Maynooth University will soon open a robotics lab designed for students thanks in part to a donation from Intel Corp.'s Ireland division. The new lab, which will cost €150,000, or $163,752 U.S., will feature robots used by Intel and will be offered to students pursuing degrees in robotics and intelligent devices, electronic engineering, and computer science.
“The new robotics lab is set to become a hub of innovation, where students can explore and experiment with robotics, pushing the boundaries of technology and unlocking new possibilities,” the Maynooth, Ireland-based university said in a press release.
The robotics lab will feature Universal Robots cobots, Interbotix Reactor X industrial robot arms, TurtleBot 4 mobile robots, Unitree Go legged robots, Nao humanoid robots, Intel Real Sense cameras, RGBD cameras, and Luxonis OAK-D embedded vision systems, a university spokesperson told Robotics 24/7.
The robotics lab won't be entirely funded through the donation. The university noted it is also putting some cash down to pay for it but it told Robotics 24/7 it is not shaing how much. The university expects the new lab to open September 2023.
The university noted its work with Intel highlights ” the power of public-private partnerships to fuel innovation and improve student learning experiences.”
Maynooth University and Intel partner to bolster technological innovation
The new lab is the latest initiative the university and Intel have worked on since they signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2019 formalizing their partnership to expand research and development. In January 2021, the university and Intel Ireland partnered to offer 10 scholarships to post-graduate students studying mathematics and engineering.
“Over the years, Maynooth University has developed a strong partnership with Intel that has fostered collaboration in various areas, including student skills and experiences, research, innovation, and community engagement,” Vice President of External Affairs at Maynooth University Rebecca Doolin said in a statement. “As neighbours in a vibrant and fast-growing region of Ireland, today's announcement not only deepens the ties between Intel and MU, but also demonstrates the positive impacts on student learning and innovation that such partnerships can yield.”
In the press release announcing the new lab, Gerry Lacey, the university's head of engineering, highlighted how both artificial intelligence and robotics are “creating new industries.”
“We are excited that Intel’s support will help our students to become leaders in creating this new future,” he said.
That sentiment was shared by Dave Selkirk, director of advanced analytics MSO automation at Intel Ireland, who in a statement highlighted the company's partnership with Maynooth University.
“The development of key infrastructure in the area of robotics will provide an important opportunity for students to gain practical experience in an evolving technology field that has massive potential in Advanced High-Volume Manufacturing,” he said.
Editor's note: The article and headline have been updated with additonal information from Maynooth University.
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