National Robotics Week in the US (and Mars)

Happy Robotics Week to everyone!  Thanks to all the organizers, contributers and robot fans around the US. But why stop there? This year’s National Robotics Week has 177 events in all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico and Mars!

“I’m very pleased to say we have huge participation from NASA JPL and the Curiosity team- so we have Mars!!” says Lisa Freed, National Robotics Week coordinator. “I’ve attached a special greeting for RoboWeek, and below is a link to a video from JPL to inspire kids. It’s all fantastic content, and I hope you will all share it with your networks. Show it at your events, to your kids, everywhere!”  You can also visit National Robotics Week at #roboweek and on facebook.com/roboweek.

The video “Inspiring Students to Build Robots” features Bobak Ferdowsi, Curiosity flight director, also known as ‘mohawk guy’ from the ’7 minutes of terror’ Curiosity descent on to Mars.

In Silicon Valley and the Bay Area of California, we’re looking forward to a full week of activities including the big Robot Block Party on Wednesday April 10. The week has already gotten underway with the FIRST robotics championships, Robot Design Night, and the Drone Games and will continue via the Robotics and Law conference, Robots in the Roses Research Fair, the Robot Block Party and the Xconomy Robots in the Workplace forum, plus even more robot competitions!

The Week culminates in RoboGames on April 20, the world’s largest robot competition. It’s also a very long week but how else could you fit in so many great robot events! Here’s a snapshot of a few of the Silicon Valley/Bay Area events to come.

Silicon Valley Robot Block Party at Stanford April 10

The Robot Block Party will run from 1pm – 6pm at VAIL Stanford, the home of DARPA Grand Challenge winning self driving cars, Stanley and Junior. Robots from a range of companies large to small will be on display or roaming around. More than 33 companies, startups and STEM organizations will be showing off their robots, rovers, rollers, flyers and divers, with AUVSI providing a pool for aquatic robotics. There will also be a job fair from 12 to 1pm where students interested in a job in robotics can ‘speed date’ companies, browse our ‘positions open’ board and lodge their resumes.

Cool Product Expo at Stanford April 10

But wait – more robots! at the Arrillaga Alumni Center from 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Take the free shuttle over to visit the Cool Product Expo, put on by Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Product Design & Manufacturing Club. See more than 30 of the latest cool products including several great robotics and electronics startups.

Xconomy’s Robots Remake the Workplace at SRI International on Thursday April 11

And more robots! Hear some great speakers at Xconomy’s Robots Remake the Workplace including Chris Anderson, Rich Mahoney, Rodney Brooks, Curt Carlson, Aaron Edsinger, Steve Jurvetson, Vivek Whadwa and more. Special student and startup prices.

CIS conference ‘We Robot: Getting down to business’ at Stanford Law School on April 8-9

And more robots! Hear some more great speakers discuss the immediate commercial prospects of robotics across a wide range of disciplines at “We Robot: Getting down to business”.

Andra Keay is the Managing Director of Silicon Valley Robotics, founder of Women in Robotics and is a mentor, investor and advisor to startups, accelerators and think tanks, with a strong interest in commercializing socially positive robotics and AI.

Andra Keay is the Managing Director of Silicon Valley Robotics, founder of Women in Robotics and is a mentor, investor and advisor to startups, accelerators and think tanks, with a strong interest in commercializing socially positive robotics and AI.