Amazon and Hampton University Create Robotics Program
To help broaden the range of talent that will shape the future of robotics, Amazon has invested in a number of academic projects with colleges and universities, including a new collaboration with Hampton University.
At Hampton University, located in Hampton, Virginia, known for its advanced research in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), Amazon Robotics is funding the creation of a robotics education program.
By investing in the development of the university's robotics program, Amazon is supporting the creation of broad learning opportunities for faculty and students, offering cloud robotics research, infrastructure upgrades and STEM-based events to increase the overall flow of talent.
The goal is to create an undergraduate curriculum that leads both to academic degrees in robotics and to careers in robotics in industry.
“We are very grateful to Amazon Robotics for investing in Hampton University and its students through this project, which will help a new generation of versatile STEM scholars grow and develop. Amazon Robotics recognizes the outstanding talent of Hampton University's faculty, staff and students who launched this program. I look forward to seeing what innovations emerge from this cutting-edge partnership”
Amazon's funding will help create:
- a new research lab in existing space
- a faculty position dedicated to artificial intelligence and machine learning
- a senior capstone course in which students receive parallel mentorship from leading researchers, software developers and engineers at Amazon
- K-12 program expansion, including an annual drone camp aimed at encouraging high school and middle school students from historically underrepresented groups to pursue degrees in STEM and robotics
“This will not only create infrastructure within the school, but also provide funding for Hampton to reach out into the community. It will allow Hampton to share the excitement of robotics and the excitement of engineering with those who may not yet have been exposed to it”
Hampton's existing relationship with Amazon — computer science students participate in AWS (Amazon Web Services) training and certification — provided an opportunity to explore robotics possibilities. It also gave Hampton a chance both to revive a dormant project and to let its faculty expand their own knowledge.
“Several years ago, we took part with several HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) in a robotics initiative to interest our students in computer science by introducing them to robotics. It was a great project, but it fell by the wayside, although it included a robotics course that students really liked. So we are glad to add robotics back. We are also very excited about the opportunity to engage more actively in AI and machine learning. Many of us have experience with AI, but we don't have much experience in machine learning. I see this as a way not only to return to the robotics space, but also for our faculty, and then for our students, to build capacity in those other interconnected areas. Our faculty are also very excited about this”
Hampton students will also receive free AWS credits, allowing them to use AWS tools and computing power for robotics projects. Hampton officials said they hope to eventually create a master's degree in robotics for their students, and noted that the nature of Amazon's support makes this far more achievable.
“This is what I like, the fact that Amazon is actively, rather than passively, trying to help diversify the industry. We don't want Amazon to just throw money and say: "Please send us your best and smartest”
"Amazon had a unique approach. They asked: 'What do you want and what do you need?' Then they said: 'Build something that will benefit you, and let us see how we can help you achieve it. We have many industries approaching us in engineering and computer science. It is not often that we meet someone who comes with this approach," Muhammad noted.
She also emphasized that Amazon's willingness to encourage and consider Hampton's feedback was an important part of the collaboration: "Sometimes we told Amazon, 'This idea is great, but if you did this, it would be better,' and then they would say, 'Don't worry, we'll deliver that to you' and 'Okay, we can do that.' I had never seen that before".
“This support not only helps ensure a smooth launch of the program, it is also critical to its success. What does a successful program look like? It looks like a partnership, it looks like real collaboration between Amazon and HBCUs. This is what it looks like”
