NRT-FW-HTF: Convergent Next-Generation Robotics Training: Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Adaptive Design amid a Changing World of Work

NRT-FW-HTF：融合下一代机器人培训：不断变化的工作世界中的领导力、创业精神和自适应设计

• 批准号: 2244082
• 负责人: Prashanta Dutta
• 金额: $ 300万
• 依托单位: Washington State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-07-15 至 2028-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2244082&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NRT; FW; HTF; Convergent; Next

The world of work is undergoing momentous change. By some estimates, nearly half of all occupations are at risk of being automated within the next two decades. At the same time, labor shortages within the U.S. have compromised post-pandemic recovery efforts and are particularly pronounced in occupational environments with high health and safety risks. Next-generation robots can address these challenges in industrial settings where the direct involvement of humans is either extremely hazardous, undesirable, or simply not feasible due to inherent barriers that limit accessibility. Educational programs are needed to provide scientists with both the technical knowledge for developing design solutions and the ethical understanding of issues related to deploying robotic technology responsibly to complement the skills of future workers. To address this need, this National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) award to the Washington State University (WSU) will establish a multi-disciplinary approach to training future robotics scientists, practitioners, and entrepreneurs in the design, implementation, and implications of robotics applications within agricultural, nuclear, and underwater settings. The project will train 52 graduate students, including 21 NRT-funded trainees in Biological Systems Engineering, Psychology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Materials Science & Engineering.Through convergent problem-based learning in leadership, entrepreneurship, and applied psychology coupled with a cutting-edge technical foundation in robotics and autonomous systems, this NRT program will produce leaders in interdisciplinary research and scholarship who are trained to evaluate the psychosocial implications of next-generation robotic technology for future workers. These objectives will be accomplished via: (i) multi-disciplinary research in the areas of: soft-, micro-, and bio-robots; autonomous systems; flexible electronics; biomimetic devices; and human-robot collaboration; (ii) professional skills training in the areas of entrepreneurship, leadership, supervised teaching, and the psychosocial impacts of next-generation robotic technology on affected employee populations; (iii) technical skills training via coursework, cross-disciplinary seminars, conference attendance, and biweekly research team meetings; and (iv) sustained community engagement by means of site visits, trainee internships, undergraduate mentoring, and an annual research workshop and exposition. NRT trainees will apply their skills beyond the classroom by participating in an immersive field study examining the user experience or market feasibility of next-generation robots in the areas of fruit orchard automation, nuclear waste cleanup, and underwater rescue/repair operations.The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education training. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas through comprehensive traineeship models that are innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

工作世界正在经历重大变化。据估计，近一半的职业在未来20年内面临自动化的风险。与此同时，美国国内的劳动力短缺影响了疫情后的复苏工作，在健康和安全风险高的职业环境中尤为明显。下一代机器人可以在工业环境中解决这些挑战，在这些环境中，人类的直接参与要么是极其危险的，不受欢迎的，要么是由于限制可访问性的固有障碍而根本不可行。教育计划需要为科学家提供开发设计解决方案的技术知识，以及对负责任地部署机器人技术相关问题的道德理解，以补充未来工人的技能。为了满足这一需求，授予华盛顿州立大学（WSU）的国家科学基金会研究培训（NRT）将建立一种多学科方法，以培训未来的机器人科学家，从业者和企业家在农业，核能和水下环境中机器人应用的设计，实施和影响。该项目将培养52名研究生，其中包括21名NRT资助的生物系统工程，心理学，化学，计算机科学，电气工程，机械工程和材料科学工程的实习生&。通过领导力，创业精神和应用心理学的融合问题为基础的学习，加上机器人和自主系统的尖端技术基础，这个NRT计划将培养跨学科研究和学术领域的领导者，他们将接受培训，以评估下一代机器人技术对未来工人的社会心理影响。这些目标将通过以下方式实现：㈠在以下领域开展多学科研究：软机器人、微型机器人和生物机器人;自主系统;柔性电子产品;仿生装置;以及人机协作; ㈡在创业、领导力、监督教学以及下一代机器人技术对受影响雇员群体的心理社会影响等领域开展专业技能培训;（iii）透过课程作业、跨学科研讨会、出席会议及每两周一次的研究小组会议，提供技术技能培训;及（iv）透过实地考察、实习生实习、本科生辅导及每年一次的研究工作坊及展览会，让社区持续参与。NRT学员将通过参与沉浸式现场研究来应用他们在课堂之外的技能，研究下一代机器人在果园自动化，核废料清理和水下救援/维修操作领域的用户体验或市场可行性。NSF研究培训（NRT）计划旨在鼓励开发和实施大胆，为STEM研究生教育培训提供新的潜在变革模式。该计划致力于通过创新的、基于证据的、与不断变化的劳动力和研究需求相一致的综合培训模式，在高优先级的跨学科或融合研究领域对STEM研究生进行有效培训。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。