Robots are an integral part of who we are in Pittsburgh. It was in the 1930s that Westinghouse Corp. unveiled ELEKTRO, the walking, talking robot that ultimately resulted in the beginnings of the early robotics industry in Pittsburgh and the development of CMU’s Robotics Center.
In celebration of the city’s 250 anniversary, CMU will look to the future and the potential for robotics in our region. Through several initiatives, Robot 250 will hold juried robotic art installations, offer open studio opportunities for the public to create robots, and stage robo tours, just a few of the the many ways the region will celebrate its robotic roots.
“We want people know there is some cool stuff going on and they don’t need to leave Pittsburgh, says Dennis Bateman, CMU project director for Robot 250. “We are really interested in seeing what a couple hundred kids and families can come up with.”
During the final phase of the celebration, Pittsburgh’s regional robotic heroes will be placed at public sites, highlighting robots working in our hospitals, bomb squads, pharmacies, search & rescue, industries and universities.
The Robotics Institute has raised $100,000 from The Heinz Endowments for the project and it hopes to receive additional funding from other sources this week.
Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Dennis Bateman, CMU
Image courtesy of Robot 250 and CMU