Students from colleges and universities from across the nation recently participated in a robotic programming competition at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Their research may lead to technology which will help astronauts find needed resources when exploring the moon or Mars.
In the spaceport’s second annual Swarmathon competition, aspiring engineers from 20 teams representing 22 minority serving universities and community colleges were invited to develop software code to operate innovative robots called “Swarmies.” The event took place April 18-20, 2017, at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
In her welcoming remarks, Kennedy’s deputy center director, Janet Petro, pointed out to the students that their endeavors to develop robotic software code are more than an academic exercise.
SIPI team of Emery Sutherland,Ty Shurley, Christian Martinez, Schulte Cooke and Nader Vadiee, Ph.D., SIPI Engineering Professor, Team Faculty Advisor for the SIPI-NASA I-CMARS program compete in the physical competition during the NASA Robotics Competition.“All of the work that you have done – designing, coding, testing – will soon be put to the ultimate test,” she said. “You should be extremely proud of your accomplishments. You have shown tenacity, problem-solving, teamwork and innovation – all qualities that NASA highly values.”
The team from Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) in Albuquerque, New Mexico won this year’s Swarmathon capturing a $5,000 cash prize. SIPI’s team is the only participating team to place two years in a row. In 2016, they took 3rd place in the Physical Competition. The small, four-wheeled Swarmie robots were designed through a collaboration between Kennedy’s Swamp Works laboratory and the University of New Mexico. It is a technology that could revolutionize space exploration by more effectively and efficiently locating hidden resources while astronauts explore distant destinations.
Computer scientists are developing Swarmies to focus not so much on the hardware, but the software. The Swarmathon is designed to help students improve their skills in robotics and computer science, as well as integrating software with hardware. What makes these robots noteworthy is the coding each carries in its silicon brain that makes them search for water, minerals and elements that could be refined into useful resources such as building materials or rocket fuel.
NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) selected the University of New Mexico to manage the Swarmathon challenge in a joint effort with the agency. Through the MUREP program, NASA’s goal is to increase the number of NASA-focused science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, experiences that engage underrepresented groups in active education.
SIPI has a history of success at the Swarmathon, placing third in last year’s physical competition. Established in 1971, SIPI is an accredited National Indian Community College and Land Grant institution located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. SIPI is one of two post-secondary institutions overseen by the Bureau of Indian Education.
SIPI Team from left to right:Emery Sutherland – Navajo Nation, Computer Aided Design / Drafting and Network Management
Ty Shurley – Navajo Nation, Pre-Engineering and Computer Aided Design / Drafting
Christian Martinez – Pueblo of Laguna, Network Management
Nader Vadiee, Ph.D., SIPI Engineering Professor, Team Faculty Advisor, SIPI-NASA I-CMARS Program PI
Schulte Cooke – Navajo Nation, Liberal Arts & Geospatial Information Technology
