.png)
Sergeyev demonstrating the remote training software
WSCC News is presented by West Shore Community College in partnership with Mason County Press.
WASHINGTON D.C.— Michigan Technological University and West Shore Community College recently took center stage at an education-focused Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus event on Sept. 19. The partnership between the two institutions, which aims to revolutionize remote robotics training and education, was highlighted as an example of innovation in workforce development.
Alex Sergeyev, professor in the department of applied computing at Michigan Tech, and Vinh Nguyen, assistant professor in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering, represented the university at the event. The AI Caucus brought together experts from academia, government, and the private sector to inform policymakers about the technological, economic, and social impacts of AI. Discussions included the implications for workforce development and the unique challenges and opportunities for institutions like Michigan Tech, located in rural areas.
A focal point of the event was the demonstration of a tele-operated robotics system, developed as part of a collaborative project between Michigan Tech and WSCC. The technology allows users to remotely control an educational robot over the internet, providing a hands-on training experience equivalent to being physically present in the lab.
“The developed technology for teleoperation of industrial robots captured significant interest among attendees,” said Sergeyev. “The NSF director noted the transformative potential of this innovation, stating that it could fundamentally reshape the way industrial robotics training is delivered in the future.”
The remote robotics initiative is a key component of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies grant awarded for the “Beginnings Track: Experiential Learning for the Mechatronics Workforce in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan” project.
The three-year project aims to prepare students, working professionals, and community members for careers in advanced manufacturing. The training program engages participants in self-directed learning modules, hands-on experiences with state-of-the-art equipment, and industrial site visits. The first cohort of students completed the training this past summer.
“Our goal is to provide hands-on robotics training without the need to come to campus,” said WSCC Vice President of Academics Mark Kinney. “The idea is for people to log in from anywhere and use our camera systems and virtual teach pendant to control the robot remotely. This flexibility is especially valuable for local employers looking to train their workforce or for high school students interested in robotics who can now access the program without traveling.”
Building on the momentum from the Washington, D.C. event, Sergeyev is working closely with NSF leadership to establish a state-of-the-art remote training hub for industrial robotics. “We aim to set a new standard for how skills in advanced robotics are taught and developed,” Sergeyev said. “By embracing teleoperation, we can bridge geographical barriers and make high-quality robotics education accessible to a global audience.”
The Congressional event, co-organized by the NSF, featured AI-related research projects from leading STEM institutions, including Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Florida. Attendees included members of Congress such as Representative Anna Eshoo from California, Representative Gabe Amo from Rhode Island, and Representative Henry Cuellar from Texas, as well as over 70 congressional staffers.
_____________________
Please Support Local News
Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news.
The easiest way is to sign up for an automatic monthly payment on Paypal. Click this link.
Alternative methods:
- We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).
We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.
If you would like to support MCP/OCP but do not wish to receive daily emails, please consider sending a contribution to any of the above methods or pay by Venmo (@masoncountypress).
_____
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2024, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.
Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454.
.jpg)
