“The Robotics Project Celebrates Field Robotics at 40” Photo Gallery

Bruce Eppinger (CIT ‘86) and Tim Angert, Machine Shop Manager for The Robotics Institute

Bruce Eppinger (CIT ‘86) and Tim Angert, Machine Shop Manager for The Robotics Institute

Current and former faculty, staff, and students gathered to reminisce about their time at the Field Robotics Center (FRC) at “The Robotics Project Celebrates Field Robotics at 40” during the FRC’s 40th anniversary celebration.

The Libraries’ University Archives is proud to be the home of The Robotics Project, a multi-phase, multi-year partnership between the University Libraries and the School of Computer Science to create a home for the past, present, and future of robotics. The goal of the project is to capture a wide breadth of stories about the research, impact, and experiences of the robotics community across the university and around the world by preserving collections and sharing them through educational and public programming.

At this event, held October 20 and 21, visitors celebrated the legacy of field robotics at CMU and connected with the archivists who were on hand to share photos, memorabilia, and other related historical documents. Attendees reflected on the projects they created and the people they worked with at the FRC, and assisted archivists in identifying materials already donated to the archive to provide further context for future research.

David Wettergreen (MCS ‘87, CIT ‘89, CS ‘95), research professor in The Robotics Institute, Ben Motazed (CIT ‘79, ‘80, ‘85), Bruce Thompson (CIT ‘88), Tony Stentz (MCS ‘84, CS ‘90)
David Wettergreen (MCS ‘87, CIT ‘89, CS ‘95), research professor in The Robotics Institute, Ben Motazed (CIT ‘79, ‘80, ‘85), Bruce Thompson (CIT ‘88), Tony Stentz (MCS ‘84, CS ‘90)
William “Red” Whittaker, Faculty Emeritus and founding director of the Field Robotics Center, speaks to a group including Bruce Eppinger (CIT ‘86), Rachel Reinitz (CIT ‘87), and Steve Berman (CIT ‘91) about the blue sensor beside him. The sensor is an early laser scanner created by the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan.
William “Red” Whittaker, Faculty Emeritus and founding director of the Field Robotics Center, speaks to a group including Bruce Eppinger (CIT ‘86), Rachel Reinitz (CIT ‘87), and Steve Berman (CIT ‘91) about the blue sensor beside him. The sensor is an early laser scanner created by the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan.

Murali Krishna (CIT ‘94, CS ‘97, ‘99)
Murali Krishna (CIT ‘94, CS ‘97, ‘99)
Deepak Bapna (CS ‘98)
Deepak Bapna (CS ‘98)

There were mostly prints of the different photos, but others were still in their original format of 35mm slides.
There were mostly prints of the different photos, but others were still in their original format of 35mm slides.
Photos on display at the event included these images from the University Archives General Photograph Collection, featuring the Dante I robot and members of the project team.
Photos on display at the event included these images from the University Archives General Photograph Collection, featuring the Dante I robot and members of the project team.

Kathleen Donahoe, Lead Archivist for The Robotics Project, and Kevin Dowling (MCS ‘83, CS ‘94, ‘97)
Kathleen Donahoe, Lead Archivist for The Robotics Project, and Kevin Dowling (MCS ‘83, CS ‘94, ‘97)
Guests were able to flip through photos from the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s, identifying any people or projects they recognized.
Guests were able to flip through photos from the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s, identifying any people or projects they recognized.

Kevin Dowling (MCS ‘83, CS ‘94, ‘97) and School of Computer Science Dean Martial Hebert
Kevin Dowling (MCS ‘83, CS ‘94, ‘97) and School of Computer Science Dean Martial Hebert
Parts of the display included artifacts from the University Archives, including an early ERIM sensor and a SEIKO robotic arm.
Parts of the display included artifacts from the University Archives, including an early ERIM sensor and a SEIKO robotic arm.

 

by Sarah Bender, Communications Coordinator

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