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A Vision for a Robot Built by Robotics and Automation in South East Michigan
Posted by
robopatrj
on
Monday, May 15, 2006 (EST)
R & A's Chair Robert Sealy discusses his vision of a robot built by SEM R & A
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In the time that Robotics and Automation has been a chapter, we have had three meetings. Although I would consider these meetings successful, I believe we can take the group further. What if we were to take on a project that would allow us the opportunity to learn new technology and apply that technology to a problem? What if instead of just having meetings and events, we actually built a robot that would be able to do something for someone? I would like to try and build such a robot! The benefits of such an undertaking could be significant. Things like government funding, personal and professional growth and perhaps even technological recognition in the field. All of these have the potential to profit both the IEEE and the individuals that participate in the project. Throughout the remainder of this article, I would like to discuss my vision for such an undertaking within Robotics and Automation.
One of the best reasons for the existence of a Robotics and Automation Chapter in our area is the presence of so much engineering and scientific talent. With companies like Fanuc Robotics and schools like the University of Michigan, the probability of finding people who not only would like the chance to work on something they control instead of their boss or steering committee, but with the technical skill to bring an idea of this nature to a working robot is too high to ignore. It is my hope that this project will bring these engineers and scientist together and allow them the chance to “build their dream”. I know that time is short and that all of us have a great deal of work, home and family responsibility, but wouldn’t it be worth meeting a few times a year to make the attempt to create something that no one has done before? Isn’t it also worth the time to learn things that few get to work with at there regular 9 to 5 jobs? The things that most of us became engineers and scientist for in the first place! I think so and am sure I am not alone.
The question of “what type of robot will we build and what will it do when it is finished?” is on that I am sure is on everyone’s mind. The answer is that it is up to all of those who would participate in the project. When those who would be part of this project make there interest known, a planning meeting will take place shortly after and it will be then when ideas will be presented by myself and others on what they would like to work on. Once the project has been defined, the group will begin to break the job into smaller parts so that those who are interested in specific aspects of the robot will be able to take those on. Tentative schedules for completion dates for those parts will be agreed upon but will be flexible with the changing schedules of participants. Once the design is close to being finalized, the group will then work together to bring the parts together and build the robot for testing.
Although I believe we can be successful in this endeavor, I also realize that it won’t be easy. If things don’t work out and a robot isn’t built as a result of our efforts, we will still learn from the experience and we will have had a lot of fun in the process. Projects like this always find the critics who say that it can’t be done for many reasons, but it definitely won’t get done if we don’t try. What do we as Robotics and Automation have to loose in making the attempt? Perhaps a few hours of our time and maybe even a little money out of our pocket! But what do we have to gain? We could come up with a way to make a robot do what no other can in the world, we could learn things that none of us would otherwise and we can have a great time doing it! I hope that I am not alone in thinking that we can do this and do a great job at it too. Those who are interested, please contact me at 248-894-2364 or robert.sealy@ieee.org when you are able and keep looking for the first “R & A robot build” meeting on our website (www.semrobotics.org) and on the events page of www.ieee-sem.org. I look to meeting all of you and what we will accomplish in the months to come!
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robots.net
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Last Refreshed 11/20/2008 11:38:32 PM
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