National Robotics Week Kicks Off with Events Across the Country

BEDFORD, Mass.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The first annual National Robotics Week commenced this week with a series of regional events and activities aimed at increasing public awareness of the growing importance of “robo-technology” and the tremendous social and cultural impact that it will have on the future of how people will live, work and play worldwide. National Robotics Week will occur annually on the second full week of April to recognize robotics technology as a pillar of 21^st century American innovation. The week’s aim is to highlight the growing importance of robotics in a wide variety of application areas and to emphasize its ability to inspire students while building their interest in technology and innovation.

“The United States has the largest number of academic and research organizations with programs focused on the advancement of robotics technology in the world”

From California to Massachusetts, events held throughout the week feature dozens of opportunities for the public to interact with robots in a hands-on learning environment. Lectures, robot competition s, introductory courses on robotics for kids, educational workshops for businesses, demos and tours of robotics labs will provide networking opportunities and expose many to the genius and wonder of robotics.

National Robotics Week is a product of an effort by leading universities and companies to create a “national roadmap” for robotics technology, which was initially unveiled at a May 2009 briefing by academic and industry leaders to the Congressional Caucus on Robotics. U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-14), co-chair of the caucus, and other members submitted a formal resolution (H.Res. 1055) that Congress passed on March 9, 2010 to support the designation of the second full week in April as National Robotics Week.

“The United States has the largest number of academic and research organizations with programs focused on the advancement of robotics technology in the world,” said Colin Angle, chairman and chief executive officer of iRobot. “It is exciting for all of us involved in this industry to have support from both the public and private sectors to create National Robotics Week. It provides a real opportunity to demonstrate to the country the profound impact robotics can and will have on our everyday lives.”

The current effort is being coordinated by a National Robotics Week Advisory Council, organized by iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT) and The Technology Collaborative, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit economic development organization, along with a number of other companies, universities and organizations, including: Adept Technology (NASDAQ: ADEP); the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI); AUVSI Foundation; Botball^®(KISS Institute for Practical Robotics); Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Science Center of Pittsburgh; FIRST^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology); Georgia Institute of Technology; Infamous Robotics; Innovation First International; Johns Hopkins University; MIT; Mass Technology Leadership Council; Museum of Science, Boston; Robotic Industries Association (RIA); The Tech Museum in Silicon Valley; Stanford University; University of Massachusetts Lowell; University of Pennsylvania; and University of Southern California.

Robotics technology is expected to fuel a broad array of next-generation products and applications in fields as diverse as manufacturing, healthcare, national defense and security, agriculture and transportation. At the same time, robotics is proving to be uniquely adept at enabling students of all ages to learn important science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts and at inspiring them to pursue careers in STEM-related fields.

During National Robotics Week, many of these areas of growth will be demonstrated at public events and activities in cities across the country, including:

Boston, Mass.
Lowell, Mass.
Worcester, Mass.
Cambridge, Mass.
Bridgewater, Mass.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Philadelphia, Pa.
New York, N.Y.
Washington, D.C.
San Francisco, Calif.
Los Angeles, Calif.
El Cajon, Calif.
San Jose, Calif.
San Mateo, Calif.
Pleasanton, Calif.
Atlanta, Ga.

Baltimore, Md.
La Plata, Md.
Austin, Texas
Bloomington, Ind.
Fairfax, Va.
Blacksburg, Va.
Hartford, Conn.
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Renton, Wash.
Boulder, Colo.
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Madison, Wis.
Marion, Ohio
Jackson, Miss.
Monroe, La.
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

For a full listing of National Robotics Week events from around the country and other robotics-related resources and information, please visit us at www.nationalroboticsweek.org or on Twitter (@roboweek or #roboweek) and Facebook (facebook.com/roboweek).

About the National Robotics Week Advisory Council

The NRWAC’s goal is to recognize robotics technology as a pillar of 21^st century American innovation, highlighting its growing importance in a wide variety of application areas, and emphasizing its ability to inspire technology education. The effort is organized by iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT) and The Technology Collaborative, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit economic development organization. They are joined by Adept Technology (NASDAQ: ADEP); the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI); AUVSI Foundation; Botball^® (KISS Institute for Practical Robotics); Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Science Center of Pittsburgh; FIRST^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology); Georgia Institute of Technology; Infamous Robotics; Innovation First International; Johns Hopkins University; MIT; Mass Technology Leadership Council; Museum of Science, Boston; Robotic Industries Association (RIA); The Tech Museum in Silicon Valley; Stanford University; University of Massachusetts Lowell; University of Pennsylvania; and University of Southern California. For more information on the National Robotics Week Advisory Council, please visit www.nationalroboticsweek.org.