The Computing Community Consortium (CCC) is excited that council member Holly Yanco (Chair, Distinguished University Professor, NERVE Center Director, UMass Lowell), and former council members Melanie Moses (Professor, University of New Mexico) and Chad Jenkins (Professor, Robotics, University of Michigan) were exhibitors at the Senate Robotics and Demo Day. They were among exhibitors across industry, academia, and government.
The Computing Research Association (CRA), in collaboration with co-hosts IEEE-USA and Carnegie Mellon University, was pleased to host Members of Congress, the media, and the public in the Hart Senate Office Building on April 30.
Through interactive exhibits and informal discussions, attendees gained insight into the current state of US robotics innovation – particularly its integration with AI – as well as the transformative impact of these technologies on US competitiveness, regional economic growth, and workforce dynamics.
Yanco believes the event provided an opportunity for the robotics community to highlight their research and industry successes, while also calling attention to the need for continued and expanded federal funding for robotics.
“Our collaborative team from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Brown University, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), and the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) discussed the challenges of long-term robot autonomy with attendees, while demonstrating how a Boston Dynamics Spot robot can be used as an assistant to deliver tools to someone performing maintenance tasks,” she said.
The 2024 Robotics Roadmap was also released at this event, a resource that Yanco views as important for the future of the field.
Jenkins is proud of the community of roboticists that attended the event and showcased the great potential to improve productivity and quality of life across society.
“My students and I were energized by the engagement and enthusiasm for our work in Michigan Robotics by everyone at the nation’s capital. And, the impact of the US Robotics Roadmap felt very real in seeing so many advanced robots and technologies on display,” Jenkins said.
“More importantly, it was great to see the people driving our national innovation engine, as many of these leading entrepreneurs, scientists, and industry roboticists were enabled by decades of federal investments made possible by the US Robotics Roadmap. My students and I continued to be honored to be a part of the growth, impact, and positive transformation of robotics in Michigan and throughout our nation.”
According to Moses, the event showcased an amazing variety of robots. “From our autonomous robots that fly through erupting volcanoes to miniature robots that clear blockages in blood vessels, robotics opens up so many new scientific frontiers.”
Read more about the event – and see more pictures – on the CRA Bulletin.
