Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2011 about Robotics

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Monday 14th March 2011

• FIRST Robotics: Technically You're Changing the World

  by Brian Powell, Eric VanWyk, Joe Hershberger, Rebecca Philips and Tim Ousley

  Students say it’s “the hardest fun you will ever have.” Just like “real world” product development, building a competitive robot requires diverse science and engineering disciplines and kids all over the world are doing it! FIRST Robotics inspires elementary through high school students with challenging competitions that use science and engineering to grow teamwork, interpersonal skills, and community responsibility. Mimicking the competitive global economy, these international competitions feature complex, multi-disciplinary problems under extreme time pressure to teach the real skills needed by tomorrow’s geniuses.

  Our panel includes several humans and a few 5-foot-tall, 120-pound robots designed by teenage FIRST teams. Get the scoop on how supporting learning and competition programs develops the next generation of leadership. This panel includes experienced robot makers and mentors from Texas Instruments and National Instruments who can answer your questions and have you wishing you were still in school. The good news – you can still get involved!

  • Robotics

  At 9:30am to 10:30am, Monday 14th March

  In Sabine, Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown

• Robot Art Lessons

  by Alan Majer and Steve Guengerich

  Robots seem to be everywhere - from car assembly on factory floors to debris sweeping on your kitchen floor. But, with the popularity of events like Maker Faire, they are broadly entering the creative fields in new and innovative ways. More than an exotic, whimsical exercise, much of the work behind robot-inspired art installations is driving the discovery of technical innovations in communications, control, security, and safety...all of which have potential value in manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and other core industries.

  In this session, you will learn about (1) quick definition and taxonomy of core robot tech, both hardware and software, (2) types of art installations, fairs, and competitions that have begun to emerge, (3) and lessons learned from the converging areas of materials science, haptics, interactive control, and communications that contribute to this new art form.

  • Art
  • Robotics
  • Robots

  At 12:30pm to 1:30pm, Monday 14th March

  In Sabine, Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown

  Coverage slide deck