Lifelike animatronics next-generation “surgeons”and mechanical warfighters — words that may conjure images of sci-Fi blockbusters. These innovations in high-tech robots are real, and Florida is the best place to see them. The relationship between robotics and the State is long. Since 1981, when the IBM PC was born in Boca Raton, it has been a long history. “Second Machine Age”It has thrived in the Sunshine State.
Florida’s robotics revolution spans many areas, including mobility aid and research. But one thing is common: Florida’s innovation reliance technology that defies human capability, including life sciences, is a key theme. Robotics from Mazor Robotics in Orlando and Florida Hospital Global Robotics Institute have helped to make it easier to treat cancer cells, the spine, and other conditions. Photon-X, a Kissimmee-based company, explores photonics in robotics surgery applications.
Blair Barbour (Pot-X CEO and President) said that this information was provided by Photon-X. “Medical robotics is the next generation of surgery. The technology is perfected to eliminate human error from procedures, making it possible to enhance surgeries and surgeon capabilities with better hand-eye coordination. Tests have proven that patients also heal faster through robotic surgery.”
The Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) in Pensacola takes a different approach to defying human capabilities. IHMC teams scientists and robots together to develop systems that can save lives in difficult situations. These include those involving space exploration and nuclear meltdowns.
Florida is home to some of the most innovative technology in the world. The state has made it possible for them to recruit and retain the best talent. Julie Sheppard is the general counsel at IHMC. “Being in Florida helps us with our recruitment. In addition to the exciting work, IHMC is able to hire top talent due to Florida’s weather, our affordable housing and all the access to waterways for recreational purposes. We are especially appealing to scientists from cities with a higher cost of living because we offer our employees a more attractive lifestyle.”
Homegrown talent is cultivated at colleges throughout the state, including the Tallahassee-based Center for Intelligent Systems, Control, and Robotics (CISCOR), a cooperative program between Florida A&M University and Florida State University. CISCOR is one of the most prestigious schools in the nation for the development and implementation robotics technology. Its students study mechanical design, human-robot interaction, and mobility in complex environments.
The Army also collaborates with students to develop automated terrain classification, motion planning, and design and model of four-legged robots.
Visit Florida Robotics for more information. www.enterpriseflorida.com
