To celebrate National Robotics Week, Yaskawa America‘s Motoman Robotics Division invited student groups from local high schools and universities to take facility tours, speak with automation professionals and interact with demos.
Schools and universities represented include: Carroll High School, Chaminade Julienne, St. Henry (Kentucky), Waynesville High School, Wright State University and various home school groups.
National Robotics Week was instituted by Congress as the second full week of April every year. 2013 marks the fourth year for National Robotics Week, and its stated purpose is to recognize robotics as a key technology for our nation’s economy and, more importantly, to foster interest in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines among students.
“We look forward to National Robotics Week each year. It gives us the opportunity to tell the story of robotics to high school and university students throughout the country,” said Erik Nieves, technology director for Motoman Robotics. “It’s our goal to inspire them to pursue a career in robots and automation.”
Students were encouraged to become involved in STEM courses and learned about the roles they could play in the robotics industry. Job opportunities continue to grow as automation is implemented in more areas, and robots are deployed in increasing numbers.