Robots Week was held at the Silesian University of Technology
Workshops, lectures, debates, demonstrations – another Science Week took place at the Silesian University of Technology. The event was organized as part of the European City of Science Katowice 2024.
Robots Week took place from the 11th to 17th November 2024. The event was inaugurated with a debate entitled “Drones in defence and security of the country,” first aid workshops using VR and XR technologies and LEGO robotics workshops.
During the Robots Week, we presented various applications and industries in which robots, robotics and automation are used. We tried to reach all groups of recipients. We have prepared activities not only for students and researchers, but also for primary and secondary school pupils. We assume that staff must be educated from an early age If pupils at school are inspired by robotics, there is a greater chance that they will choose technical directions in the future - said Dr Eng. Aldona Rosner, curator of the Robots Week.
The Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation was involved in the organization of the event. “Our goal is primarily to educate young generations using the latest technologies. During the Robots Week, we wanted to show students our modern laboratory base and also enable them to contact academic teachers who shared knowledge in the field of robotization and automation in an accessible way – added Dr Hab. Eng. Anna Manowska, Prof. SUT, Vice-Dean for Infrastructure and Organization of the Faculty of Mining.
The Robots Week was inaugurated by the debate “Drones in defence and security of the country,” which took place at the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering, and Industrial Automation of the Silesian University of Technology. The guests were welcomed by Dr Eng. Aldona Rosner and Dr Hab. Eng. Anna Manowska, Prof. SUT.
Honorary patronage over of the event was taken over by Dr Hab. Piotr Gawliczek, professor at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn and director of NATO DEEP eAcademy.
“It is a great honour for me to take part in this debate. It is an event of special importance, also because of the day of November 11, because it is a date close to the heart of every Pole - says Prof. Piotr Gawliczek.
The debate consisted of two panels: “Drones for Defence” and “Drones for Security.” Representatives of various environments took part in it: science, business, self-government or GOPR, presenting various observations. The soldiers of Silesian Territorial Defence Brigade also attended the debate.
During the discussion topics of modern unmanned technologies, their application in monitoring, border protection and military, exploration, flood, and fire activities were discussed. The experts also discussed the challenges related to security and legal regulations concerning the use of drones in the field of defence.
"After a period when most people were delighted with drones, there came a time when various barriers arose, including legal and social acceptance" - explains Dr Hab. Eng Roman Czyba, Prof. SUT. “The drone is a great tool, but we have to realize that it can also harm us. There is a perception in society that these machines have not yet reached the safety limit to be able to operate in autonomous mode. Therefore, it takes time and work to face these barriers and overcome them step by step.
After the debate, for adults, first aid workshops using VR and XR technologies and LEGO robotics workshops were held.
First aid workshops combined traditional techniques with modern VR (Virtual Reality) technology. Thanks to VR simulations, participants could practice different scenarios of saving lives in a realistic, virtual environment.
- The participants could also see what a trainer for putting on a compression band looks like, how to supply a gunshot or amputation wound, or simply how to save someone's life - said Marcin Szwaczka, one of the leaders of the workshop.
A little younger participants took part in LEGO robotics workshops, during which they built and programmed a tank. It was a great opportunity to develop one’s technical skills, creativity and learn more about mechanics and robotics.
In addition to having fun and learning programming, kids also learned how to work in a team. These days, teamwork is very important, because it allows to achieve much higher goals than if we worked alone - said Dr Eng. Aleksandra Mierzejowska, who led the workshops.
On the second day of the Robots Week, the Robotics Tournament took place, while in Katowice it was possible to visit laboratories at the Lukasiewicz Institute – EMAG.
The Robotic Exploration of SPACE tournament was held in two age categories: Class 4-6 and Class 7-8.
- The teams carried out various tasks, including overcoming the maze of a remote-controlled robot, programming the route and driving the remotely controlled robot mBot2, as well as overcoming the obstacle course using a robot-dog - said Dr Eng. Aldona Rosner, curator of Robots Week.
The tournament was attended by pupils from schools from our region, among others from Primary School number 35 in Rybnik.
We encourage our pupils to participate in such competitions and develop their skills in this area. In our school, learning programming begins already in kindergarten departments, where even three-year-olds begin their adventure with programming. Nowadays, this is of great importance, because this field is developing very dynamically - said Ewa Tyl-Korzeniewska, the school's director.
After the competition, pupils could visit the Robotics Laboratories at the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering, and Industrial Automation of the Silesian University of Technology, see a robot playing chess and also visit the laboratories of the Academic Secondary Comprehensive School in Gliwice.
On the same day, during the Robot Week, secondary school pupils from the region had the opportunity to visit the laboratories of the Lukasiewicz Institute – EMAG in Katowice.
“First of all, we want to talk to young people and find out if they have contact with robots, what their attitudes are toward them, whether we should be afraid of them or rather cooperate with them,” said Martyna Dudzicz, one of the Institute’s experts. An important element of the meeting was the presentation on cybersecurity. After that, the participants visited laboratories where electromagnetic waves are tested, or applications are tested.
“Because it’s a Robots Week, we want to show how robots work. For example, a robot dressed in an avatar’s body as a virtual character can be used, for example, to communicate with deaf people. In this case, we are talking about a sign language avatar. We will show the results of our projects that we have implemented in this area – added Adam Piasecki, leader of the Accessibility Plus research group in Lukasiewicz EMAG.
Almost three hundred people participated in the event.
“We don’t have too many opportunities to visit the laboratories of companies and institutions, so we took advantage of it. In a class with an extended English language and computer science profile, such workshops are most advisable, because we want to encourage the largest group to study in the future in technical and engineering fields – said Izabela Markewka, the supervisor of one of the groups.
The next days of Robots Week also brought new, interesting events. On Thursday, the most popular was the International Conference “RoboServe – Robots in the Service of Man,” which was held at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice.
“The event was dedicated to all sectors, from industrial to space and medical. We are trying to reach a wide audience with the message that automation and robotics are entering all spheres of our lives for good – said Dr Hab. Eng. Anna Manowska, Prof. SUT.
- We present the possible applications of robots in state security, medicine, the food market, up to supporting the elderly - she added.
Presentations with the participation of representatives of the world of science and industry were listened to by both students and doctoral students as well as scientific staff, but also representatives of the young generation.
In his presentation, the representative of KUKA stated that such events could break stereotypes related to the use and operation of robots.
- We encourage you to play with the robots by downloading our app and trying to control the robot from a safe position, sitting on the couch in your home. The application using augmented reality allows you to place the robot in the room where you are staying, start, and check its possibilities of operation - suggested Artur Główka from KUKA Polska and added that in this way more and more people are convinced to expand their programming skills.
Contact with robots is becoming more and more common in workplaces, but also other places. During the conference, it was shown where and how robots can serve humans.
Examples include hospitals, factories, rehabilitation centres, but also restaurants where a server robot can serve.
On Saturday, the Robots Week Festival took place. Whole families came to the headquarters of SPINplace in Katowice, where they could get to know various models of robots at many stands.
Among them were Lego Spike, Lego Boost, robotic hand, VR goggles, which were used by the participants. This is a great success of the organizers, workshops and people who prepared various attractions, so let us give them a voice.
“We decided to prepare an event for the youngest children, so that together with their parents they could learn about robotics, mechanics, and electronics. The attendance exceeded our expectations, but I think that everyone found something for themselves, because the positions were extremely different and very interesting - explained Dr Eng. Aldona Rosner, curator of Robots Week.
"In my position, all interested people could see and play with a robot hand that maps the movements of a human hand with a glove with appropriate sensors that detect finger deflection. This information goes to the motors that control the robot's fingers - says Dr Eng. Marek Kciuk from the Department of Mechatronics of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology.
- I always try to interest children with DIY, material processing, which stimulates creativity. There is a tendency to teach children automation and robotics. Here I presented them with three categories of robots - says Antoni Duda from the Technical Academy of Małopolska, operating at SOWA Rybnik in the historic Ignacy Mine.
- We have many stations with advanced robots here, so I decided to offer the youngest participants a very simple robot model, which works on the principle of a vibration motor. In this way, they have become very familiar with electronics and how robots simply work. I am glad that children appeared together with their parents because it is very important - says Dr Małgorzata Szymaszek, teacher at ALO in Gliwice, ambassador of ESERO Poland.
- We presented, among other things, two mBots following a laser sensor along a route marked on several maps. The children were also eager to watch the colour sorting machine – explains Aleksander Giemza and German Goor from the University of Silesia.
The Katowice Robot Festival ended with the Drone show, which is a demonstration of educational drones with light effects.
The robot week ended on Sunday. The finale of this event took place in Rybnik on the premises of the historic Ignacy Mine. There were demonstrations and workshops for the youngest, as well as lectures and debate on the use of robots.
“The kids could make a robotic hand, a cosmic key ring and see what pollution testing all is about,” said Joanna Grecka-Otremba from the Young Scientist Club at the School and Facilities Complex No. 1 in Katowice, who led the workshops.
The culmination of the Sunday finale of the Robots Week was the debate entitled “Robotics in Education: “The future of Education or the Technological Revolution?”
“We are planning two panels, one dedicated to wheeled and ground-based robotics, and the other will be related to drone technologies and the use of drones in logistics and transport. The panels will present the directors of educational institutions in Rybnik and the Mayor of Rybnik himself and representatives of industry – announced Dr Eng. Aldona Rosner, Curator of the Week.
"I personally believe that robots should be used in teaching, as a help and support in teaching, and not as a substitute for a teacher," she added.
Piotr Tokarz, the director of the Technical School Complex in Rybnik, was also a supporter of the use of robots in education.
“We train robots, so we already use such equipment every day. We believe that theory is important, it cannot be excluded from education but enriching it with a practical aspect with the use of robots is most beneficial for pupils – said Piotr Tokarz.
The advantages of using robots and drones not only in education, but also in the activities of the local government are noticed by Piotr Kuczera, the Mayor of Rybnik, who believes that it is necessary to teach the possibilities of using modern technologies from an early age and show what support they can be, not exclusion for people at work. In Rybnik automation and robotics has been used by the magistrate for a long time.
“In urban policy, we already use drones, among others, in the actions of the City Guard. Soon, such possibilities will be expanded with geodetic services related to spatial and investment planning. I dream that a drone using artificial intelligence would be able to calculate all matters related to a given plot – the costs of connecting the media, the state of ownership, qualification in the development plan, thanks to which the investor would receive all the necessary information on one printout, which would save him time and stress – said Piotr Kuczera.
How drones work, visitors to Robot Week could see for themselves. During the demonstrations, the skills of manoeuvring, transporting, and moving in the airspace of small and large aircraft were presented.
