Citation
Loughlin, C. (2003), "Education is fun", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930eaa.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
Education is fun
Education is fun
I have just returned from the 34th ISR in Chicago and its associated Robots and Vision Exhibition. Both were very worthwhile attending, and while I cannot identify any major new application areas or significant technical advances, the feeling I got was one of sound established engineering making good progress.
Whether it was the "Spirit of Innovation Luncheon" with Dean Kamen, or Kuka's Robocoaster or baseball throwing robot, I am not sure. But the main thought I came away with was the very great importance of making engineering and robotics in particular, simply good fun.
Robotics always used to be loads of fun and in my view it still is, but there was a distinct shortage of bright young things in the conference audience.
One of the pleasures of robotics is that so many of the old hands are still in the business. Look out the key names from the 14th or 4th ISR and you will find many of them still very much at the front of the queue at this year's event. The reason for this is the old boys got hooked at a time when robotics was pioneering technology. Once hooked it is very hard to let go.
At the 33rd ISR in Stockholm last year, I noticed a lower percentage of grey hairs in the audience and I attribute this to a much greater "service robot" element. Let us face it, spot welding can leave me cold and spray painting is, well, like watching paint dry. I know both are very important and require very sophisticated technology, but to a casual observer they are not a lot of fun.
The trouble is that unless we make engineering and robotics fun we will not attract or inspire the present day youth to join the industry and push our established leaders to one side. This may sound a bit tough on our pioneers, but it is really just the way it should be if our long-term future and progress are to be assured.
US for inspiration and recognition of science and technology (FIRST) founded by Dean Kamen gets roughly 650 teams, largely from the US, Canada and Brazil and gives them 6 weeks to develop a robot to perform a defined task (e.g. picking up balls and putting them in a bin). All teams are given the same kit of parts from which to build their robot, and most school teams have engineering companies as mentors. This has become a highly successful non-profit organisation and the championship final takes over the Walt Disney World's Epcot centre.
The format and structure of the event may not suit all nationalities as well as it has America, but you can only have admiration for an organisation that has introduced so many students to the romance of engineering.
Of course a career in engineering needs to be founded on a lot more than a 6 week competition, but it could well act as the trigger for youthful decisions that could so easily be distracted towards less worthwhile or fulfilling activities. From then on it is equally important that continuing education also continues the element of fun and that our ultimate occupations are challenging and rewarding.
Clive Loughlin