Alabama Plans $71M Next Generation Robotics Training, Research Facility

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley recently announced a plan to launch an advanced robotics research, training and education center to prepare workers for the robotics industry and attract high-tech employers to the state. Calhoun Community College in Decatur will host the $71 million center, in partnership with the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Gov. Riley first proposed the robotics campus in 2006 and believes the center will help increase the state’s profile as a leader in the robotics industry. In addition to training facilities, the center will also provide support for the applied research activities of Redstone Arsenal, which houses several U.S. Army directorates, and the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
 
The Advanced Technology Robotics Research and Development Complex will be a collaborative project, supported by the state of Alabama, the state’s community college system, Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) and partners from the private sector. Current plans call for a Robotic Maintenance Training Center, an Advanced Technology Research and Development Center, and an Integration and Entrepreneurial Center to be rolled out over the next few years.
 
The first component, the Robotic Maintenance Training Center, will begin operations within 18 months and cost between $14 million and $15 million. The state will contribute $8 million in interest-bearing bond proceeds for the project, with another $7 million to $8 million from the Department of Post-Secondary Education and local governments. Private robotics companies, including Omoron and Mitsubishi, plan to contribute $40 million in robotics equipment for the center, as well as supplying trainers for the program. The center is expected to train 450 students each year.
 
The second two installations are expected to cost $7 million to $8 million each and be rolled out within a “reasonable” period, accounting for changes in the economic climate. The Advanced Technology Research and Development Center would be used by the NASA and the U.S. Army Missile Command to develop and test new robotics technologies for space exploration and military applications. Existing robotics companies would also be able to use the facilities for testing purposes. The Integration and Entrepreneurial Center would provide facilities for new companies to test their software and equipment and to train new workers.
 
Read Gov. Riley’s announcement about the center at: http://governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2008-06-09-01-robotics_research-photo.asp