NEOACM'S ROBOTICS PROGRAMMING FESTIVAL '23

NEOACM and the George Mason University Libraries are sponsoring a “Robot Programming Festival” in Fall on September 17, 2023. This festival will be a REMOTE ALL DAY event focusing on robot programming presentations that will discuss:

* Platforms, Tools,

* Control techniques,

* Robotics applications

for personal and hobbyist robot projects and industrial autonomous robots. We are hoping to excite and encourage attendees who will be: Computer science and engineering students from local universities, Middle to High school STEM and Robotics Club members, Computing techies, and hobbyists that are interested in:

* Programming sensors/actuators,

* Navigation, Design, and Control,

* Robot arm control, etc.

We hope this festival will encourage attendees to start or continue to be involved in robotics programming by seeing the applications and possibilities for everyone.

There will be a morning and afternoon session.

MORNING SESSION:

BRIAN NAVE (Engineer) - Interview with Pictures/Videos

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM EDT (15 mins. Q & A)

Brian Nave is an engineer and founder of Logicom Logic Systems, an engineering company that handled requirements for giant industrial robots. He is also a robotics TV host for Robot Wars and Battlebots TV shows. Brian, with his combat robot "Shrederator", was a former world combat robotics champion.

KURT LEUCHT (NASA Software Developer) - Presentation

TITLE: Got Robots? (How robots will prepare the way for humans to live and work long term on the moon!)

TIME: 1:00 – 2:15 pm (including 15 mins. Q&A)

SUMMARY:

NASA has been using robots to investigate and explore outer space and moons and planets for more than 6 decades. Kurt Leucht, Software Engineer for NASA, will explain NASA's apparent infatuation with our moon. Kurt's presentation gives an overview of NASA's history of lunar exploration and then explains why NASA continues to focus on robotic missions leading up to future human exploration of the moon and then of Mars.

BIO:

Kurt Leucht worked in the NASA Swamp Works Lab on software for robots and other systems that could someday help us live off the land on Mars during manned exploration missions. He started at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center 31 years ago as a young college intern and then graduated to electronics failure analysis investigator. He then worked as a software developer and tester for several command and control systems and advisory systems. Mr. Leucht now performs exploration research and technology development for NASA.

ROSSLYN KING (Electrical Engineer) - Interview with Pictures/Videos

TIME: 2:45 – 3:30 (including 15 mins. Q & A)

BIO:

Rosslyn King is an electrical engineer. She graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, with a BS in Electrical Engineering. She worked at Naval Avionics in Indianapolis, Indiana. Rosslyn is one of the founders of “Paths To Success” (PTS), a community action group that works to “inspire, support and motivate Black and biracial students to achieve academic excellence” by sponsoring events such as college prep conferences, “Back to School” Block parties, and a Robotics STEM Camp. These camps are for ages 9 to 14 and are held at the Columbus East High School in Columbus, Indiana. The STEM camp members code with Robot C and learn the value of critical thinking, teamwork, self-assurance, trial and error, and more.

AFTERNOON SESSION:

SHAWN SPIKER (HITEC Servo Expert) – Presentation

TITLE: Getting the Most from Programmable Servos

4:30 – 5:30 (including 15 mins. Q & A)

SUMMARY:

1. Getting the most out of your Hitec Programmable servo: Features, how to.
2. The Future of Servos beyond PWM

BIO:
Shawn Spiker has been an accomplished Sales Manager and Servo Expert with Hitec Group USA for over 18 years. Graduating with a business degree from the University of Texas, Shawn began his career in the Brokerage and Financial Service Industry, earning him valuable experience in innovative sales techniques and strong analytical abilities. Bringing this strong background in sales strategy development and team management, Shawn has been an integral part of Hitec’s success as the world’s largest servo manufacturer. His extensive knowledge of the servo and actuator industry along with his passion for the radio control hobby have made him a results-driven leader and an invaluable asset to the global Hitec family.

JOSH VOELKER (Drone Pilot) – Presentation (TBA)

6:00 – 7:00 (including 15 mins. Q & A)

Josh Voelker is an unmanned ground and aerial drone pilot. He works for DroneDeploy, which develops a cloud software platform that makes aerial data accessible and productive for commercial drones. The platform provides automated flight and data capture enabling the exploration and sharing of high-quality interactive maps and 3D models for mobile devices.

This event will be updated soon with more information.