Purdue Autonomous Robotics Club prepares for RISE event
Purdue University's Autonomous Robotics Club (ARC) is gearing up for the upcoming Robotics and Intelligent Systems Expo (RISE). The event, which takes place on March 30 in Stewart Center on the West Lafayette campus, features projects, panel discussions, exhibits, and more centered on the latest in robotics and AI.
Haddy Alchaer, a junior studying computer engineering in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and president of ARC, says the organization prides itself on creating an inclusive environment where students from diverse backgrounds can collaborate on cutting-edge autonomous robotics projects.
"The club offers hands-on experience where students work with their peers in different engineering disciplines, and even outside of the engineering department itself, to create robots that can either demonstrate real-world applications or serve as research projects focused on the cutting edge of robotics and AI," says Alchaer. Students also get the chance to work with research faculty on these projects.
He says students get the chance to present their work at the many events and conferences ARC holds.
Revanth Senthilkumaran, also a junior in computer engineering, says each project is linked to a faculty mentor or grad student. He says with seven active projects underway, ARC encourages new members to either join an existing project or propose a new one. Projects include a range of topics, from autonomous cars to small robot prototypes.
"The club values long-term projects, often spanning multiple semesters, and fosters collaborations with research faculty and graduate students," says Senthilkumaran. "This iterative approach ensures continuous improvement and innovation."
In addition to technical skills, he says there is ARC Operations, where students can work on professional development, marketing, product design, sponsorships, and outreach.
ARC is affiliated with Purdue's Institute for Control, Optimization, and Networks (ICON), which focuses on using the latest advances in AI, machine learning, and data science to pursue innovative solutions to grand challenges in autonomous and connected systems, such as robotics and autonomous vehicles. Many Purdue ECE faculty are associated with ICON, including Shreyas Sundaram, co-director of the institute along with Shaoshuai Mou, the Elmer Bruhn Associate Professor in Purdue’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
“ARC is an incredible group of students that exemplifies the tremendous excitement and activity in robotic systems across the College of Engineering,” says Sundaram. “RISE, an entirely self-organized initiative, will bring significant international visibility to Purdue.”
Mou says ARC's dedication to fostering innovation and collaboration is evident in their preparations for RISE.
“RISE provides a great opportunity for students and researchers to showcase their recent research in robotics systems, as well as foster future research collaborations to address fundamental challenges for these intelligent systems to better serve our society,” says Mou. “This event aligns with ICON’s scope in autonomy and robotics, as well as ICON’s mission in supporting Purdue University’s new Initiative in Physical AI (IPAI).”
ARC has planned a series of events for the week leading up to RISE. The RISE event includes demos, presentations, keynote speakers, panel discussions, and exhibits. Alchaer says RISE aims to be a premier platform for students, faculty, and industry professionals to exchange ideas and showcase innovations in robotics and AI. In addition to the participating students, faculty, and industry representatives, ARC expects as many as 1,000 people to attend RISE.