Seth Hutchinson, RAS AdCom Member, to participate in Robotics Caucus

Next Generation Robotics and the Future of Work
Hosted by the Robotics Caucus Advisory Committee

Wednesday, 18 April 2018
12:00–1:30 PM
2253 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC, USA

A new generation of robotics technologies are entering the U.S. economy. From shop floors to warehouses, robots are becoming common across a myriad of sectors—from transportation to retail, to hospitals, banks, and other services. Unlike earlier periods of automation, these autonomous systems technologies are increasingly designed to augment and collaborate with human workers. Studies of the manufacturing sector even indicate that as collaborative robotics are deployed in manufacturing environments, the number of new jobs increases as greater levels of robots are deployed. While the creation of new jobs is promising, it is also clear that new robotics technologies will have significant impact on the fundamental nature of work performed and that we must rise to meet the challenges.
The international race to lead the robotics revolution won’t be won in research labs alone, but will depend on effective workforce development programs and strategies. This briefing brings together robotics industry, labor, workforce, technology research and public policy leaders to discuss what steps should be taken to ensure that the next generation robotics also means broader economic opportunity nation-wide.
Please join us for this important discussion.

OPENING REMARKS

Robotics Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressman Mike Doyle and Congressman Rob Woodall

MODERATOR

Dr. Ramayya Krishnan, Dean, Heinz College of Information Management and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University. The Heinz College is home to the Block Center for Technology and Society.

PANEL

Mark Lewandowski, Procter & Gamble
Jeff Burnstein, President, Robotic Industries Association
Jim H. Key, Vice President, USW Local Union 550, Paducah, KY and President of USW Atomic Energy Workers Council, United Steelworkers
Ritch Ramey, CEO, Ramtec Ohio, a Career Technical Education training (CTE) collaboration of 23 schools that are placing secondary and post-secondary program completers into highly skilled careers in robotics and automation fields.
Seth Hutchinson, Professor, KUKA Chair for Robotics, Georgia Tech Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines

Q&A and closing remarks by Moderator