The MassRobotics Robot Block Party is back! Part of HUBweek 2018 and its Future Innovators Day, dozens of robots will descend upon Boston’s City Hall Plaza for the 2nd Annual Robot Block Party on Sunday, Oct. 14. Bring your family to check out the latest in robotics and experience exciting demos of the products that will shape our future, and maybe even win an opportunity to ride in an autonomous vehicle. The Robot Block Party is a free event and open to the public via a free general admission pass to HUBweek.
Expanding upon popular activities from last year – robot demonstrations, presentations from area robotics companies and universities, FIRST teams, hands-on interactions with robots, games and more – 2018 is even bigger than last year. New events at the Robot Block Party include:
- Smart Home of the Future: see products and technology demonstrations from iRobot, Google, Sense, and MassRobotics’ resident Ori – and experience how the future smart home will work
- A drone net where companies and universities will fly a variety of consumer- and business-oriented drones
- FIRST Robotics teams will showcase and demo past competition robots
- A raffle to win rides in a self-driving vehicle
In the midst of a massive expansion, MassRobotics is helping to create and grow the next generation of robotics and smart connected device companies in Massachusetts. It provides entrepreneurs and innovators the facilities and resources they need to develop, prototype, test, challenge and nurture early ideas, bringing a breadth of technology and innovation together under one roof. For students and families, MassRobotics seeks to inspire the next generation of innovators and builders through in-house, hands-on STEM collaboration and initiatives.
“Collaborating with the HUBweek team is a terrific opportunity to celebrate robotics and show the local community what’s new in areas like STEM and a look forward at the amazing technologies on the horizon. The city of Boston has been a great supporter and early adopter of many technologies, from smart cities to autonomous vehicles and we’re grateful for their forward thinking,” said Tom Ryden, executive director of MassRobotics.
Examples of on-site demonstrations include:
- Personal home robots, from companion to cleaning & weeding
- “Design your own robot” technology featuring tools for robot design, making the process of creating robots accessible to beginners and experts alike
- Drones, from consumer to surveillance to agriculture
- Robotic arms and their usage in a variety of applications including manufacturing
- Logistics robots for warehousing
- University robotics programs including interactive and language-guided learning, NASA Mars Ice Challenge robot and research drones
Participants at Robot Block Party include: Aptiv, Ava Robotics, ChartaCloud, Cleo Robotics, Franklin Robotics, GreenSightAG, Harmonic Drive, iRobot, Locus Robotics, ORI, National Guard, NextShift Robotics, Optimus Ride, Pong Robotics, Root Robotics, SoftRobotics, Symbotic, UAS Development, Waypoint Robotics, and robotics teams from area universities including Tufts and Northeastern.
HUBweek explores innovation at the intersections of art, science and technology by bringing together the most creative and inventive minds making an impact in Boston and around the world. Now in its fourth year, the 2018 theme of HUBweek is We the Future and each day has a specific topic allowing attendees to curate their own journey.
