Hope you’re enjoying your weekend Obots!
Today, meet the incredible ladies of Spelman College that are breaking barriers and creating history as the Spelbots!
SpelBots, founded in 2004, is Spelman College’s all-female robotics team whose goal is to encourage students and young women of African descent to explore robotics and computer science. The team is led by Andrew B. Williams, Ph.D., the founder and coach of the SpelBots and director of Humanoid Engineering and Robot Systems (HERS) Lab at Spelman College. SpelBots are funded by the National Science Foundation, Boeing, and General Motors.
The SpelBots made history in 2005 as the first all-female, all African-American, undergraduate team to qualify and compete in the International RoboCup four-legged robot soccer competition. In another history-making moment, in 2009 the Spelbots tied for first place in the RoboCup Japan 2009 Standard Platform League Nao League humanoid buy a viagra soccer championship.
The team will make history once again as the first all-female, all African-American team to compete in the International RoboCup 2012 Mexico Standard Platform League Humanoid Robot Soccer Competition. They are one of 28 teams from universities worldwide that have qualified for this event, which will be held this June in Mexico City.
Science Nation – The SpelBots
On Wednesday, Feb. 10, the Atlanta Hawks honored SpelBots and its founder and adviser, Andrew Williams, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of computer and information sciences. The honor is part of the Hawks’ commitment to honor prominent African-American leaders during the month of February for their civic contributions, accomplishment and leadership. SpelBots was the first all-women, African-American team to take part in the international RoboCup competition in 2005. In 2009, the team tied in the Robocup Japan Open.