Robot Revolution, a national touring exhibit supported by Google.org recently arrived at the Museum of Science and Industry and will be there through January 2016. The Museum of Science and Industry provided the information below about the exhibit and they’re offering a family 4-pack of tickets to the museum and to the Robot Revolution to the winner of the giveaway below.
The Robot Block Party is happening April 11 & 12. See robots on display in the rotunda, a robot dance party, musical performance, and other activities, and it’s included in the cost of museum entry!
They’re here … to help and improve our lives.
Robot Revolution explores how robots, created by human ingenuity, will ultimately be our companions and colleagues, changing how we play, live and work together. The exhibit allows guests to step into a visionary world where robots are not just a curiosity, but a vital asset.
The exhibit comes to life with a collection of cutting-edge robots that have been secured from some of the most innovative global robotics companies and universities. Guests have extraordinary opportunities to interact with robots that have rarely been shown to the public before.
From Yume Robo, the climbing robot that greets you at the exhibit entry while traversing up and down a ladder, to the Recon Scout® Throwbot® XT that can literally be thrown into a dangerous situation to collect vital information— guests will be awed by the breakthroughs and capabilities of these machines.
“Robotics is a truly fascinating field—and it’s one that is growing exponentially,” said David Mosena, president and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. “This exhibit, in a fun and engaging way, helps answer questions like: How do robots work? How will they potentially change our lives? How can I get involved in robotics? We are thrilled to bring this cutting-edge content to MSI and to tour it to other science museums around the nation.”
MSI’s Robot Revolution exhibit development team worked with a renowned group of robotics experts to offer insight on exhibit content. This team of advisors includes lead advisor Dr. Henrik I. Christensen, KUKA Chair of Robotics at the College of Computing of Georgia Institute of Technology and executive director of the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, as well as Dr. Dennis Hong, professor and founding director of RoMeLa (Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory) of the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department at UCLA.
The exhibit features four areas that delve into various aspects of robotics and offer specific hands-on activities with amazing robot specimens, as well as dynamic videos that feature Dr. Hong.
Areas include:
Cooperation: Discover how engineering breakthroughs are helping create robots that can work with humans effectively to enhance our lives. See EMYS mimic your own facial expressions with its advanced facial-coding technology. Get charmed by PARO®, the furry baby seal therapy robot, which has sensors that can respond to your touch. Try your hand at a surgical training simulation to see what it’s like to perform a robotic surgery. See a robot exoskeleton that augments physical strength and can be used by those who are paralyzed. Watch soccer ‘bots cooperate with each other as they compete in a game.
Smarts: Identify how these machines are able to sense, plan and then act, while comparing and contrasting the ways in which humans and robots learn. ROBOTIS-OP is able to follow your face and make “eye” contact using its visual tracking software. The UR5 robot arm conceals an extraordinary ability to learn. Instead of writing code, you simply move the arm, and the robot learns to repeat the movements.
Skills: Learn about the skills robots possess that mimic—and often surpass—human capabilities. Experiment with various advanced robot “grippers” to select and pick up objects. See how the Fanuc delta robot can select and sort items with precision and speed. A Yaskwawa/Motoman dual-arm robot can challenge you to a game of 21, while Baxter, a robot developed to work alongside humans in factory settings, can play you and a friend in simultaneous games of tic-tac-toe.
Locomotion: Explore the varieties of ways that robots can move and how they can offer humans access to places we can’t venture ourselves. Test ROBOTIS-MINI’s ability to put one foot in front of the other and control its balance. Control THES, a snake-like ‘bot which can crawl through pipes and alert humans to leaks or system damages. Learn how TOPY OSCAR can climb up and down stairs with its long rubber treads, and drive the bug-like RHex over uneven terrain.
There is also a chance to create a ‘bot for yourself: Assemble the basic components of a robot using Cubelets and see what you can get it to do!
Throughout Robot Revolution, hands-on elements, intriguing video and thought-provoking questions enable guests to recognize the amazing ways that robotics can better society. This exhibit will run at MSI through January 2016. Robot Revolution is not included in Museum Entry and requires an additional timed-entry ticket, $11 for adults and seniors and $9 for children.
“We believe it is vital to inspire the next generation of engineers and tech entrepreneurs so that we can continue to see technology change the world,” said Jim Lecinski, head of Google’s Chicago office. “Google is happy to support MSI’s Robot Revolution exhibit to make complex concepts accessible to kids of all ages and to get them excited about science, technology, engineering and math.”
Robot Revolution is supported by Google.org with additional support from The Boeing Company, RACO Industrial, The David Bohnett Foundation, The Kaplan Foundation and official airline United Airlines.
MSI is grateful to the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers–Robotics and Automation Society (IEEE RAS) and ITA, Inc. for their assistance with the development of this exhibit.
Excited about this exhibit? Enter to win tickets! The winner will receive a family 4-pack of tickets for the Museum of Science and Industry and the Robot Revolution exhibit which are valid until December 23, 2015. Winner will be contacted by email and will need to provide their name, email address, and mailing address so the tickets can be mailed.
We always like seeing the WWII submarine at the Museum of Science and Industry.
My boys would love the robots I think I remember there being a big train there they would love that as well.
We have so much fun at MSI. All the hands-on exhibits help keep our kids engaged. Love the interactive experiences. Looking forward to a visit soon.
We always love seeing the WWII submarine!
We are most excited about the Toymaker 3000 exhibit – our son loves watching his very own personalized toy being made.