Category Archives: Robotics

Jason Ford News editor

There doesnt appear to be much middle ground when it comes to discussions about robotics and automated systems.

The automotive industry has had robotic operatives on shop floors for decades but technological advances mean that the robot is becoming more capable and will inevitably become more ubiquitous in a variety of industries.

A broader look at automated and autonomous technology sees the potential for such systems to be truly disruptive, giving companies the opportunity to rethink how they deliver products or services.

In the maritime arena, for example, container ship operators might look at automated systems in terms of the savings theyll make when purchasing vessels that dont require crew facilities and the wider capabilities their vessels will give them. Merchant seamen might not be looking at this prospect with the same level of enthusiasm, a view that is applicable wherever the robot or automated system is introduced into the workplace.

Companies will argue with some justification that robots will step in to carry out laborious or dangerous jobs, freeing the human employee to do something more suited to their talents.

Whilst co-bots have gradually made their way onto the shop floor, the humanoid equivalent has been slow to evolve, although that could all be about to change.

Multi-contact robots will be able to make contact with their environment using their entire bodies, giving them the sort of agility that has previously been seen in sci-fi movies but not in industry.

To this end, Airbus has been working with the Franco-Japanese Joint Robotics Laboratory in Tsukuba to develop robot capable of for example undertaking work in the confines of an aircrafts fuselage.

From the USA, two and four-legged robots have regularly emerged from the labs of Boston Dynamics to enthrall and disturb the imagination in equal measure. As things stand, though, the robot remains a tool and it is up to humans to decide whether they are put to work for good or nefarious purposes. Things might change, of course, if the robot becomes sentient.

This potentially dystopian and so far unproven outlook shouldnt overlook the fact that Britain sees its robotics research as world-leading and this years UK Robotics Week will be showcasing how such systems can be applied in areas including surgery, social care, and disaster relief.

EPSRC is supporting the series of robot-related events that culminate in the International Robotics Showcase on June 30, 2017 at IETs HQ in London.

According to EPSRC, this years programme of events includes five competitions in the areas of surgery, extreme environments, resilient infrastructure and social care robotics, and the premiere of an Autonomous Systems film by Southampton University on emergency resilience and disaster response. Schoolchildren from across the UK are also participating in the School Robot Challenge, where they will learn how to design a virtual robot bug and teach it to move.

The International Robotics Showcase includes talks, panel discussions, exhibitions, robot demonstrations and an award ceremony for competition winners demonstrating cutting-edge robotics innovation. The UK-RAS Network will also launch four new White Papers, providing an overview of the current research landscapes in resilient infrastructure robotics; AI and robotics; robotics for emergency response, disaster relief and resilience; and robotics in social care. Doors open at 9-00am at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Savoy Place in central London.

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UK Robotics Week highlights expertise and potential for mechanical assistants - The Engineer

KYMBERLEE FERNANDES

Last updated22:06, June 26 2017

Kymberlee Fernandes/ Stuff.co.nz

Four south Auckland students will represent New Zealand in the United States in a robotics competition. Using science to help humanity, they will present a robot that can help clean contaminated water.

Four students from South Auckland are aiming to solve the world's problems using robotics.

Kacey Roberts, Daniel Gallahar-Ikitule, Esther Asi and Vanshika Ram will represent New Zealand at an Olympics-style robotics competition in the United States in July.

The theme for the First Global competition this year is providing access to clean water.Team NZ will go up against teams from Syria, Venezuela, Sri Lanka, Chile and Pakistan among 160 other countries.

KYMBERLEE FERNANDES/FAIRFAX NZ

Vanshika Ram says although engineering is thought as a career for boys, 'if girls have an interest in it, they should really go for it'.

They're calling their robot the NZ Karebots, which translates to "friendly bots".

READ MORE: *Robots could threaten up to half New Zealand's jobs in next 20 years *South Auckland teens selected for science conference in London *Robots closer to getting go-ahead to give financial advice to humans

It is being built to separate contaminants out of the water in a game using plastic balls, Daniel from Manurewa High School explains.

KYMBERLEE FERNANDES/FAIRFAX NZ

Students work on the NZ Karebot robot to help solve world problems.

Robotics allows him to be "hands on and build things". He will most likely study mechanics or engineering, he says.

Year 8 student atTe Matauranga School,Vanshika has been interested in robotics for a couple of years.

She wanted to try something new and robotics, she says, became "one of my hobbies".

KYMBERLEE FERNANDES/FAIRFAX NZ

Daniel Gallahar-Ikitule and Esther Asi.

"Screwdrivers, chains, extrusions, wires and gears," keep her interest locked in she says.

Esther who studies at Auckland Girls Grammar is keen to help humanity and says if it wasn't for robotics, she most probably would have studied law.

"I chose robotics because it can help solve problems."

KYMBERLEE FERNANDES/FAIRFAX NZ

Vanshika Ram, left, and Kacey Roberts.

Kacey from James Cook High is excited to be part of the team and is "looking forward to meeting new people".

"It has also been good working alongside the other three and getting to know them."

Theyare being guided by Te Matauranga teacher Debbie Woolliams and are supported by teacher Marama Timoko.

KYMBERLEE FERNANDES/FAIRFAX NZ

Vanshika Ram, Kacey Roberts, Daniel Gallahar-Ikitule and Esther Asi with their NZ Karebot robot.

Providing technical advice is Stephen Moran, director at IT firm Entity Hub.

Woolliams says the whole project is an "amazing opportunity".

She was contacted by First Global to put a team together of students that might not be exposed to such a platform.

"They're all my past pupils. Here at Te Matauranga were already run STEM [science, technology, engineering, and maths]. We believe the future is about solving problems," she says.

The trip for the students and Woolliamsis funded by First Global. Henderson Demolition has funded the robot and the uniforms.

-Stuff

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South Auckland students to represent NZ at US robotics competition - Stuff.co.nz

Based on Scratch Blocks, a Visual Programming Language, Code Lab Makes it Easy for Kids to Create Fun Content for Cozmo

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - June 26, 2017) - In a technology-fueled world learning to code has quickly become a cherished skill, empowering kids to become creators of the technology that they use and enjoy. However, the current tools that are meant to inspire robotics programming offer a lackluster and disjointed experience, often lacking access to high-level functionalities that can help transform an aspiring child into a full-fledged programmer. Anki, the consumer robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) company, today announced Cozmo Code Lab. It's a simple and intuitive visual programming language that allows Cozmo owners to easily tap into his advanced robotics technology to program the physical robot. Dragging and dropping blocks into a sequence in Code Lab will trigger related actions from Cozmo in the physical world. Code Lab is available now to all Cozmo owners as a free software update to the Cozmo app.

"Everything we do at Anki is in an effort to advance the state of robotics, whether that is kids learning coding for the first time, or Ph.D. students solving complex computer vision challenges in a lab with Cozmo," said Boris Sofman, CEO and co-founder at Anki. "With the launch of Code Lab, Cozmo now helps kids develop the logic and reasoning skills that programming requires. Based on the Scratch Blocks project, a collaboration between MIT Media Lab and Google, we now have a powerful tool that gives anyone interested in learning to code a robot the opportunity to unleash their creativity. There's simply no consumer robotics platform available like Cozmo."

Delightfully Intuitive. Easy to Execute.

Cozmo Code Lab provides opportunities for thoughtful and logic-based play as kids are challenged to approach programming much like a real programmer. Writing sophisticated programs requires a programmer to define a set of rules to solve an issue. Code Lab challenges kids to find a solution to prescribed prompts by moving the blocks into an appropriate sequence. It also allows them to experiment with Cozmo to create whatever content they can imagine. Each block represents a specific action, movement, or animation including:

Code Lab for Cozmo is based on Scratch Blocks, a project of the MIT Media Lab, used by millions of people around the world. With Code Lab, Cozmo owners can start out with very simple programs, but then move into extremely sophisticated coding projects like creating entirely new games for the robot.

Check out Cozmo Code Lab Videos Here and Here

About Cozmo

Cozmo refuses to sit tight and wait for the fun to begin. He's ready to play. The more Cozmo gets to know his human friend, the more skilled he becomes as new abilities and upgrades are unlocked. The free-to-download Cozmo app, which runs on compatible iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire devices, comes packed with gameplay content and constantly introduces new ways to play. Cozmo even brings his own toys to the game -- three interactive Power Cubes that he's willing to share. So whether he's playing with his Cubes or challenging his human friend to one of the many games he ships with, he's always ready for action. New Cozmo abilities and game modes are introduced via free software updates, which ensures that the relationship between Cozmo and his human friend stays fresh year-round.

Supporting Resources

About Anki

Anki is harnessing robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver magical experiences that push the boundaries of the human experience. Founded in 2010 by three Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute graduates, Anki creates consumer experiences using cutting-edge technology that was once confined to robotics labs and research institutes. For three years in a row, Fast Company has named Anki one of the top 10 most innovative companies in robotics. Sales of Anki OVERDRIVE and Cozmo have catapulted the company's products into the category of top four best-selling premium toys ($75+) of the 2016 holiday season, according to The NPD Group. For more information, visit http://www.anki.com.

Anki and Cozmo are trademarks of Anki, Inc.

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Anki Delivers Powerful Robotics Programming Platform for Kids With Cozmo Code Lab - Marketwired (press release)

The Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) will host the first European- Commission funded European Robotics League (ERL) tournament for service robots to be held in the UK.

Two teams from the BRL and Birmingham will pitch their robots against each other in a series of events from 26 and 30 June.

Robots designed to support people with care-related tasks in the home will be put to the test in a simulated home test bed.

The assisted living robots of the two teams will face various challenges, including understanding natural speech and finding and retrieving objects for the user.

The robots will also have to greet visitors at the door appropriately, such as welcoming a doctor on their visit, or turning away unwanted visitors.

Associate Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly, Theme Leader for Assistive Robotics at the BRL said, The lessons learned during the competition will contribute to how robots in the future help people, such as those with ageing-related impairments and those with other disabilities, live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

This is particularly significant with the growing shortage of carers available to provide support for an ageing populations.

The BRL, the host of the UKs first ERL Service Robots tournament, is a joint initiative of the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol. The many research areas include swarm robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, driverless cars, medical robotics and robotic sensing for touch and vision. BRLs assisted living research group is developing interactive assistive robots as part of an ambient smart home ecosystem to support independent living.

The ERL Service Robots tournament will be held in the BRLs Anchor Robotics Personalised Assisted Living Studio, which was set up to develop, test and evaluate assistive robotic and other technologies in a realistic home environment.

The studio was recently certified as a test bed by the ERL, which runs alongside similar competitions for industrial robots and for emergency robots, which includes vehicles that can search for and rescue people in disaster-response scenarios.

The two teams in the Bristol event will be Birmingham Autonomous Robotics Club (BARC) led by Sean Bastable from the School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham, and the Healthcare Engineering and Assistive Robotics Technology and Services (HEARTS) team from the BRL led by PhD Student Zeke Steer.

BARC has developed its own robotics platform, Dora, and HEARTS will use a TIAGo Steel robot from PAL Robotics with a mix of bespoke and proprietary software.

The Bristol event will be open for public viewing in the BRL on the afternoon of the 29th of June 2017 (Bookable via EventBrite), and include short tours of the assisted living studio for the attendees. It will be held during UK Robotics Week, on 24-30 June 2017, when there will be a nationwide programme of robotics and automation events.

The BRL will also be organising focus groups on 28 and 29 June 2017 (Bookable via EventBriteand here) as part of theUK Robotics Week, to demonstrate assistive robots and their functionality, and seek the views of carers and older adults on these assistive technologies, exploring further applications and integration of such robots into care scenarios.

The European Commission-funded European Robotics League (ERL) is the successor to the RoCKIn, euRathlon and EuRoC robotics competitions, all funded by the EU and designed to foster scientific progress and innovation in cognitive systems and robotics. The ERL is funded by the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. See: https://www.eu-robotics.net/robotics_league/

The ERL is part of the SPARC public-private partnership set up by the European Commission and the euRobotics association to extend Europes leadership in civilian robotics. SPARCs 700 million of funding from the Commission in 201420 is being combined with 1.4 billion of funding from European industry. See: http://www.eu-robotics.net/sparc

euRobotics is a European Commission-funded non-profit organisation which promotes robotics research and innovation for the benefit of Europes economy and society. It is based in Brussels and has more than 250 member organisations. See: http://www.eu-robotics.net

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Assistive robots compete in Bristol - Robohub

Local News

Jun 25, 2017

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Construction is ongoing at the site of Prestage's pork plant, five miles south of Eagle Grove. By July, some of the initial steel framework of the plant is to be erected, according to Jere Null, chief operating officer for Prestage.

EAGLE GROVE When Prestage Foods of Iowa opens its $250 million pork plant in Wright County, the company plans to use advanced robotics for its processes, according to Jere Null, chief operating officer of Prestage.

The robots are expected to ease the burden on employees and improve efficiency, Null said.

Theres going to be a number of high-tech machines involved in our process, including robotics with vision, Null said.

According to Null, computers will analyze images and determine how the robots should be used.

Among the jobs robots will be tasked with include precision meat-cutting.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson About 75 workers are currently onsite as work continues on Prestage's $250 million pork processing plant.

Imagine you take several frames of a carcass coming by and the computer can distinguish lean from bone from fat, Null said. It can tell that robotic arm exactly how to cut based on what its looking at.

A waterjet cutter will be used to make cuts. The high-pressure water system will be used to slice through meat and bone.

Its like a laser beam of water thats vision operated, Null said. Its looking and taking so many images a second and a computer is telling that waterjet cutter how to cut product up.

Water-saving technologies and odor control will also be features of the plant, Null said.

Robots will change the skills needed from workers, Null said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Heavy equipment is onsite, five miles south of Eagle Grove, where the $250 million Prestage pork processing plant is being built. The plant is scheduled to open November 2018.

A lot of the precision cutting we are doing is moving towards robotics, Null said. What would have previously been a laborious, back-breaking type job like holding a heavy saw and cutting and things like that can now be done by a robot.

Your employee that you end up hiring will be an electronics engineer that will help program and maintain the robot, Null said. Its a highly productive piece of equipment, but it changes the skillset we need from employees.

1,050 jobs

Prestage plans to employ 1,050 people when the plant opens in November 2018, Null said.

The development agreement between Prestage and Wright County requires that the company employ at minimum 922 workers.

Null said the company is working closely with Iowa Central Community College for workforce training.

Dan Kinney, president of Iowa Central, said those plans are still being finalized.

The training will likely begin at the start of 2018, Kinney said.

The program used by Iowa Central to train workers is called Iowa Industrial New Jobs. It provides flexible funding for employee training for new jobs created.

The program is financed through bonds sold by Iowas 15 community colleges, according to the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Kinney said the program comes at no cost to Iowa taxpayers.

This allows the state to attract new businesses, help cover some of that training cost, but really its not costing the state anything because its done through their withholding tax, Kinney said. This is really a unique program.

The length of training needed to gain employment at Prestage will vary based on the individual and the position at the company.

Its really geared towards the business themselves and what they want the training on, Kinney said. Somebody who is coming out of advanced manufacturing, it may not take as long.

It could be two to four weeks or six to nine months, depending on what levels of training they want us to do, as well as the background of the student or that individual they hired, Kinney said.

Kinney said robotics are changing the needs of employers and how students are educated.

Its really advanced, Kinney said. It takes an individual with a strong background in computers and robotics.

Through the last number of years it really has advanced more and more, Kinney said. When you talk about STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), you hear about that a lot. Its being taught more in elementary and all the way up. Thats expanding to the college setting.

Iowa Central adapting

As a result, Iowa Central is adapting to those changes, Kinney said.

More businesses are becoming technical and requiring those different skillsets and thats where we can step in and do the training, Kinney said. We are there to tie that gap together to keep these businesses up and going.

Shelly Blunk, executive director of economic and workforce development for Iowa Central, said she anticipates a majority of training for Prestage workers will take place at the North Central Career Academy, located in Eagle Grove.

Blunk also said Iowa Central has plans to offer free English as a Second Language courses in Eagle Grove.

Those classes are to be offered in August.

We are trying to prepare for growing needs and this will also help people become more hirable when Prestage has job openings, she said.

In October, Iowa Central plans to offer an entry-level manufacturing program, she said.

There will be further opportunities for people to gain skills to better prepare them to enter the workforce and to be eligible for a position at Prestage, Blunk said. Right now we are trying to better prepare our current pool so they are ready to hit the ground when the jobs open.

New plant engineer

Prestage has not hired anyone to work in the plant yet, but has hired a plant engineer.

Tim Schelle has filled that position. His job is to oversee the building of the plant.

Schelle has relocated to Webster City from Des Moines.

The lowest paid workers are expected to start at $13 an hour, while the average wage is expected to be $15.71 an hour.

Average annual wages at the plant are projected at $47,000.

The average annual income for Wright County is $25,964.

Null said there has been a lot of interest in employment.

We have had a lot of resumes and a lot of people inquiring about employment, Null said. We are very encouraged by that. We know that staffing will be a challenge and we will promote ourselves very aggressively and ultimately we will put together a compensation package and benefits package that we think will be very competitive for the area. I think thats important.

Null said the company will likely begin to hire key management positions at the start of 2018.

Ground breaking

Prestage broke ground at the site, five miles south of Eagle Grove, in March.

Epstein Global, headquartered in Chicago, is the general contractor for the project.

Concrete foundations are being poured.

Local contractors are also at the site. About 75 people have been working at the site each day, Null said.

Jensen Builders Ltd., of Fort Dodge, is one local contractor that is on-site, Null reported.

By July, some of the initial steel framework is to be erected, according to Null.

The goal is to have the roof over top of the plant by mid-December to allow crews to work inside during the winter.

After that, it will literally be the next 12 months to do the plumbing and electrical, Null said.

Prestage plans to process for grocery retailers throughout the country and other processors that make bacon or ham, according to Null.

About 25 percent of the meat Prestage processes will be exported, Null said. He said the three biggest export markets will be Mexico, China and Japan.

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Prestage robotics to drive special training - Fort Dodge Messenger

GleanerNow (press release) (blog)

La Grande Snap-Its Team Competes in Sacramento Lego Robotics Championship GleanerNow (press release) (blog) Three! Two! One!! LEGO!! These words rang out signaling the start of the missions at the Lego Robotics tournaments. For the students of the Snap-Its team from La Grande Adventist Christian School in La Grande, Ore., this was their first experience ...

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La Grande Snap-Its Team Competes in Sacramento Lego Robotics Championship - GleanerNow (press release) (blog)

JUNO BEACH

The 3-foot-tall robots with multicolored wires raced around the tile floor. They picked up neon yellow Wiffle Balls and shot them into a 10-foot-tall basket. They hung suspended from a rope while music pumped through the Florida Power & Light Co. cafeteria.

All while being controlled by the teenagers who built them.

Nearly three weeks after the last day of school, students from six high schools in Palm Beach, Martin and Broward counties put the specialized skills they learned during the school year on display for a crowd of FPL employees, and their children as part of FPLs effort to support creative educational programs.

Lillian Harrington, now a junior at William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, said her one year on the schools Mega Awesome Robotic System team MARS, for short has given her a wealth of experience and the chance to meet all kinds of people.

Harrington does programming for the robotics team and said most people expect programmers to largely work alone. Its actually had the opposite effect on her time in high school.

Its a learning process, and when you actually go to competitions, you get to interact with a lot of different people, which is actually the most exciting part for me, she said. The process is really interesting, talking to other teams and seeing what they can do on the field, its really great for honing your analytical and people skills.

Maureen Wilt, senior education program manager for FPL, said the company has sponsored the robotics program for five years because its a way to blend students into STEM fields science, technology, engineering and math in an appealing way.

Young people like to do things that are engaging and fun, and this is an example of that, Wilt said. They could be doing a lot of things with their time, but instead of just being in a lab or doing experiments, being able to build a robot and meet kids from all over the world that participate in this is fun for the kids.

Wilt said FPL hires 240 paid college interns every summer, a large majority of which come through programs like the high school robotics showcase. She said she hopes the interns speak to the high school students and encourage them to follow in their footsteps.

I really want my employees to engage with these students, she said. Weve started to hire a number of young people who have come through the high school program and gone to college, and theyre now working here.

In addition to the tangible skills acquired in working on robots, Harrington said the teamwork aspect of robotics competition and how it teaches students to work with each other is just as valuable.

Going into college, it obviously gives you the skills you need to start off in robotics or if you want to go into an engineering field, she said. Im not looking at an engineering-type career, but even if youre not looking for engineering, the skills you learn here will help you in any job you take.

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High school students showcase robotics skills at FPL - Palm Beach Post

MOBILE, AL (WKRG) It may be summertime, but the Davidson High School Robotics Team is busy preparing for next years state competition. The team won state last year, and they have had many victories in regional competition in the past. The students know summer isnt a time of rest if they want to take the top spot again. The Robotics moderator, Mike Fletcher, equates summer time to spring practice for a sports team. His team has lay some groundwork now, to be successful in the fall. Fletcher says the Robotics program at Davidson has been helpful to many students for choosing a career. The reason we have that type of competition that recognizes math, science and engineering, is to get kids excited about that sort of thing in the same way they they might get excited about a soccer team, or football team or something else.

Senior, Justin Parker, says they have had a lot of interest in the robotics program from underclassmen who heard about the programs state win. The goal is to bring home a second year-in-a-row win. It really boosts morale for students who were somewhat interested, but didnt want to pay attention. Now they are saying, I want to be a part of something that won statewide.' They have had ten new students apply to be a part of the team for next year.

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What's Working: Davidson Robotics Team Using Summer to Prepare for State Competition - WKRG

Jordan Beck | Daily Press Local student Allie Livingston, who will be entering sixth grade at the Gladstone Junior High School this fall, steers a robot built out of Lego bricks around an obstacle course Thursday. Bay College and Michigan Works Lego Robotics Camp, which Livingston participated in, will give local students an opportunity to boost their technical knowledge and social skills this summer.

ESCANABA Local students aged 7-12 will have an opportunity to boost their technical knowledge and social skills this summer by taking part in Bay College and Michigan Works Lego Robotics Camp. The first sessions of this camp for the summer of 2017 were held at Bay Colleges M-TEC building June 19 through 22, and additional sessions will be held throughout the summer.

Bay College Grant Project Manager Beth Ann Belcher said this program has been offered for quite a while.

This will be our eighth year offering the camp, she said.

Over the course of each four-day-long session of the camp, participating students work with Lego Mindstorms EV3 kits to build functioning robots.

These are very complex kits that actually have a computer component to them, Belcher said. At the end of each session, students will be able to put their robots to the test by steering them around an obstacle course.

Michigan Works Jobs for Michigans Graduates Specialist Elizabeth Mineau said that the use of Lego bricks makes the program accessible to students.

Its a relatable medium for them to use and to start learning that robotic technology, she said.

Two sessions of the camp are offered each week: one for students aged 7-9, and one for students aged 10-12. According to Belcher, students in both sessions will build replicas of a character from a popular Pixar movie.

They are actually going to recreate the Wall-E robot, she said. Students aged 10-12 will also build a robotic tank.

Mineau noted that the camp has given participating students an opportunity to learn more about science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics or, as they are collectively referred to, the STEAM fields.

Its really improving their (STEAM) knowledge, she said.

In addition to building robots, students participating in the Lego Robotics Camp are able to learn about programming.

Even though its very complicated, once you get the hang of it, it is very easy, Alex Anderson said. Anderson will be entering fourth grade at Mid Peninsula School this fall.

Additionally, Belcher said the camp has helped students hone their ability to collaborate with others.

It helps them develop their social skills because they work in small groups together, she said.

Allie Livingston, who will be entering sixth grade at the Gladstone Junior High School this fall, agreed with Belcher.

You learn how to work together better, she said.

Belcher thanked Michigan Works for their involvement with the camp.

Without their partnership, this wouldnt be possible, she said.

Livingston said she would recommend the camp to other students.

If you havent gone to (Lego) Robotics, youve missed a lot of fun, she said.

Sessions of the Lego Robotics Camp will be held at Bay Colleges Escanaba campus on the weeks of June 26, July 10, and July 17; sessions will also be held at Bays Iron Mountain campus on the weeks of July 31 and August 7. Registration in the camp costs $60 per student. For more information, or to register for upcoming sessions of the camp, visit http://www.baycollege.edu/invent.

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Kids learn robotics through Lego camp - Escanaba Daily Press

Beth Marcus of Amazon Robotics. (Photo courtesy of Beth Marcus)

After founding and leading several successful startups, Beth Marcus took a job with Amazon because it afforded a greater chance to have a huge impact fast. As a senior principal technologist at Amazon Robotics, Marcus is seeing her intentions realized in the form of innovation at the tech giants fulfillment centers.

Marcus holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, where she also served as a faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering department, helping teach the senior mechanical engineering capstone project class. She received a Ph.D. in Biomechanics from the Imperial College in London, where she was a Marshall Scholar and is currently serving as a mentor to the Enterprise Laboratory.

Shes also GeekWires latest Geek of the Week.

Her startup backgroundincluded a mobile device peripherals company, a childrens app technology company and, most notably, EXOS, Inc., creator of the SideWinder force-feedback joystick, which was venture backed and sold to a multinational technology company in 1996. Marcus said she has helped guide more than 30 startups in a variety of fields as a founder, investor, or advisor and shes an acknowledged expert in the hand-device interface space and a leader in the field of virtual reality.

Its clear what Marcus brought to Amazon Robotics, but what made her want to join the company?

What attracted me was the great group of people with diverse technical backgrounds, the difficulty of the problems they were solving, the willingness to try things and fail fast like a startup, and the impact of the solutions once developed on the Amazon Fulfillment facilities worldwide., Marcus said. Saying it differently, being creative and entrepreneurial at Amazon allows for the ability to have a huge impact fast without the constraints normally experienced in a startup.

Despite the fact that Marcus work focuses on robotic automation, she appreciates the fact that her work allows her to continue to understand that humans are uniquely capable and adaptive.

As an industry, our job is to identify tasks that can be automated and look for ways humans and robots can work together to gain a better result, Marcus said. At Amazon, its exciting to see robots helping our full-time employees at our fulfillment centers and fueling superfast delivery on behalf of customers.

Learn more about this weeks Geek of the Week, Beth Marcus:

What do you do, and why do you do it?I am a senior principal at Amazon Robotics where Im working with some of the smartest people in the industry to solve the hardest problems in robotics. I love working on challenges that will have a significant impact and seeing my solutions in action in the real world almost immediately at Amazon fulfillment centers. I especially love mentoring young engineers and women to innovate and create the future.

Whats the single most important thing people should know about your field?We are on the precipice of huge advances in the field of robotics with the potential for new technology to become more deeply integrated into our every day lives. Contrary to what some may say, robotics simply make tasks more efficient and allow people to shift their focus to more sophisticated activities. Its exciting to see the pace of innovation and the potential that exists in robotics.

Where do you find your inspiration?I find personal inspiration from nature, poetry and people I admire like Maya Angelou and my coworkers.

Whats the one piece of technology you couldnt live without, and why?My cell phone! Text messaging is the primary method of communication and connection I have with my teenage daughter.

Whats your workspace like, and why does it work for you?I have several workspaces, both at the office and in my home. My favorite workspace is my home office where I frequently work remotely. It has two large windows overlooking the nearby conservation area and Im able to watch animals like geese, deer, coyotes, foxes and woodchucks passby. Those scenes bring me clarity. It also has a wall of books and no door so I am always connected to my family. At Amazon Robotics I am across from one of our many coffee stations, which I love because it makes it easy to socialize with my coworkers throughout the day. We love laughing, telling stories and sharing ideas.

Your best tip or trick for managing everyday work and life. (Help us out, we need it.)Family and health first and then try to do fun things like cooking classes, Djembe drumming circles and painting whenever possible to offer balance. Regularly take a day to do nothing or next to nothing: read, talk to friends or invite your neighbor for tea (my neighbors are lovely people!). When you feel stuck and unproductive, be social! It may rejuvenate you, but if it doesnt, go home and hug your family, dog or a friend, and start again when you feel refreshed. When youve achieved something, stop to pat yourself and those around you on the back. Dont take any of lifes ups and downs personally.

Mac, Windows or Linux?Mac.

Kirk, Picard, or Janeway?In general I prefer the strong woman leader, however my favorite Star Trek character is Geordi La Forge I love the concept of the visor.

Transporter, Time Machine or Cloak of Invisibility?Its a tie between all three: Transporter because Id be able to visit friends around the world more easily or see the top of Kilamanjaro, polar ice caps and many other things without the difficulty of getting there. Time machine because Id like to redo some of my less-than-shining moments and appreciate my mother more while she was alive. Cloak of Invisibility because I could play pranks without getting caught.

If someone gave me $1 million to launch a startup, I would Not start another company myself! Ive launched five startups and I know how hard they are, so Id probably put half in medium aggressive traditional investments and take the other half and invest in five startups and help them succeed without being in the hot seat myself.

I once waited in line for Many years ago I was in Japan on the Emperors birthday, the only day of the year that the general public is allowed into the palace. I stood with a friend in a huge line as people were slowly let in. When it was almost time to close the gates to the palace everyone stayed in line and jogged into the Palace grounds. I was amazed that the scenario resulted in anything other than chaos!

Your role models:When I was younger I wanted to be many things successful, generous, impactful, cool and funny. Now Id settle for having as much energy as some of my mentors in the industry!

Greatest game in history:Historical events like the first Tour de France are my favorite games when it comes to athletic competition. Today, Pokemon Go has my devotion.

Best gadget ever:iPhone.

First computer:Compaq luggable. It was so heavy!

Current phone:iPhone 7 Plus.

Favorite app:For fun its Prism, favorite game is Pokeman Go, and Audible for listening to books on tape every night.

Favorite cause:Broadly I support anything that helps animals and education. On a personal level, Im passionate about supporting the Alzheimers Association as my mother passed away from this disease.

Most important technology of 2016:Amazon Echo Show!

Most important technology of 2018:Stay tuned, Im still working on it! (Just kidding)

Final words of advice for your fellow geeks:Dont take yourself too seriously. Always be open to collaboration as the result will likely be better, youll find and work through failures faster, and youll have an opportunity to mentor or be mentored. And, allow yourself to think big, experiment, simplify and fail quickly to iterate upon a successful solution.

Website: Amazon Robotics

Twitter: @startupdoc

LinkedIn: Beth Marcus

Originally posted here:

Geek of the Week: Amazon Robotics' Beth Marcus helps machines and humans work better together - GeekWire