MassRobotics kicks off fifth yr of Jumpstart Fellowship Program

MassRobotics included studying to design CAD fashions in SolidWorks as a part of its Jumpstart Fellowship curriculum. | Supply: MassRobotics

MassRobotics is getting into the fifth yr of its Jumpstart Fellowship program, which goals to encourage and empower numerous highschool ladies to pursue a profession in robotics and promote range within the robotics workforce. That is additionally the second yr this system contains classes in Lowell, Mass. 

The group mentioned the program has many elements. These embrace a technical curriculum for constructing expertise in design, simulation, and coding, bodily hands-on fabrication and electronics, skilled growth, and mentors. The Jumpstart Fellowship additionally features a paid internship within the robotics and expertise area.

Whereas the MassRobotics staff orchestrates and gives a number of the curriculum, a big portion is developed by and taught by volunteers from the trade. This system’s weekly Saturday classes additionally embrace a lunchtime hearth chat between a girl in trade or academia and a Jumpstart Fellow in this system internet hosting the Q&A.

MassRobotics mentioned it’s the largest unbiased robotics hub devoted to accelerating robotics innovation, commercialization, and adoption. Its mission is to assist create and scale the subsequent technology of profitable robotics and AI expertise corporations. It does this by offering entrepreneurs and startups with the workspace, assets, programming, and connections they should develop, prototype, check, and commercialize their merchandise and options.

Contained in the Jumpstart program’s first 2025 classes

Wealthy Breault, the CEO at Lightspeed Manufacturing, teaches soldering curriculum to the Jumpstart cohorts. | Supply: MassRobotics

Within the first session, MassRobotics mentioned its fellows discovered in regards to the energy of networking. Kristen Bates, a human assets knowledgeable, supplied a session on LinkedIn and ideas for utilizing it efficiently to community, seek for jobs, and attain out to trade specialists. College students arrange their profiles and can proceed to replace and add mentors all through this system, constructing their networks.

The mentor session was with Dr. Holly Yanco, distinguished college professor, chair of the Pc Science Division, and director of the NERVE Middle on the College of Massachusetts Lowell, the place the Lowell cohort holds its weekly classes. Yanco provided insights into her profession selections and shared recommendation with these keen on pursuing a tutorial profession.

The Boston cohort mentor was Nettrice Gaskins, a digital artist and tutorial who connects algorithms in computation, particularly utilizing generative artwork.

As well as, the group acquired hands-on expertise with Lightspeed Manufacturing. The corporate engineers and assembles customized printed circuit boards (PCBs) and works with corporations to prototype, manufacture, and restore gear, together with every thing from robotics and drones to medical gear and the Web of Issues (IoT).

In the meantime, the Lowell cohort spent certainly one of its classes fabricating silicon fingers and attaching them to motors to construct grippers. UMass Lowell staffers have developed and taught this curriculum yearly to the Jumpstart Fellows since Cohort 1.

The Lowell Cohort additionally visited MassRobotics’ headquarters for coaching in its machine store. They acquired an introduction to energy instruments with a chance for some hands-on studying. Additionally they discovered the way to use the laser cutter and fabricated their nametags.

Lastly, MassRobotics kicked off the CAD portion of its curriculum, which incorporates classes studying to design in SolidWorks. That is meant to offer the fellows a stable basis for prototyping and constructing, which they may use of their last design tasks. These design classes have been developed by Rachael Naoum from SolidWorks.

Employers keen on working with Jumpstart Cohort 5 can submit their data to MassRobotics.

Catch MassRobotics on the Robotics Summit & Expo

Seoul Nationwide College was the 2024 winner of the MassRobotics Type and Perform Robotics Problem.

This spring, MassRobotics will take part within the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston from April 30 to Might 1. The group final month introduced its third annual Type and Perform Robotics Problem. The problem is designed to offer groups of school college students a chance to showcase their tasks. Groups from wherever on the earth are welcome to enter.

Chosen groups can be competing for a grand prize of $10,000, together with $1,000 prizes for second and third place and a $1,000 Viewers Alternative award. The problem will culminate with in-person shows to trade, buyers, and group members on the present.

Prior years‘ winners embrace Tufts College, Seoul Nationwide College, Harvard College, Wentworth Institute of Expertise, the College of British Columbia, the Massachusetts Institute of Expertise, Indiana College Bloomington, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Extra details about the Type and Perform Perform Robotics Problem might be discovered at www.massrobotics.org/form-function-challenge. Purposes are due Feb 12, 2025.

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