Where are you from, and where do you live?
0-18 years of age lived in Michigan, 18-45 lived and worked around the globe, age 45 lived and worked in Hawaii (Oahu 1 year, then 3 years Big Island). Currently I reside on a ranch in Pāpa’ikou.
What is your professional and educational background?
6 years working in the U.S. Navy on a nuclear submarine as a reactor operator. Then 21 years of providing consultant engineering services to industrial, military and government customers around the world. Presently working at HELCO as their Customer Engineering Supervisor for East Hawaii for the past 3 years. Education: 2 years military nuclear engineering, operations and maintenance schooling, BSEE / MSEE from Columbia University, but attended about a dozen other universities on my way to those 2 diplomas (I even attended 2 years at UH-Manoa).
How did you get into robotics?
Robotics seemed a natural extension of the 3 decades of controls and software engineering I’ve done for industrial and governmental customers around the world. Robotics utilizes all of the skills I’ve learned and allows me to keep applying my background and skills. I think the early indicators for me were an early fascination with building plastic and wood models, a great love of mathematics and science in school, plus starting programming classes at the university when 16 years old. But my involvement with Big Island robotics come from my employer, HELCO, being a sponsor for FIRST Robotics, then being asked to mentor the team, followed by more requests for mentoring by other schools and other programs.
Describe some of the robots you've built?
I’ve been involved with LegoBots, FIRST Robotics and MATE ROV, but have never built what most people would refer to as a “robot”. Industrial controls are my forte and I love to take a complex problem and solve it using software, sensors and a variety of control equipment.
What do you enjoy about designing and building robots?
When I assist others in design and build of robots, I enjoy the ability to teach engineering concepts to others and see them despair at their mistakes, plus revel in their achievements. Just the simple joy of giving back to the community and helping students find a niche in life provides me with a sense of accomplishment.
Where do you see the future of robot design, construction and implementation?
There are so many possible ways for the robotics to assist mankind. With the advent of products such as MS Robotics Studio where you can design and program a robot for testing entirely on a PC, I think we’ll see more advanced designs quickly coming out of young minds. The fact that MS Robotics Studio is complete free of charge really helps me believe in some major advances in robotics and the way they are developed. Construction techniques are advancing rapidly as well. When a part is designed on a computer, then a ‘print-out’ of the item is made using a 3-D printer, it allows a robot to be constructed and tested in real life so much faster. That and the ready availability of other more complex components are really driving the market along. As 3-D printers evolve, I see enthusiasts (amateur and professional alike) printing out their unique robot designs at home or perhaps at a university printing center with new designs evolving daily. I see robots performing mundane and dangerous tasks that either humans don’t wish to perform or that humans should not perform. Obviously the attention-span of a robot is setup by the designer and not easily distracted from boring jobs such as monitoring security consoles. One of the most important concepts that everyone needs to learn is that robots don’t necessarily have to look like humans to perform work efficiently. Robots must be built for the task-at-hand and for everyone to forget about the familiar look of walking bipedal robots made in our likeness. The sooner we learn that, the faster we’ll advance to what is truly needed.
What does RoboFest mean to you?
RoboFest is bringing together like-minded individuals from all over the island to mingle, showcase and talk-story. The competitions bring cheers and tears as youngsters compete for a variety of prizes. The emotions displayed and drama that unfolds on the floor are unparalleled (in my mind) to see. I never would have imagined 5 years ago that this would be available for so many people. As more people attend or get involved, the local programs expand and grow. Of course this means more demands for mentors, but I believe the local community can provide that support whether it is from an auto mechanic, an electrician, a physicist or even someone that just enjoys reading Popular Mechanics magazine.
How can young people prepare themselves for, and get involved in robotics?
I’d suggest paying attention to basic mathematics, simple physics and computers at an early age. Learn how to manipulate simple building blocks, and then move onwards to hands-on experience with putting things together. Build a plastic model, build a remote controlled vehicle, learn how to remotely fly a plane to understand the 3 dimensional aspect of how the physical laws of nature apply and respond to the commands you send to your plane. Get involved in the many programs available in schools to apply simple concepts and most of all, HAVE FUN.
What is your professional and educational background?
6 years working in the U.S. Navy on a nuclear submarine as a reactor operator. Then 21 years of providing consultant engineering services to industrial, military and government customers around the world. Presently working at HELCO as their Customer Engineering Supervisor for East Hawaii for the past 3 years. Education: 2 years military nuclear engineering, operations and maintenance schooling, BSEE / MSEE from Columbia University, but attended about a dozen other universities on my way to those 2 diplomas (I even attended 2 years at UH-Manoa).
How did you get into robotics?
Robotics seemed a natural extension of the 3 decades of controls and software engineering I’ve done for industrial and governmental customers around the world. Robotics utilizes all of the skills I’ve learned and allows me to keep applying my background and skills. I think the early indicators for me were an early fascination with building plastic and wood models, a great love of mathematics and science in school, plus starting programming classes at the university when 16 years old. But my involvement with Big Island robotics come from my employer, HELCO, being a sponsor for FIRST Robotics, then being asked to mentor the team, followed by more requests for mentoring by other schools and other programs.
Describe some of the robots you've built?
I’ve been involved with LegoBots, FIRST Robotics and MATE ROV, but have never built what most people would refer to as a “robot”. Industrial controls are my forte and I love to take a complex problem and solve it using software, sensors and a variety of control equipment.
What do you enjoy about designing and building robots?
When I assist others in design and build of robots, I enjoy the ability to teach engineering concepts to others and see them despair at their mistakes, plus revel in their achievements. Just the simple joy of giving back to the community and helping students find a niche in life provides me with a sense of accomplishment.
Where do you see the future of robot design, construction and implementation?
There are so many possible ways for the robotics to assist mankind. With the advent of products such as MS Robotics Studio where you can design and program a robot for testing entirely on a PC, I think we’ll see more advanced designs quickly coming out of young minds. The fact that MS Robotics Studio is complete free of charge really helps me believe in some major advances in robotics and the way they are developed. Construction techniques are advancing rapidly as well. When a part is designed on a computer, then a ‘print-out’ of the item is made using a 3-D printer, it allows a robot to be constructed and tested in real life so much faster. That and the ready availability of other more complex components are really driving the market along. As 3-D printers evolve, I see enthusiasts (amateur and professional alike) printing out their unique robot designs at home or perhaps at a university printing center with new designs evolving daily. I see robots performing mundane and dangerous tasks that either humans don’t wish to perform or that humans should not perform. Obviously the attention-span of a robot is setup by the designer and not easily distracted from boring jobs such as monitoring security consoles. One of the most important concepts that everyone needs to learn is that robots don’t necessarily have to look like humans to perform work efficiently. Robots must be built for the task-at-hand and for everyone to forget about the familiar look of walking bipedal robots made in our likeness. The sooner we learn that, the faster we’ll advance to what is truly needed.
What does RoboFest mean to you?
RoboFest is bringing together like-minded individuals from all over the island to mingle, showcase and talk-story. The competitions bring cheers and tears as youngsters compete for a variety of prizes. The emotions displayed and drama that unfolds on the floor are unparalleled (in my mind) to see. I never would have imagined 5 years ago that this would be available for so many people. As more people attend or get involved, the local programs expand and grow. Of course this means more demands for mentors, but I believe the local community can provide that support whether it is from an auto mechanic, an electrician, a physicist or even someone that just enjoys reading Popular Mechanics magazine.
How can young people prepare themselves for, and get involved in robotics?
I’d suggest paying attention to basic mathematics, simple physics and computers at an early age. Learn how to manipulate simple building blocks, and then move onwards to hands-on experience with putting things together. Build a plastic model, build a remote controlled vehicle, learn how to remotely fly a plane to understand the 3 dimensional aspect of how the physical laws of nature apply and respond to the commands you send to your plane. Get involved in the many programs available in schools to apply simple concepts and most of all, HAVE FUN.