The Michigan Robotics and Autonomous Technologies Conference, to be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Aug. 11, will gahter academic, industry and government officials to discuss current robotics projects and future opportunities for southeastern Michigan.

More than 60 robotics researchers from Michigan universities including the University of Michigan will exhibit and demonstrate their projects. U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) is among the speakers.
 
The Army recently moved its ground robotics activities from Alabama to the Detroit Arsenal, creating an increased demand for related research and expertise in the area. To help meet this need, UM and the College of Engineering have established a new Ground Robotics Research Center and a Master of Engineering degree in unmanned ground vehicles and robotics to be offered for the first time this fall. The college has also created 5,000 square feet of new robotics lab space and established offices for industry to be on campus to enable greater collaboration.
 
Other speakers at the event are to include U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn),  Dave Munson, the UM Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, Col. James Braden, project manager in the U.S. Army's Robotic Systems Joint Project Office; Grace Bochenek, director of the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center; Helen Greiner, founder and chairman of iRobot; and Galip Ulsoy, the William Clay Ford Professor of Manufacturing at UM and director of the new Ground Robotics Research Center
 
Representatives from at least 15 companies will take part, including Toyota, Ford Motor Co., iRobot and John Deere. 

Researchers from these universities will present their work: Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, University of Detroit-Mercy, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Wayne State University.
 
Robotic devices are used pervasively by the military for transporting cargo, surveillance, unmanned defense, de-activating mines, rescue operations and more. In addition to military applications, these technologies are being used in the auto industry. Sensors and autonomous technology can improve safety and help improve fuel economy.
 
"For the automotive industry, instead of trying to protect the person who is involved in a crash, we can try to prevent the crash in the first place with vision systems and sensors that alert the driver or take other actions," said professor Galip Ulsoy, director of the new Ground Robotics Research Center housed at UM.
 
"Michigan's established auto industry makes an expanded robotics industry here a natural fit," said Daryl Weinert, senior director of corporate and government relations at the College of Engineering.
 
The event will take place at the Computer Science and Engineering building at 2260 Hayward St. on UM's North Campus in Ann Arbor. Exhibits will be in the atrium of the CSE building, on the lawn outside the building and around the reflecting pool on North Campus.
 
A map showing the location of the CSE building is at: www.engin.umich.edu/facilities/maps/cse.html