students because, lets face it, the future of robotics and AI cant happen without cultivating the next generation. Tickets cost $50, which means you save more than $200. Reserve your student ticket now.

Not a student? No problem, we have a savings deal for you, too. If you register now, youll save $150 when you book an early-bird ticket by February 14.

More than 1,000 robotics and AI enthusiasts, experts and visionaries attended last years event, and we expect even more this year. Talk about a targeted audience and the perfect place for students to network for an internship, employment or even a future co-founder.

What can you expect this year? For starters, we have an outstanding lineup of speaker and demos more than 20 presentations on tap. Lets take a quick look at just some of the offerings you dont want to miss:

Thats just a sample take a gander at the event agenda to help you plan your time accordingly. Well add even more speakers in the coming weeks, so keep checking back.

TC Sessions: Robotics + AI 2020 takes place on March 3 at UC Berkeley. Its a full day focused on exploring the future of robotics and a great opportunity for students to connect with leading technologists, founders, researchers and investors. Join us in Berkeley. Buy your student ticket today and get ready to build the future.

Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TC Sessions: Robotics + AI 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

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Save over $200 with discounted student tickets to Robotics + AI 2020 - TechCrunch

IAM Robotics robots, dubbed Swift and Bolt, move about the warehouse floor completely on their own.

We have the only robots that can drive around a warehouse and pick up items off of a shelf by themselves, using computer vision and their own ability to see, says IAM Robotics founder Tom Galluzzo. The robots then add those items to a downstream process where they are packed and shipped to customers.

Such is the world of e-commerce which is rapidly changing the way we buy everything. And thats a great opportunity for the robotics company.

The industry is capped out on labor, explains Galluzzo. Theyre leaning heavily on automatic systems and robots to do the work, because theres just not enough people to do it.

IAM Robotics Swift robot. Photo courtesy of IAM Robotics.

The idea for their robots was born, like so many of the companys within Pittsburghs fast-growing robotics cluster, at Carnegie Mellon Universitys National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) in Lawrenceville.

We were working on how you get robots that have hands and arms and eyes to see items and pick them up and move them around, says Galluzzo. We got pretty confident in our ability to do that, even though its a very difficult problem. We started looking for low-hanging fruit, and it led us to e-commerce.

The company is expanding rapidly, moving soon from suburban Sewickley to a new 30,000-square-foot office in the Strip District. Robotics companies have very specific needs that diverge from the typical high-tech office space.

Not only do you need Class A office space for very bright computer scientists writing code, but you need a raw warehouse environment to do testing of the hardware that were developing where youre really using the products youre selling. The startup world calls it eating your own dog food, where you really get a sense of how it works, and come up with a lot of ideas on how to make it better.

IAM Robotics expects to grow its staff now at 55 by 25 to 30 percent. The move will also help with acquiring new talent.

We wanted to be central to everything going on in Lawrenceville and the Strip District, Robotics Row, says Galluzzo. Well be next-door neighbors to NREC. Were attracting a lot of young energetic talented folks from CMU, and thats where everyone wants to be, so were excited to be back there.

IAM Robotics new headquarters in the Strip District. Photo courtesy of IAM Robotics.

Its a familiar area for a lot of companies spun out of CMU. Theres a ton of great amenities, and it has a great energy to it. It has a sense of growth and innovation right now. People want to put their finger on the pulse of that spirit of Pittsburgh.

IAM RoboticsNational Robotics Engineering CenterNRECroboticsrobotsTom Galluzzo

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Pittsburgh company IAM Robotics is hiring and moving to Strip District's Robotics Row - NEXTpittsburgh

The global smart robots market is poised to grow by USD 20.28 billion during 2020-2024 during the forecast period. Request free sample pages

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Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global smart robots market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Read the 164-page report with TOC on "Smart robots Market Analysis Report by geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America), Product (Personal service robots, Professional service robots, and Collaborative robots), Solution (Software, Services, and Hardware), and the Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024".

https://www.technavio.com/report/smart-robots-market-industry-analysis

The market is driven by the increasing focus of companies on factory automation. In addition, the growing demand for smart robots in the automotive industry is anticipated to boost the growth of the smart robots market.

With the aim to improve productivity, enhance product quality, and reduce labor costs, several companies across the world are focusing on automating their manufacturing facilities. As a result, companies are increasingly adopting smart robots, such as collaborative robots and professional robots, which are equipped with advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and analytics. Collaborative robots can perform tasks such as order pick and place, packaging and palletizing, machine tending, and quality inspections. Moreover, the decision-making capabilities of AI-enabled smart robots also helps solve issues that occur in assembly and manufacturing processes. Therefore, the increasing focus on factory automation will drive the smart robots market during the forecast period.

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.

View market snapshot before purchasing

Major Five Smart Robots Companies:

ABB Ltd.

ABB Ltd. has business operations under three segments comprising of electrification products, robotics and motion, and industrial automation. The company offers YuMi, which is the company's first-generation cage-less collaborative robot with dual arms that include flexible hands, parts, and feeding systems.

Amazon.com Inc.

Amazon.com Inc. operates its business through three segments, which include North America, International, and AWS. The company offers smart robots such as Scout, Xanthus, and Pegasus.

FANUC Corp.

FANUC Corp. offers smart robots such as Paint Robot P-250iB/15, FANUC Robot CRX-10iA, FANUC Robot SR-3iA / SR-6iA / SR-12iA, FANUC Robot ARC Mate 100iD, and FANUC Robot R-2000iD. In March 2018, FANUC upgraded and launched an enhanced version of its simulation software. The company launched ROBOGUIDE Version 9, a 3D simulation software that can be used for controlling the motion of smart robots.

iRobot Corp.

iRobot Corp. offers smart robots for vacuum cleaning and mopping. The products include Roomba and Braava smart robots. In June 2019, the company acquired Root Robotics Inc. (Root Robotics) to expand its educational robot product offerings.

KION Group AG

KION Group AG has business operations under two segments, namely industrial trucks and services, and supply chain solutions. The company offers robotic systems such as Egv Compact, Standard Egv, Hybrid Egv, Custom Egv, and Etow systems.

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Technavio has segmented the smart robots market based on the product and region.

Smart Robots Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020 - 2024)

Smart Robots Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020 - 2024)

Technavios sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com

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Contacts

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Global Smart Robots Market 2020-2024| Evolving Opportunities with ABB Ltd. and Amazon.com Inc.| Technavio - Yahoo Finance

Lego Education is launching a new line to teach engineering and robotics concepts to kids in a celebration of sorts for the STEAM-focused toy division's 40th anniversary.

Called Spike Prime, the new education system is aimed at students ages 10 and up, from sixth to eighth grade. Lego Education, an education-focused division of the iconic building toy manufacturer, first announced the system last April and is rolling it out today (Jan. 14).

"Essentially, it is a Lego kit," Sid Muthyala, a senior concept designer for Spike Prime, told Space.com. "It's a tool box with a lot of Lego elements, a lot of bricks to build with. What we're adding to the set, along with the physical tools, is the hardware."

That means these aren't Lego kits you'll find at your local toy shop or department store. They're aimed at educators looking to incorporate hands-on STEAM concepts in the classroom.

Related: 25 Lego Sets You Need In Your Collection

Lego Education is launching Spike Prime, a new educational system to teach robotics, engineering and other STEM concepts to middle school students.

Lego Education celebrates 40 years of inspiring students to study the world with Spike Prime, a set aimed at middle school students designed to engage kids in engineering, math and science concepts.NOTE: The two robots on the far right are part of our own challenge.

Spike Prime combines vibrant Lego Technic system elements, motors, sensors and the Scratch programming language to teach science and engineering concepts. Thirty two lesson plans in four teaching units are available in a free app.

Each Spike Prime set is designed for use by up to three kids, so a classroom would need multiple sets for larger groups. The kit includes 528 pieces, including 11 new elements like bright purple "biscuit" pieces and a Technic base plate that allows building in any direction.

The multi-port Hub here is the brain of the Spike Prime set. The hub can be programmed to display different light-up shapes and control motors and sensors attached by cables.

This "Weather Guy" is one of several builds for students to try. here, the hub is programmed to describe the weather in different cities. The umbrella hints at a chance of rain.

A breakdancing robot controlled by the colored bricks in front is one of the standout projects in Spike Prime. Students can program hip, leg and arm movements using Scratch in the Spike Prime app, and then control when movements start and stop with the bricks and color sensor head.

This grabber device is one of two invention builds designed to show students different solutions for litter cleanup around a school. Another design sports a robot-like claw.

This rhino-looking model carries a force pressure sensor (front) sensitive to up to 10 Newtons (1 force-kg) for programming projects.

I put together this rover as part of a mobility challenge in Spike Prime, with some key help from Lego Education's Sid Muthyala. The goal: design a robot that can move forward for two seconds.

This arm-walking robot shows a different solution for the same robot mobility challenge.

Each Spike Prime kit sells for $329.95 and can be used by two or three kids in a class setting to solve engineering, programming and other challenges from one of 32 different lesson plans. Those lesson plans are organized in four teaching units with names like Kickstarter Business or Invention Squad, and are included in a free Spike Prime app. Programming commands are set using the Scratch coding language.

"The themes we're choosing, we're trying to be relevant to kids today," Muthyala said. "So it's not just 'Hey, learn about motions and forces,' but let's try and use inventions, and then try and teach them motions and mechanics."

The set comes with 528 pieces in range of shapes and vibrant colors, three motors, three sensors, a series of data cables and a yellowmulti-port Hub that serves as the brain of the set. The Hub can carry multiple programs and be commanded to light up and play sounds.

Spike Prime also includes 11 completely new Lego elements, including a Technic base plate that allows building in all directions, new wheel designs and an odd, purple 3x3 Technic brick called a "biscuit" to allow more connections for challenges.

Those challenges can range from building a "Weather Guy" robot, complete with sunglasses and an umbrella, and linking it with weather data from different cities, to programming a robot to dance on command using colored bricks. There are also sensors that can track color, distance and pressure to allow kids to design robots with different functions.

Related: Lego's Epic Apollo 11 Lunar Lander Set in Photos!

Some building challenges include a handheld grabber tool, a grasshopper-like insect, a rhino-like pressure sensor bot and my personal favorite a breakdancing robot that can move its hips, legs and arms separately depending on how students program it. But each of the lesson plans is designed to take about 45 minutes, including time for cleaning up.

I took one Spike Prime challenge to design a robot capable of moving itself forward for two seconds. Muthyala programmed that action in the Spike Prime app using scratch, and it was up to me to add pieces to a hub equipped with two motors to make the robot.

Once my robot was moving, Muthyala shared a student-design creation that used arms instead of wheels to pull itself along.

"So the idea is, we both used the exact same thing, a hub and two motors, but now we have two different ways of moving your creatures," he said. "Now imagine that in a classroom with 20 setsand 20 students. We've done this several time and there's 20 different ways of moving, just by trial and error."

Spike Prime fills a middle-school niche for Lego STEAM robotics, falling between the Lego Education's WeDo 2.0 system for elementary school students and the more advanced Mindstorms system for secondary and high school students.Lego Education has also released an expansion set with more pieces for Spike Prime and has a Competition Ready teaching unit for use with the FIRST Lego League and World Robot Olympiad competitions.

"As an educator who is always trying to find new ways to teach STEAM topics, I'm excited about Lego Education Spike Prime because it fits in with the maker mindset and creative elements that help get students at all levels involved and hands-on in the classroom," Jon Bishop, a K-12 STEM coordinator for Canton Public School District in Connecticut and a Lego Master Educator, said in a statement.

And that's the point, Muthyala said.

Lego Education stands apart from Lego's entertainment toy division precisely because it aims to engage kids in the world around them. That was true in 1980, when Lego Education was founded, and the mission has evolved over the last four decades.

The first STEAM and robotics elements arose 20 years ago with Mindstorms, Muthyala said. The challenge today is to prepare kids for the technologies and concepts they'll need once they leave school.

"I think for us, we've always been an education company," he said. "For 40 years now, we've been doing hands-on learning."

Email Tariq Malik attmalik@space.comor follow him@tariqjmalik. Follow us@SpacedotcomandFacebook.

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Lego Education launches Spike Prime to teach engineering and robotics to kids - Space.com

TROY, N.Y. The 5th Annual Bots Take Burgh VEX Robotics Competition is right around the corner

On Saturday, Jan. 25, in the Lansingburgh High School Gym as students from multiple school districts will gather for the 5th Annual Bots Take Burgh VEX Robotics Competition.

More than 50 school teams will be there for an action-packed day of competition, battling one other with robots created from VEX EDR robotics components.

Students compete in VEX Robotics Competition Tower Takeover, scoring goals with multi-colored cubes. Tower Takeover was developed by VEX Robotics, Inc. and the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation, leaders in educational and competitive robotics.

Bots Take Burgh is one in a series of tournaments supported by the REC Foundation and various national, regional and local sponsors.

Winners of the Lansingburgh competition earn a bid in the New York State Championships this March in Syracuse.

This year's competition is sponsored by Jimmys Pizza, U.W. Marx, Troy PBA, Troy Uniformed Firefighters Association, Lansingburgh Teachers Association, and Lansingburgh Board of Education.

The robotics competition season culminates in April with the top-performing local and state VEX Robotics Competition teams competing at VEX Worlds in Louisville, KY.

At the world competition, exemplary teams challenge top-ranked peers from over 30 countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

5th Annual Bots Take Burgh schedule:

Saturday, Jan. 25

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Lansingburgh to host 5th Annual Bots Take Burgh VEX Robotics Competition - Troy Record

Medtronic's acquisition of Israeli robotic surgical equipment maker Mazor Robotics is in the early innings of success, CEO Omar Ishrak told CNBC on Tuesday.

"It's only beginning to pay off," he said in a sit-down with Jim Cramer of "Mad Money" at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. "We're delighted with the results that we're seeing and our spine business this last year ever since I've been here has had its strongest year, and the robot has played a big role in that."

Medtronic, the medical equipment company based in Ireland, paid out $1.64 billion in late 2018 for Mazor Robotics, which builds spine and brain surgical guidance systems for minimally invasive procedures. Medtronic bought out remaining interest in the firm after a 2016 partnership gave it an 11% share in Mazor.

Medtronic's spine division is within its Restorative Therapies Group, which includes brain, specialty and pain therapies. Revenue in the spine business improved 5.5% to $692 million in the quarter that ended in October. Medtronic also attributed growth in its brain therapies segment to robotics.

Ishrak, who is retiring as Medtronic chief in April, said the robotic-assisted guidance systems are being used in "most major centers" in the United States, but he did not go into details. At the health-care conference in San Francisco, Medtronic said it expects its minimally invasive therapies operations to grow by as much as 150 basis points in the 2022 fiscal year and by as much as 250 basis points by the 2023 fiscal year with the help of its robotic-assisted surgery platform.

The minimally invasive business is projected to reach $10.3 billion by the end of the 2023 fiscal year, up from about $8.5 billion last year, according to FactSet.

"The desire for that is pretty high, but most importantly what it does is it makes the procedures consistent" and "we're integrating it with other technologies, such as our navigation system and eventually our imaging system," Ishrak explained in the interview. "There's a spinal robot, we're also working on a general surgery robot, there's a cranial robot [and] there will be others."

Medtronic has focused on making acquisitions to shore up its minimally invasive and robotic surgery device business. The goal is to stave off growing competition in the cardiac and vascular space, where the company deals in stents and heart pumps.

When Ishrak retires at the end of the current fiscal year on April 27, he will retain his seat as chairman of the board and add the title of executive chairman of Medtronic. Since he took the helm of chief in June 2011, Medtronic stock has risen nearly 208% to date, from about $38 a share to $117.04 as of Tuesday's close. The company mandates that its executives retire at age 65.

Ishrak told Cramer his legacy is defined by the patient base of 75 million people served the prior fiscal year and the team that he worked with.

"When I started, the [patient] number was more like 20 million a year. So just watching that and the impact that has had on people is a huge thing, and I think the company's positioned to extend that further," he said.

Speaking of his successor, Geoff Martha, who currently heads the Restorative Therapies Group, Ishrak said, "I think if he can keep that, sustain it and grow it, that's all I need."

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Mazor Robotics $1.6 billion acquisition is 'beginning to pay off,' Medtronic CEO says - CNBC

Teddy Fitzsimons trains at the Winter Youth Olympic Games Lausanne 2020 on Jan. 14 in Lausanne, Switzerland.(Provided photo OIS/IOC)

For Teddy Fitzsimons, sport has been a passion since he could remember. He tried them all: wrestling, gymnastics, track, cross-country, baseball, football, lacrosse and soccer.

But it wasnt until his favorite sport wrestling was no longer an option that he found his new love. His high school didnt have a wrestling team during the winter, which left Fitzsimons looking for an activity to expend his energy.

Thats where skeleton comes into play.

I started skeleton as an accident, Fitzsimons said.

An accident in his mind, but maybe his mother always saw this happening. Skeleton is a family affair, as his mom was a skeleton athlete who competed on the world cup circuit some years ago. According to Fitzsimons, she would have made it to the Olympics, but her event was not included on the Olympic program.

My mom did skeleton so she kind of dangled the idea in front of me, Fitzsimons said. I went up to Lake Placid later that year and tried skeleton.

He attended a training camp, and a few months later, he returned to Lake Placid to slide for a week. After that, he made the team and was hooked on the adrenaline the sport brought.

Ill never forget the first time I tried skeleton, Fitzsimons said. It was absolutely terrifying. I remember I hit one wall and all the alerts in my body went up.

But when I finished the run, I was like, I have to do this again. I want to do this without it being terrifying. So I did it for about a week and finally I overcame my fears of the sport and it became really fun.

Fitzsimons has been hooked ever since. Though his passion for the sport is evident, Fitzsimons admitted that he does not get to the track as often as he would like. As a teenager living in Manhattan, making the trek to Lake Placid is not as easy for him as others.

Im out-experienced by most of the athletes, so Im really doing everything I can to get up to their level, Fitzsimons said.

Because his time on the track is less than his teammates and competitors, Fitzsimons, who has only been consistently sliding for one year, has turned to his passion for robotics to help give him an edge over others.

Robotics helps because it ties in with engineering, and I love to work on my sled, Fitzsimons said. Since Im not the strongest, fastest, biggest or have the most experience, what Im really focusing on is perfecting my sled. In my opinion, thats the best way I can really catch up to the people here. Connecting robotics and engineering helps.

Before coming to St. Moritz, Switzerland, to compete in the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Fitzsimons said there were three nights in a row while he was training in Lake Placid that he did not go to bed until three in the morning because he was tuning and adjusting his sled.

One item Fitzsimons has been working on lately is the structure of his saddle, which is the part of the sled that holds a riders body in place. The saddle had been irritating his ribs during some runs, so he turned to his passion for robotics to try to fix the issue.

Robotics is, in my opinion, problem solving, Fitzsimons said. When youre doing robotics, youre not looking at an instruction manual. Its the same thing with making your sled. Its trial and error, so youll adjust one thing about your sled, try it out the next day, and it might not work. So youll go back the next night, undo it and make another change. It teaches you the importance of working on your equipment.

For Fitzsimons, combining his passion for robotics and skeleton is a perfectly intertwined way to help give him an edge. While he self-admittingly is not the fastest athlete with the most experience, it is the burning desire to better his sled and himself so he can show the world what he is made of. He will get that chance on Monday, Jan. 20, when skeleton competes in St. Moritz.

I dont get pushed around much, and when people dont believe in me, thats really where I step up and believe in myself, he said.

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Fitzsimons connects love of robotics and skeleton | News, Sports, Jobs - The Adirondack Daily Enterprise

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFNS) --

Robotic media blasting used to strip paint from fighter aircraft such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon has been around at Hill Air Force Base for more than three decades. Now, the technology is being used for the first time to remove paint from the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

The 576th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is upgrading its traditional manual media blast paint removal process by using new-generation robots to strip the paint from A-10s that come to the base for depot overhaul and maintenance.

All aircraft require regular exterior maintenance to protect their metal surfaces from corrosion due to moisture and the harsh environments in which they continually operate.

The process is expected to reduce the man-hours it takes to strip paint from the aircraft and increase safety by removing employees from the blasting atmosphere, resulting in measurable time and costs savings.

There are going to be across-the-board improvements including a dramatic reduction in exposure to a Hexavalent Chromium dust environment. This is perhaps the greatest benefit to the robotic system, said Tim Randolph, 576th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron director. Savings will also be seen with reduced operating time and less power consumption, as well as reduced costs in material. We really havent found a downside to this system.

James Gill, Corrosion Control flight chief for the 576th AMXS, said while the traditional manual media blast process is effective, its labor intensive, requiring teams of workers at least three full days to complete.

The new paint-removal process is accomplished by two robots, each with four hose attachments that move independently along both sides of the aircraft. In addition, the time to strip an A-10 is decreased from three days to 9-12 hours.

Compared to the manual paint-stripping method, the robots use half the amount of blast media at half of the air pressure, while removing an extremely precise thickness, uniformly, across the entire aircraft surface, Gill said. This translates into a process that is less stressful on the aircraft skins and saves money in media cost, while creating only half the waste stream.

In addition to the robotics process, a new laser-burn process is currently being tested and used on F-16s with proven success. However, the squadron is still maturing the process, and hopes to apply this process to the A-10s in the future.

By using new robotic technology, the squadron is expanding its capacity by adding capability.

Randolph said each of three processes have different capabilities and inherent limitations, but combined together, can reduce the total time an aircraft spends in depot maintenance and helps return it to the warfighter faster.

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576th AMXS leverages robotic paint stripping technology on A-10 Lightn - Robins Rev Up