Nov 26 2014
UC Robotics Night — a flurry of robotic action — recognized the University of Cincinnati’s commitment to embrace and enhance the flourishing field of robotics.
UC Robotics Night 2014 Welcome Sign
The university-wide celebration of robotics was jointly hosted by the University of Cincinnati’s College of Nursing and the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) on Nov. 19 at Fifth Third Arena.
The noteworthy night kicked off in the UC Sheakley Athetic Complex bubble with live robot demonstrations for local FIRST® Robotics teams. The UC Robotics Club, along with their faculty advisors Dan Humpert, director of the UC Center for Robotics Research and CEAS mechanical engineering associate professor, and Paul Talaga, CEAS assistant professor educator, joined Bryan Brown, aerospace engineering student and representative of the CEAS MOST-AERO (Morphing and Optimization Systems Technology for Aerospace) Laboratory, in wowing the crowd. The students brought their traveling robot, a couple of quadcopters and their famous T-shirt cannon to the show.
The robotics frenzy continued inside the arena as the College of Nursing’s telehealth robots — Flo-bot, ROMO, and V-go — interacted with guests at an operating station near the first aid station in the concourse. These telehealth robots (robots used in health care) are a vital presence at the Maple Knoll UC Smart Innovation Collaboratory House. The high-tech residence was developed in partnership with the UC College of Medicine’s geriatric experts and designed by the UC College of Nursing and CEAS to determine whether technology can close the primary care gap for an aging population. Several engineering students partnered with nursing students on senior capstone projects to develop and implement innovative health-care technology for the house — the posters from which were also on display in the concourse.
Additionally, the Robotics Club showcased their traveling robot and quadcopters for fans while prepping their phenomenal T-shirt shooting cannon robot for the game.
In attendance for the evening, as the university’s guests of honor, were: Oak Hills FIRST® Robotics Team 4284; College of Nursing’s Leadership 2.0 students; and UC’s educational partners from Kings High School; Grant Career Center; Oak Hills High School; Princeton High School; Reading High School; Sycamore High School; Taylor High School; and Winton Woods.
After touring the displays, the guests retired to their designated suites to watch the UC Bearcats men’s basketball team take on the Morehead State Eagles. Tip-off was at 7 p.m. and as the second timeout sounded, CEAS Academic Director Eugene Rutz accompanied UC’s educational partners onto center court for recognition.
These partners collaborate with UC as a part of the university’s new dual enrollment program which is aimed at promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education in area high schools.
At halftime, the UC Robotics Club took the court by storm with their renowned T-shirt shooting cannon robot. The College of Nursing’s Dean Greer Glazer and the college’s Leadership 2.0 students also joined in the fun as they tossed mini basketballs to the fans.
Even though the Bearcats continued their lead into the second half, it was the Oak Hills FIRST® Robotics Team 4284 who really stole the show. As the clock rang in the first timeout, Oak Hills Team “Scot Bot” took center court.
Oak Hills is one of the highest ranking teams of the nearly 3,000 teams (that’s 75,000 high school students across the nation) that comprise the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC). The crowd cheered the team on as it was recognized for its continually accumulating achievements since its inception in 2011.
The Bearcats' 69-61 victory capped a superb performance which was particularly apropos in light of the CEAS motto—WE ENGINEER BETTER™. Gear up for an even greater celebration next year.