Category Archives: Robotics

Pune-based startup NOCCA Robotics has decided to manufacture low-cost portable ventilators to make sure theres an adequate supply of this life-saving equipment, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. Whats noteworthy is that the company plans to offer each ventilator for Rs 50,000, which is around three times cheaper than conventional ventilators that Indian hospitals currently use. Existing ventilators are built in India using imported components, and companies like AgVa Healthcare are considered primary manufacturers of the equipment.

Read -Coronavirus Pandemic: BMC To Acquire 50 More Ventilators

This small group of engineers used data from open-source medical supplies groups online to get credible ideas for building a portable ventilator. Initial tests have reportedly shown promise, although its too soon to tell if this will be effective in the long run.

NOCCA Robotics has also reportedly sought advice from medical and industry professionals in the U.S. which included a 90 minute brief on how to handle production of this equipment. Doctors say that the goal is to provide a portable ventilator thats suitable for Indian conditions.

26-year-old founder and CEO of NOCCA Robotics, Nikhil Kurele said - We are not experienced. But we are very good at making products easily. The robots that we make are much more complex to make. But this is a life-saving machine and carries risk, so we have to be very, very careful that we develop a perfect product which clears all approvals.

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Pune based NOCCA Robotics developing portable ventilators that cost one-third than current ventilators - Mumbai Live

NEW DELHI: Stepping in where humans should not, robots are being used for jobs such as sanitising hospitals and delivering food and medicines in many parts of the world and perhaps soon in India where experiments are underway to increase their role in combating Covid-19.

As health workers, researchers and governments struggle to contain the spread of the pandemic that has infected more than 7,00,000 people globally and claimed more than 30,000 lives, robots are also being deployed for administering treatment and providing support to quarantined patients.

The World Health Organisation has advised physical distancing for people around the world to prevent community level transmission of Covid-19.

Supplying essentials to homes and delivering treatment in high-risk areas such as hospitals has remained a challenge, and humans in many cases are now delegating to machines.

Earlier this month, a field hospital staffed with 14 robots opened in the Hongshan Sports Center in Wuhan, China, where the pandemic began.

The robots, supplied by Beijing-based robotics company CloudMinds, can clean and disinfect, deliver medicine to patients and measure their temperature.

In India, the Sawai Man Singh Government Hospital in the Rajasthan capital Jaipur is conducting a series of trials on a humanoid robot to check if it can be pressed into service for delivering medicines, and food to the Covid-19 patients admitted there.

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Besides, Kerala-based startup Asimov Robotics has developed a three-wheeled robot that it says can be used to assist patients in isolation wards.

This will include helping with things like food and medication, something that nurses and doctors have been doing so far, putting them at larger risk of contracting the virus.

The idea of robots taking up jobs previously done by humans may feel dystopian but scientists believe machines can free up human hospital medical staff while limiting the spread of the virus.

"Robots can play a vital role during the present pandemic as they can minimise human intervention at all levels, starting from patient examination to patient care and drug delivery mechanism," Lovi Raj Gupta, executive dean of Science and Technology in Punjab's Lovely Professional University (LPU), told PTI.

"As the present pandemic's prevention and cure are centred around distancing, robots are to be brought in so that least human interaction is practised, especially with people who have been found positive and are kept in isolation," Gupta said.

India has reported 1.071 cases, including 29 fatalities.

"Medical workers are working day and night to protect infected people. Maintaining social distancing at hospitals is crucial to stop the spread of the pandemic,"? added Anita Gehlot, associate professor at LPU's School of Electronics and Electrical Engineering.

"In this scenario, robots can play an important role in maintaining hygiene at hospitals and supplying medicines and collecting garbage in patients, bedroom," she added.

According to an editorial published in the journal Science Robotics on March 25, robots can perform tasks such as disinfecting surfaces, taking temperature of people in public areas or at ports of entry, and providing social support for quarantined patients.

They can also collect nasal and throat samples for testing, and enable people to virtually attend conferences and exhibitions, according to the researchers, including those from Carnegie Mellon University in the US.

In each case, the use of robots can reduce human exposure to pathogens, which will become increasingly important as epidemics escalate, they explained.

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The robots can take patients' temperatures and protect the safety of healthcare workers by reducing interactions with sick people. Similarly, a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, is using an ultraviolet (UV) light robot to disinfect the facility.

The hospital is using UV light instead of hydrogen peroxide, because it cuts cleaning time down from hours to five or ten minutes.

"For disease prevention, robot-controlled non-contact UV surface disinfection has already been used because Covid-19 spreads not only from person to person via close contact respiratory droplet transfer but also via contaminated surfaces," said the researchers.

"Opportunities lie in intelligent navigation and detection of high-risk, high-touch areas, combined with other preventative measures," they noted. Writing in the Science Robotics journal, the scientists explained that robots can be used for clinical care such as telemedicine and decontamination.

The researchers said the robots can also be used in logistics such as delivery as well as handling of contaminated waste and also reconnaissance, including monitoring compliance of voluntary quarantines.

The researchers particularly highlighted the role that robots can play in disinfection, cleaning and telepresence.

They said new generations of large, small, micro, and swarm robots that are able to continuously work and clean could be developed.

In terms of telepresence, the deployment of social robots can present unique opportunities for continued social interactions and adherence to treatment regimes without fear of spreading more disease, they said.

"Covid-19 may become the tipping point of how future organisations operate," the researchers explained.

"Rather than cancelling large international exhibitions and conferences, new forms of gathering -- virtual rather than in-person attendance -- may increase," they said.

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Coming soon to India, robots that sanitise hospitals, deliver food and help fight Covid-19 - Economic Times

As the coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll over the globe including developed countries, several countries have announced travel restrictions, work from home policies, and social distancing measures. Despite the advanced medical facilities and infrastructure in the developed countries, there is an overcrowding at the hospitals resulting in a surge in the demand for essential components such as respirators, masks, and other personal safety equipment.

Given that huge demand, the traditional processes might take time and this has given an opportunity for the 3D printing community to step forward to help during the global crisis. Notably, there are challenges in the same as medical devices are complicated and 3D printing of these can have unforeseen consequences. But there are some companies that have managed to overcome these challenges and have come up with essential components that help in treating or curbing the spread of coronavirus.

Not only 3D printing but also other tech startups operating in various industries such as robotics, healthtech, etc. have also come forward to unleash their expertise in an attempt to bring the global crisis under control. Lets take a look at the various innovative products such as 3D printed respirator valves to face shields that can be used in the battle against COVID-19.

Founder/s: Anna RobertsFounded year: NAFunding: NA

Manchester-based biotech firm Virustatic has developed a snood with a germ trap technology. The snood is a result of a 10-year project and it has been hurried into production due to the coronavirus outbreak. The developers claim that the fabric coating features a similar formation as carbohydrate structures on the cells surface that cover the oesophagus. They have come up with the technology by attaching glycoproteins to carbon cloth and other cheaper materials including cotton.

During tests, this snood developed by Virustatic has been successful in trapping 96% of airborne viruses. It is touted to be more breathable and flexible as compared to conventional masks. These snoods moulds to the wearers face and not only nose and mouth and is a one-fit-for-all solution.

Founder/s: NAFounded year: NAFunding: NA

KC Wearable is one of the leading smart wearable tech and innovation companies in China. Recently, the company launched its smart helmet called N901smart helmet for fast-screening of fevers in public spaces to combat COVID-19. This smart helmet lets users monitor the temperature of 13 people at a given time and it can scan 200 individuals per minute. This smart helmet could prove to be beneficial at a time when governments around the world are trying their best to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Notably, this helmet is already deployed to use by police in Shenzhen. It features an infrared temperature detector, a camera to read QR codes, an augmented reality visor, and 5G, Bluetooth and WiFi to beam the data to the nearest hospital. Featuring facial recognition technology, the smart helmet from KC Wearable will display the name of the person it is testing on the AR visor along with the persons medical history.

Founder/s: Cristian FracassiFounded year: 2014Funding: NA

Italy is one of the hardest hit European countries but that seems to have not stopped the tech startups in the country from coming up with essential products. While a hospital in Italy was running out of critical supplies, a 3D printing startup Isinnova came to its rescue with Venturi valves that are essential for Venturi Oxygen masks to work.

The companys first prototype using a 3D printer was ready in just six hour and it could supply the hospital with 100 working valves that were printed within a day. It is touted that these valves have very tiny holes and tubes of less than 0.8m, which is challenging to print these pieces. Moreover, as these are going to be used by hospitals, these should not be contaminated. The team at Isinnova has teamed with 3D printed adapter that can turn a snorkelling mask into a non-invasive ventilator for patients affected by COVID-19. This will help address the shortage of oxygen masks.

Founder/s: Wilfried VancraenFounded year: 1990Funding: 22.7 million

Door handles are one of the most common germ-infested objects in any place such as houses, factories, hospitals etc. Keeping this in mind, the Belgian 3D printing startup Materialise has come up with a 3D print hands-free door opener. Whats even more interesting is that the company has made this design available for download for free. The hands-free door handle attachment comprises two parts that have to be screwed to either side of a handle. And, all you need to do to open and close a door is to just use your elbow or arm to turn the handle.

Founder/s: Claus Risager, Rune K. Larsen, John Erland stergaardFounded year: 2013Funding: 44.3 million

Denmark-based Blue Ocean Robotics develops, produces, and sells professional service robots across industries such as construction, hospitality, agriculture, and healthcare. Its portfolio includes brands such as Beam Robots, UVD Robots, PTR Robots and a handful of other service robots. On account of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has come up with a sterilising robot that can kill virus cells and sanitise hospital wards sans any chemicals. The UV-sanitising robots have eight bulbs that emit concentrated UV-C ultraviolet light that can destroy viruses, bacteria, and other harmful chemicals by damaging their RNA and DNA so that these cannot multiply.

The UV-sanitizing robots were launched in early 2019 as a result of a collaboration between Blue Ocean Robotics and Odense University Hospital. Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for these robots has been accelerated and the company can make one day in less than a day.

Founder/s: Zhao WanqiuFounded year: 2017Funding: NA

YouiBot is a high-tech robotics company in Shenzhen that focuses on the research, development, and manufacturing of robots. The company has already been developing robotic solutions for a range of industries. It has been providing partners with mobile robot ontology and integrated solutions. With a surge in demand due to COVID-19, YouiBot has added thermal camera and UV-C bulbs to its existing robot base. And, it has supplied these robots to offices, factories, an airport, and a hospital in Wuhan. During the day, it is used for checking body temperature and at night it kills viruses, touts the company.

Founder/s: NAFounded year: 2003Funding: NA

China-based Winsun is a 3D printing company that has deployed its rapid 3D printing capabilities in the construction industry to manufacture 15 coronavirus isolation wards in a single day. Originally, these concrete cabins were designed to be used as holiday homes but the production has been ramped up now due to meet the demand so that people can stay in isolation instead of being at the overcrowded hospitals in China during the pandemic.

Wondering what these small concrete homes have got? Well, there are eco-toilets and showers. These were printed via an extrusion process with a robotic arm that is mounted on rails to deposit layers of concrete to form the walls. Winsun uses recycled construction rubble to build these structures and tout that these are twice as strong as conventional concrete structures.

Founder/s: Josef PrusaFounded year: 2012Funding: NA

Prusa, a Czech startup is touted to be one of the largest 3D printing companies in the world with over 500 printers. At the time of the pandemic outbreak, the company has started the mass production of the face shields meant to be used by medics. It is making over 800 masks a day and has already donated 10,000 masks to the Czech ministry of health. Notably, the Prusa face shield is affordable as the materials used to manufacture a single unit cost less than $1.

Founder/s: Abhinav Lal, Shashank NDFounded year: 2008Funding: 228 million

As many people opt for the coronavirus screening as they do not want to be affected by the same. Due to the same, Practo, a digital healthcare platform has joined hands with Thyrocare, a diagnostic lab chain to conduct COVID-19 screenings. It is touted that the COVID-19 test screening on Practo is authorised by the government and ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research). The healthcare platform notes that the test will be conducted by certified phlebotomists who will collect the samples directly from the patients homes.

Main image picture credits: Simbe Robotics

Stay tuned toSilicon Canalsfor more European technology news.

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Top tech fighting corona: 3D valves, smart helmets, sanitizing robots and more - Silicon Canals

The number of coronavirus infections continues to increase worldwide. Many companies and inventors are using their creative minds to help solve various problems in this global crisis. Some of these inventions include washable and reusable nano-fiber filtered masks, emergency ventilators made from diving masks, hands-free door openers, and many more.

Now, to make the many precautions demanded by the Coronavirus pandemic a fun and interesting, Joe Schulte has come up with a solution for youthful robot builders. The computer science student at Lawrence Technological University has designed a robot that automatically dispenses hand sanitizer, which took him about two days to design and build.

The robot is a do-it-yourself (DIY) home version of the automatic dispensers, and a fun home activity for any aspiring person interested in robotics. The robotic hand sanitizer dispenser was built out of parts found in Legos Mindstorm EV3 robot kit. It is equipped with an infrared distance sensor to know when to provide a squirt of hand sanitizer. The sensor waits to detect something within a certain threshold to trigger, and then it waits for that thing to leave a certain threshold before resetting to trigger again, Schulte said.

Also, it is very easy to adjust the cage in the robot to hold any size of sanitizer bottle, since it is built using Lego pieces. Watch the robot in action in the video given below.

Schulte and LTUs Robofest (worldwide robotics competition) office is teaching children how to create and program robots through an online platform. They have made available a manual to build the robot and the software that runs it.

I like to do projects that help kids learn robotics, Schulte said. Thats my primary goal in helping out with Robofest, helping kids solve problems. With this project, it was a way to tie in robotics with everything else thats going on.

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LTU student teaches kids to build DIY robotic hand sanitizer dispenser - Inceptive Mind

As countries around the globe continuethe fight against coronavirus by instituting everything from stay-at-home guidelinesto full-on national lockdowns, the Republic of Tunisia has adopted an unusual tactic to enforce physical distancing - robots that interrogate pedestrians. While the number of coronavirus cases in some hard-hit regions have begun to stabilize, even decline, others remain on the rise, and countries are trying a host of novel approaches to help slow the spread.

Roughly the size of Washington state witha population ofapproximately11.5 million, Tunisia instituted a national lockdown in late March. Itsrelatively extreme measuresinclude the shuttering ofschools and universities along withbars and cafes;the closure of land and maritime borders; the suspension of international flights; and a nightly 12-hour curfew, enforced by police and military personnel... and now, robots.

Related: Coronavirus Drones Taking to the Skies to Detect Infected People

According to The Independent, the robots now patrolling Tunisian streets are the product of a local manufacturer, Enova Robotics. Called the P-Guard,design-wise they look like something George Lucas and company might have left behind after filming wrapped on Star Wars, but according to theircreator, they're packed with state-of-the-art sensors to ensure reliable autonomous operation. Able totravel off-road and in mountainous terrain, along with city sidewalks and streets, the P-Guard utilizes an infrared camera array to assist with navigation and communicates overeither Wi-Fi or4G. Per video footage online, the P-Guardis currentlypatrollingTunisia's streets, stoppingtoallow remote officials viewing the robots' video feeds to interrogate pedestrians about why they've left their home.

The site of a boxy, self-driving robotpolicingunnaturally quiet city streets might call to mind a dystopianSci-Fi scenario, but amazinglyit'sjust anotherpart of the temporary new normal. It's not hard to imagine options like drone deliveries a la Amazon's still-in-development Prime Air being popularat a time when large swathes of the population are actively trying to avoid any physical contact. Whether or not a system like the one Tunisia has employed with the P-Guard could work in a country like the US is questionable.

Tunisia's lockdown is by all accounts just that - a strict closure of much of the country, within and without. To maintain such a relatively hard-line positionwhile trying to keep human interaction to a minimum, employing something along the lines of the P-Guard makes some sense. In the US, where the coronavirus response is still very much ad hoc, with few if any strictly enforcing stay-at-home orders with arrests or even fines, the P-Guardwould likely be little more than a verynovel loudspeaker, anda probable target of expensive-to-remedy vandalism. Concerns over surveillance and privacy are still very much on the public's mind in the US during the pandemic - perhaps even more so, as data is being requested andshared as a way to track infections.

Limiting human contact is provingfar and away to be the best method of blunting the spread of coronavirus - so in that sense, Tunisia's use of the P-Guard as another method of enforcing physical distancingshouldn't be discounted.However, itseffectiveness whereanything less than a full-on lockdown has been instituted seems questionable, as a disembodied voice barking orders through arobot's loudspeaker is more likely to result in memes than compliance.

Next: Apps to Help With Self-Isolation During Coronavirus Outbreak

Source: The Independent

How To Turn Yourself Into A Potato With Snapchats Snap Camera

Collin Armstrong has worked in and around television and film since 2010. He's written, sold, and optioned multiple scripts, served as a researcher and consulting producer on documentaries, worked in scripted and unscripted TV development, and story produced in unscripted TV. He lives with his family in Los Angeles, California, and is probably sitting in traffic right now.

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Robots Enforcing Coronavirus Lockdown In Tunisia: Would It Work In US? - Screen Rant

A dilemma, artificial intelligence and robots unleashed are among the themes identified in Accenture's 20th annual report on technology trends.

Tech Vision 2020 included a global survey of more than 6,000 executives from 21 industries, with Accenture's resources industry lead for Australia and New Zealand Ann Burns highlighting some of the results from the mining sector for Mining Journal.

The five overall key trends were:

Among the strong responses from mining and metals respondents, 89% believed that to compete in a post-digital world, organisations needed to elevate their relationships with customers as partners.

In terms of artificial intelligence, 84% - compared with 79% globally - said collaboration between humans and machines would be critical to innovation in the future.

However only 29% of metals and mining organisations reported they were preparing their workforce for collaborative, interactive and explainable AI-based systems, although this was a higher than 23% globally.

As for the dilemma of smart things, 72% of metals and mining executives said their organisation's connected products and services would have more, or significantly more, updates over the next three years.

Almost two-thirds - 63% - of metals and mining executives believed rapid advancements in new technologies and scientific innovations were poised to disrupt their industry, compared with 56% globally.

Some 77% believed the stakes for innovation had never been higher.

In the podcast, Burns reveals the biggest challenges identified by mining executives - plus their take on robotics, and how well their employees will cope.

"This year, I think, is a very interesting start to a new decade," she said.

"I'm very encouraged by the pivotal point we're at, at the start of 2020."

Ann Burns,Accenture resources leadAnn Burns leads Accenture's resources team for Australia and New Zealand. She joined the global management, consulting and professional services firm more than 20 years ago. She's worked with a diverse range of clients across Asia Pacific and says her real passion is in finding answers to the challenging questions that digital is asking. Prior to joining Accenture, Burns practised as an architect and worked in construction and international business development.

Use the commenting function at the foot of the page to join the conversation on topics raised in this edition of the Mining Agenda podcast.

Stay up to date with Mining Journal on Twitter at @miningonline https://twitter.com/miningonline

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Mining Agenda: Miners seek 'robots in the wild' - http://www.mining-journal.com

Kilgore Intermediate School students recently won a robotics design competition hosted by Region 7 Education Service Center.

According to a KISD press release, the fourth grade Gifted and Talented students from Kilgore Intermediate School, led by LEAP Teacher Beckey McCormick, won the Design Board for the Region 7 Student Robotics Competition. These students designed a robotic mapping board about Neal Armstrong and His Amazing Adventure of Apollo 11.

To participate in the competition, Kilgore fourth-graders hit the books and used their creativity to work on a robotic mapping board representing a variety of tasks simulating the real-world achievements of Apollo 11 astronauts.

The board includes a variety of obstacles and tasks: using robots to land in a bucket, simulating the Apollo modules landing on the lunar surface, planting a flag on the surface of the moon and ringing a bell to simulate the astronauts safe splash-down return to earth.

KIS students researched the background information of Apollo 11 and created their robotic mapping storyline board about (Armstrongs) adventure. They applied cross-curricular knowledge and skills to help generate obstacles for this complex storyline board, the release said.

Not only did these students win the design competition, their winning design will go on to be used by other local districts in an April robotics competition.

Using the robotics board designed by these 4th grade Kilgore Intermediate School students, other students from school districts around Region 7 will compete on this robotic mapping board in an upcoming April 28th and 29th Robotics Competition to be held at the Region 7 Education Service Center. We are very proud of our students and their accomplishments and look forward to seeing how well they continue to do, the release read.

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Kilgore students design their way to a robotics win - Kilgore News Herald

Venture capital has been flooding the various subverticals under the robotics umbrella in recent years, and the construction space is one of the largest beneficiaries.

Last November, we surveyed 13 of the top robotics-focused VCs to find out which areas of robotics are exciting them most going into 2020. One of the most common areas of attention respondents highlighted were startups focused on construction and manufacturing. In 2019 alone, the robotics space saw roughly 600 venture-backed fundraising rounds, while construction companies successfully raised roughly 200 venture rounds.

With our 2020 Robotics + AI sessions event on the horizon in early March, were diving back into the sector to learn about the attributes of construction attracting robotics VCs the most and which types of startups VCs are actually writing checks for in 2020. We asked 16 leading people who actively invest in construction robotics and work at firms spanning early to growth-stage to share whats exciting them most and where they see opportunity in the sector:

True Ventures has been investing in industrial automation broadly for over 4 years, focusing on founders who bring technology to market that eliminates repetitive manual labor and multiplies human productivity by automating routine tasks.

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Where top VCs are investing in construction robotics - TechCrunch

The global robotics market is predicted to triple to $275 billion by 2025, according to analysis of International Federation of Robotics data by DC Advisory.

The research company calculates that the market was worth approximately $98 billion in 2018.

DCA says changing consumer market has driven manufacturers and logistics companies to adopt new methods of production and distribution chiefly the new generations of robotics and automation technology.

DCA says: Where historically, factory and warehouse automation was synonymous with large, heavy machines operating behind the safety of a metal cage, the evolution of on-demand consumer requirements has forced supply chain operators to adopt a more flexible model.

This, coupled with the declining cost of automation and advances in technology, has increased investment into the installation of robots worldwide.

The company lists the main drivers of change and growth in the market as:

Another key driver of change and growth, says DCA, is the level of funding into robotics start-ups over the last five years.

The research company says that $1.2 billion in US venture-capital deals have been made in logistics-focused robotics and automation companies since 2015.

DCA says: We believe this has contributed to a rapidly growing number of robotics and software companies focused on the supply chain in order to fill the gap.

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Global robotics market predicted to triple to $275 billion by 2025 - Robotics and Automation News

There was a time not too long ago when the mention of robotics in school conjured up stereotypical images of brainiac nerds in white button-up short-sleeve shirts, pocket protectors and thick-rimmed eyeglasses. Not anymore!

Not in Lapeer County schools, and not in schools across the world where robotics competition is fastpaced, exciting and quite possibly a pathway to a great-paying profession. The fact is robotics is fun, bow ties are cool and participation in robot building, programming and competition has proven to stimulate young minds to be better thinkers and problem solvers.

Robotics is also helping Lapeer County-area students become better at teamwork, more career and higher education minded, and many as a result now know that they have a future in a fast-changing high-tech world.

With the number of high-paying jobs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields growing by the day, many schools and businesses are providing more opportunities for students to engage in robotics, building STEM skills at an earlier age than ever before.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employment in STEM-related occupations is projected to grow to more than 9 million jobs between 2012 and 2022 an increase of about 1 million jobs over 2012 employment levels.

Beginning in todays edition of The County Press (on page 4A), education reporter Nicholas Pugliese will start his introduction to robotics teams at area schools for the 2019-2020 FIRST Robotics season. FIRST which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology helps create the next generation of STEM-ready workers through its innovative robotics programs, which now begin in preschool and end in high school. In todays paper, Nicholas spotlights the Dryden and LakeVille robotics programs.

Robotics programs empower students to demonstrate their competency in learning in a variety of ways. They have opportunities to solve problems that leverage the power of technology by developing and testing solutions in creative and imaginative ways. They are to able to construct knowledge and make meaning of their learning experience for themselves. Students become global collaborators by utilizing technology to make connections with others to broaden perspective and learning through the creation of original products.

Research shows that students who participate in FIRST programs are twice as likely to major in science or engineering in college, and more than 75% of FIRST alumni are currently in a STEM field as a student or professional.

FIRST Robotics Competition is a six-week competition program for high school students to build robots that can complete a task that changes every year using standard set of parts, plus any additional off-the-shelf or custom parts.

The season culminates with the FIRST Robotics Championship, to be held April 29 to May 2 at the TCF Center (formerly Cobo Center) in downtown Detroit. The World Championships are expected to bring nearly 35,000 students and 700 teams to TCF and Ford Field with four levels of incredible competition. Last year, two Michigan teams were part of the winning alliance at the World Championships, the second year in a row Michigan teams came out on top.

Lapeer County robotics teams have competed at the World level, and we hope you join us to cheer on our local competitors as they begin another season with the hope of making it to the big stage. The County Press has been in Detroit to follow our local teams, and thats an experience tech-geeks shouldnt miss. The FIRST World competition is just like a sport event championship with row after row of bleacher seating as far as the eye can see in the enormous hall filled with hometown crowds cheering on their local teams.

But aside of the thrill of victory during competition, robotics curriculum helps prepare todays students to be leaders in technology that will shape the future in ways most of us cant even imagine.

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Robotics kids know it's cool to be a nerd! - Thecountypress