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'Robotics Week' will put local students at helm of advanced AF technology

  • Published
  • By Lt Amanda Ferrell
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Local students will soon have the rare opportunity to interact with those doing some of the most dangerous jobs in the military.

The Air Force Research Laboratory's Robotics Research Group will host the second annual "Robotics Week" for local students April 30 through May 4.

"This is a week-long event devoted to providing hands-on participation and robotic education to area middle and high school students," said Amanda Clark, robotics team expert assigned to the Air Force Research Laboratory detachment located on Tyndall. "This event is also open to students enrolled in home school programs."

The AFRL Robotics Research Group will open their designated facilities for two sessions each day during the "Robotics Week" event.

"There will be six to eight stations set-up for students to rotate between, and each child will have a chance to remotely operate each robotic vehicle," said Clark. "Each station will be staffed with a robotics equipment operator who will assist students and answer their questions."

The robotics on display during the educational event were developed under the Air Force Research Laboratory's Force Protection Branch located at Tyndall, which is part of the Materials and Manufacturing Technology Directorate.

"The Force Protection branch conducts multi-service research, development and testing for joint and Air Force agile combat support missions such as unexploded ordnance disposal, weapons of mass destruction threat reduction and physical security," said Clark.

The robotics research section conducts research and development of advanced robotic technologies and systems to protect, support and augment the war fighter on today's battlefield. Local students will have access to the advanced technology, as well as time with the experts who develop the machines on Tyndall.

"The students can look forward to operating state-of-the-art mobile robotic systems being developed by the Air Force for use in areas such as explosive ordnance disposal, security forces, fire fighting, and active range clearance," said Walter Waltz, leader of the Robotics Research Group division of AFRL. "They will get an opportunity for hands-on control of robots from the smaller types to large scale robots."

Waltz says the students will be challenged by simulating a real-life mission such as disassembling a model pipe bomb with the robotic machines.

The task of disassembling explosives is a challenge for professionals working in the field on a daily basis. During the upcoming "Robotics Week," local students will have the chance to test their skills as well.