SPRING 2025 | 29 robotics, computer numerical control machining or layered printing of metals,” says Freed, who was a first-generation college student when he attended Lehigh to study metallurgy and materials engineering. After Lehigh, Freed went on to earn a master’s in industrial administration from Carnegie Mellon’s College of Engineering. He also sponsors the David and Lorraine Freed Undergraduate Research Symposium. What Can Robots Do? The field of robotics continues to grow internationally, with robots being deployed for a variety of uses. Industrial robots assist with manufacturing, particularly in the automotive industry, where they assist with assembly and welding. They also are used to package goods. As of last year, there was a record number of industrial robots operating in factories, with 4.2 million reported worldwide, according to a September 2024 report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Service robots perform tasks for humans, such as cleaning and disinfecting; inspection and maintenance; construction and demolition; search and rescue in harsh environments, such as areas affected by earthquakes and fires; and preparing food and drinks in the hospitality industry, according to the IFR. Robots, such as Willy, also provide entertainment. A Robot Comes to Life Ueno, Cosse, Engel and Macchia were asked to come up with an interactive robotic display for their Senior Capstone Design Project last January. They originally wanted to create a “robot ninja warrior” that would perform several actions as it went through an obstacle course. They ultimately decided to focus on one robot that did a single task. They knew Willy would be displayed prominently in Wilbur, so the robot would need to be aesthetically appealing, engaging, quiet, easy to service, inexpensive to maintain and efficient, meaning a long battery life. The project pushed the group outside their comfort zone, as they all study mechanical engineering but had to utilize different disciplines, such as electrical engineering, to get Willy to work, Cosse says. Although Willy was created as an appealing visual display, Cosse and Macchia believe the robot’s motions could be utilized for inspection and maintenance at heights that are risky for humans. “The principles we learned in the creation of the robot can be applied in industry even if the design needs to be modified slightly for specific applications,” Cosse says. For example, inspections via drones are becoming more prevalent, but drones don’t have the ability to perform maintenance. Willy could also be used as an educational tool. Macchia and Cosse are considering making an instruction manual for building a smaller, prototype version of the robot. “In the future, it would be really cool to eventually use the knowledge we gained from this project to build a brachiation robot that could be used for swinging across terrain where a wheeled or legged robot would struggle,” Macchia says. Lehigh’s Design Labs—and Willy—are a great example of applying what you learn to practical needs, Freed says. He believes students who participate in the Design Labs are ahead of the game. “I think we should push everyone we can to go there. I think we should continue to add technologies to Wilbur,” Freed says. “As Lehigh continues to keep its leadership position in engineering, we need to keep marching ahead.” L “The Design Labs play this amazing role of resourcing all these different kinds of projects, from complex game-changing robotics research, to a student wanting to build a small device that does something interesting.” — STEPHEN P. DEWEERTH, PROFESSOR AND DEAN OF THE P.C. ROSSIN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE LEHIGH ALLIANCE OF BATTLEBOTS: Designs, fabricates, assembles, tests and funds combat robots. The purpose of the robots is to compete in BattleBots competitions. LEHIGH AERIAL SWARMS CLUB: Undergrad and graduate students learn algorithms and theoretical robotics through hands-on experience. The club participates in the National Research Robotics Competition, Defend the Republic. LEHIGH UNIVERSITY SPACE INITIATIVE (LUSI): Dedicated to space and engineering, this club is currently working on a contract with NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative to build a nanosatellite capable of performing research in space. LEHIGH UNDERWATER ROBOTICS: This club provides students with hands-on experience in the design, building and testing of underwater drones. From BattleBots to Blimps: Lehigh Robotics Clubs CHRISTA NEU
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