Vincennes University introduces cobots to Early College Career Centers in Indiana

Vincennes University continues to make strides in its mission to help students learn with access to the tools they need to succeed in technology careers. The university has an Early College program which allows high school students to get a head start on their college education. On January 25, Vincennes University’s Center for Applied Robotics and Automation showcased its new cobots that are now available in the classrooms of Early College Career Centers.

According to an article on Vincennes University’s website, Kimberly Wright, who is the director of the Center for Applied Robotics and Automation, was quoted as saying of the Industry 4.0 initiative that the university is implementing, which includes the introduction of the cobots, “Empowering the next generation with Industry 4.0 technologies is not just a choice. It is a necessity. The deployment of 12 cobots at Early College career centers throughout the state is a visionary step towards preparing students for a future where innovation and automation go hand in hand. By embracing these technologies, we are bridging the gap between education and industry and cultivating a workforce that thrives in the high-tech era, ensuring a brighter and more competitive Indiana.”

The overall goal is to equip students with the technology they need to adapt to in order to excel in Indiana workplaces that rely on such technologies themselves. Cobots will provide students with hands-on experience in automation and robotics, and, as reported by Conexus Indiana, more than half of manufacturing companies in Indiana plan to have cobots within the next five years. Introducing students to them now will prepare them to be able to handle the technology their future employers may have on hand.

Currently, there are eight Early College Career Centers in Indiana that already have or are expecting to receive cobots from Vincennes University’s Center for Applied Robotics and Automation: Area 30 Career Center in Greencastle, Area 31 Career Center in Indianapolis, East Allen Career Center in New Haven, Elkhart Career Center in Elkhart, Grant Regional Career Center in Marion, Heartland Career Center in Wabash, Hinds Career Center in Elwood, and Warsaw Career Center in Warsaw. Area 31 Career Center has already received three cobots and staff members have already been trained in working with them.

Maria Srnka, who is the director of Area 31, said, “The integration of this technology into our curriculum and programs presents a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain hands-on experience with these state-of-the-art cobots. Furthermore, utilizing these cobots in outreach activities will undoubtedly play a crucial role in attracting more students to pursue STEM pathways. We extend a huge thank you to everyone involved in making this initiative a reality.”

For more information about Vincennes University, visit the school’s website.