Students and Tech Enthusiasts Gear Up for National Robotics Week 2014

BEDFORD, Mass., April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In a year full of robot news and advancements, the fifth annual National Robotics Week is being held April 5-13. Established by Congress in 2010 to raise awareness about robots and their important role in shaping the future of education, industry and the U.S. economy, National Robotics Week brings together students, educators and influencers who share a passion for robots and technology. Headed by founder and lead organizer iRobot, along with support from robot enthusiasts throughout the country, the tech-heavy week is all about:

• Celebrating the United States as a leader in robotics technology development
• Inspiring students of all ages to pursue careers in robotics and other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) related fields
• Educating the public about how robotics technology impacts society, both now and in the future
• Advocating for increased funding for robotics technology research and development

A record 225 events (and counting) focused on 'everything robots' will be held in all 50 states. Events are organized by a wide range of parties, including robot companies, institutions, educators, government agencies, universities and individuals who are making a mark on the world of robots. They include robotics competitions, expos, parties, workshops, classes and camps. This year, through the combined work of iRobot, Georgia Tech and IEEE Spectrum, a first of its kind set of robot trading cards will also be available on the National Robotics Week website to view and print. Each card depicts a famous robot along with important stats and fun facts.

National Robotics Week events include:

• Robot Zoo, Cambridge, MA (April 19) – At this action-packed event, explore amazing robotics technology, demonstrations and activities from organizations throughout Massachusetts, the United States, and the World.
• Xconomy Forum: Robo Madness 2014, Menlo Park, CA (April 10) - At Xconomy's third annual robotics forum—hosted by SRI International during National Robotics Week—industry experts will grapple with the social, economic, and entrepreneurial questions arising as the robotics revolution hits home. Among the impressive lineup of speakers is Paolo Pirjanian, chief technology officer at iRobot.
• Silicon Valley Robot Block Party, Palo Alto, CA (April 9) – Hosted by Silicon Valley Robotics, see the most advanced robotics research in Silicon Valley, the hottest robot startups, the coolest robot companies and all the just plain fun robots you can imagine.
• MSI Robot Block Party, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL (April 5-13) – The robots are coming (and they're here to help)! To celebrate National Robotics Week 2014, MSI will be demonstrating several different kinds of robots from the U.S. and around the world, offering lectures from some of the top university robotics scholars and presenting special workshops and hands-on activities.
• Robotics Expo at the Smithsonian, Washington, DC (April 4-5) –  The museum exhibits a number of robotics milestones, such as DARPA's ARM robot, Robonaut 1, the MER Mars Rover model, and the Google Car, among many others. During this official National Robotics Week event, teams will demonstrate the projects they have created. Students from the Infamous Robotics Inventors Club will be demonstrating the robot they invented and designed.

For other events in your area or to list an event please visit: http://nationalroboticsweek.org/events.php  

"As the robotics industry rapidly expands across our country, it offers a unique array of opportunities to excite students in the classroom and power business growth," said Congressman Joe Kennedy III. "By bringing together stakeholders in every state, National Robotics Week and iRobot will encourage further innovation in STEM education and help drive advancement in the technologies of tomorrow."

"This past year has been a very exciting one for robots. Important industry developments, along with the introduction of new products and technologies, are changing the way people live," said Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot.  "iRobot is proud to play a leading role organizing National Robotics Week. It not only serves as a time to acknowledge accomplishments within the field, but a time when we can leverage the excitement that robots create to inspire students to pursue technology-related fields."

As founder of National Robotics Week, iRobot is committed to building a future for STEM education in the United States. The company's multi-faceted outreach program is a resource for students, parents and educators to share in the excitement of robotics. In addition to classroom visits and other events, iRobot provides mentoring, career introduction and internships, all geared toward connecting students to the opportunities provided by a STEM education and occupation. More information about iRobot's STEM efforts can be found at www.irobot.com/stem.

For more information about National Robotics Week, go to: http://www.nationalroboticsweek.org/.

National Robotics Week is also on Twitter (@roboweek and #roboweek) and Facebook (facebook.com/roboweek).

Official National Robotics Week gear, featuring mascot Bleeker the Rechargeable Dog, can be found at: http://www.cafepress.com/bleeker.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140403/NE97294LOGO

SOURCE National Robotics Week