Pittsburgh Review

Carnegie Mellon University researchers from its Robotics Institute and College of Engineering are gearing up for a Robotics Showcase and Demo Day in Washington, D.C., on April 30. The event aims to demonstrate the advancements in robotics technology to members of Congress and their staff.

Representing CMU at the event will be Carmel Majidi, Richard Desatnik, Nathan Zimmerer, and Wennie Tabib. Majidi, a professor of engineering, emphasized the importance of funding students, stating, “The output from universities like ours is not so much the inventions, it’s the students... Getting more opportunities for funding students, especially domestic students, to pursue Ph.D. degrees is really important.”

Desatnik and Zimmerer will showcase a soft robot named Rhombot and a multilimbed “zombiebot," both inspired by nature. Desatnik expressed their hope to interact with senators through their teleoperated soft hand project, saying, “We’re hoping to be able to shake hands with the senators.”

Tabib will present Omicron, an autonomous aerial robot designed for search and rescue missions. Tabib explained the potential impact of such technology, stating, “If we have tiny robots that can go through the cave or buildings, into tight gaps and over rocks and rubble, to search for anyone who may be trapped, that could not only be safer, but also save a lot of time for a search and rescue team.”

Tabib also highlighted the broader implications of their work beyond search and rescue, mentioning, “We’re doing work that has implications for a broad range of domains — not just for search and rescue, but for security or agriculture applications... We’re doing the fundamental research that is going to drive the next generation of robotics.”

The showcase will not only exhibit the innovative projects developed by CMU researchers but also underscore the importance of investing in students and the potential of robotics technology to impact various sectors in the future.