RoboJackets

RoboJackets is a group of Georgia Tech students, faculty, and alumni that aims to enhance the understanding of the field of robotics and its applications as well as to increase of the number of students exposed to it. The group, located in the Student Competition Center, allows students to engage in a wide range of engineering-related activities, and has members from almost every engineering major of study offered at Georgia Tech. Students work collaboratively in a group environment and have the abilities to pursue projects on their own.

History

The RoboJackets was founded in 1999 by a group of grads and undergrads interested in the BattleBots competitions [cite news|first=Alan|last=Back|url=http://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/1853/7936/7/Technique-2000-08-25.pdf|work=The Technique|title=Bringing Mean Machines to Life|date=2000-08-25|accessdate=2008-02-17] . The following year, they would start their highly respected FIRST outreach and mentorship program. The group's first home was in the J.S. Coon building. In 2003, due to renovations of the Coon building and the mechanical engineering departments move to new buildings, they were moved across the alley to their current residence. Since the move the organization has expanded to encompass an IGVC (started in 2003) and a RoboCup team (started in 2007). Over the years it has grown from a handful of students to around 30 active members.

Competition

The RoboJackets participate in several robotics competitions, including RoboCup [cite news|first=Craig|last=Tabita|url=http://technique.library.gatech.edu/pdfs/news-2007-06-29.pdf|work=The Technique|title=RoboCup attracts best of the robotics, AI worlds|date=2007-06-29|accessdate=2007-07-30] Small Size league, FIRST, BattleBots, [cite news|first=Alan|last=Back|url=http://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/1853/7936/7/Technique-2000-08-25.pdf|work=The Technique|title=Metallic mayhem reigns supreme at Robot Battles 2000|date=2000-08-25|accessdate=2007-06-25] and the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition. [cite news|first=Jennifer|last=Lee|url=http://www.nique.net/issues/2003-01-17/focus/1|title=Students craft robot, take on Virginia Tech in new battle of ‘bots|work=The Technique|date=2003-01-17|accessdate=2007-06-24] The organization also takes part in a few local non-robotics competitions such as the Dooley Derbycite news|first=Anna|last=Molberg|url=http://www.emorywheel.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=93c2ba9d-5f86-4b6b-a2f0-a55d349b671e|work=Emory Wheel|title=Gravity Propels Racers at New Derby|date=2006-10-17|accessdate=2007-06-24] and the Starlight Soapbox Downhill Challenge.

Education

Since 2001, the RoboJackets have run Technology Enrichment Sessions (TE Sessions) each fall to expose high school students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. [cite news|url=http://www.ccefp.org/newsfpmonthly0307.html|work=FPmonthly|title=Georgia Tech|date=2007-03-05|accessdate=2007-06-25] The sessions, typically 10 weeks in length, focus on concepts and skills needed to participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition. The sessions culminate in a robotics challenge which allows the students to apply their newly found skills to a real robotic system. Typical attendance is over twenty schools. This year, two sessions, an advanced and beginner session, are planned.

Independent Projects

The RoboJackets also encourages its members to work on their own independent robotics projects. Some of these have included a hexapod, an inverse-kinematic arm, and a Roomba-like vacuuming robot.

References

External links

* [http://www.robojackets.org Official website]