Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- The electrical engineering faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville initiated a robot project in fall 2003. The purpose of this project is to build an autonomous (without human guidance) robot, which may be used in the future as a tour guide for prospective students and other visitors in Ottensman Hall. The project is funded by one of the Opportunity Fund Grants given this year.

Starting this spring, approximately 10 students have joined the project team. Students come from four engineering departments, with student leaders in charge of the four different groups. Paul Johnson, a mechanical engineering student, and his group are in charge of mechanical design. Dominic Hanson, an electrical engineering student, and his group are in charge of the robot's power. Melvin Aguirre, an electrical engineering student, and his group are in charge of navigation. Patrick McCarthy, a software engineering student, and his group are in charge of application.

The members of the team working on the robot hope that it will have the capability to avoid obstacles, and navigate either by beacon signals or follow a preprogrammed route.

Dr. Gang Feng, who is in charge of the project, reflected on the use of the robot to give tours saying, "We expect such experience can stimulate the students' interests in choosing engineering as their career, and hopefully increase the overall enrollment of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science."

Mesut Muslu, electrical engineering department chair commented saying, "Students and faculty are excited about this project which will showcase the capabilities of our students and faculty. It will also provide a platform for students to apply their knowledge and do research in a number of areas of electrical engineering."

David Drury, an electrical engineering professor, added saying, "It will provide a platform for student design projects, for example, and instead of simply designing a computer, students could design a computer that will control the robot's motion."

The robot, which is currently only a prototype, is scheduled to give its first tour in late spring 2005.

The UWP Foundation Opportunity Fund awarded more than $43,000 for 17 grants this year. Since its inception in 1988, the opportunity fund has offered a total of $454,000 through 103 grants.