REU Site: Research Opportunities in Miniature Robotics

这个为期三年的REU网站计划的目标是为微型机器人领域的本科生提供新的和令人兴奋的夏季研究机会。微型机器人，定义为总尺寸在1毫米至100毫米之间的小型机器人，有可能显着提高或增强制造，医学，侦察，勘探，食品安全和搜索和救援的能力。由于其尺寸，微型机器人提供了一个真正的跨学科系统研究挑战，包括材料，机械设计，控制，传感器和执行器，电源和电子。马里兰州机器人中心和系统研究所在马里兰州（UMD）的专业知识和设备需要提供微型机器人的本科生的研究机会。在这个REU网站程序大约50%的参与者将是妇女和30%将是代表性不足的少数民族。这个REU网站计划将专注于本科生的职业和学术发展，除了通过多样化的指导池提供一个新的榜样网络。一个由受过高等教育的研究人员组成的更加多样化的群体将创造一支更大的劳动力队伍，以解决国家最严峻的环境、技术和国家安全挑战。

The objective of this three year REU Site program is to provide new and exciting summer research opportunities for undergraduate students in the field of miniature robotics. Miniature robots, defined as small robots with overall sizes between 1mm and 100mm have the potential to significantly enable or enhance capabilities in manufacturing, medicine, reconnaissance, exploration, food safety, and search and rescue. Because of their size, miniature robotics offer a truly interdisciplinary systems research challenge that encompasses materials, mechanical design, control, sensors and actuators, power, and electronics. The Maryland Robotics Center and the Institute for Systems Research at the University of Maryland (UMd)has the expertise and facilities needed to provide research opportunities to undergraduates in miniature robotics.In this REU Site program approximately 50% of participants will be women and 30% will be underrepresented minorities. This REU Site program will focus on career and academic development of undergraduate students in addition to providing a new network of role models through a diverse mentoring pool. A more diverse group of highly educated researchers will create a larger workforce to solve the nations toughest environmental, technical, and national security challenges.