Robotics Enthusiasts Converge at Purdue for Third Annual RoboMaster Midwest Conference
The RoboMaster Club at Purdue University is gearing up for its annual Midwest Conference, scheduled for April 5-6, 2025. This unique event combines an exciting robotics competition with a technical conference, offering Purdue students, visiting teams, and the general public an engaging look at innovative robotic designs and engineering achievements.
"The Midwest Conference is a great opportunity for our members and participants from other universities to showcase their innovations, test their robots, and network with fellow robotics enthusiasts," said Tom O'Donnell, a senior in electrical and computer engineering and RoboMaster Club President.
Each fall, RoboMaster Club typically welcomes around 100 new members, with about 50 remaining actively engaged throughout the year. The organization draws students from diverse academic backgrounds, including engineering, Polytechnic Institute, computer science, and business majors.
Beyond robot building, RoboMaster Club offers members tech talks, collaborative events, and community-building activities. The club's comprehensive program provides hands-on learning experiences in controls, electrical systems, mechanical design, software development, and business practices.
The Midwest Conference, now in its third year, stands out as the only event of its kind in the United States. Hosted at Purdue, the event features a scaled-down version of the national RoboMaster competition, allowing teams to test their robots in preparation for summer competitions. Additionally, the conference includes technical presentations, providing students from various sub-teams a platform to showcase their work.
Teams from Penn State, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Colorado Boulder, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Virginia Tech, and Purdue's RoboMaster Club will participate. Attendance is free for all Purdue students and participating teams.
The RoboMaster Midwest Conference anticipates welcoming between 100 to 150 attendees, offering an excellent opportunity for networking, learning, and experiencing robotics innovation firsthand. Interested participants and spectators are encouraged to attend, support, and enjoy this dynamic event at Purdue.