National Science Foundation Announces Funding Opportunity under the National Robotics Initiative

The National Science Foundation's NRI-2.0 program builds upon the original National Robotics Initiative (NRI) program to support fundamental research in the United States that will accelerate the development and use of collaborative robots (co-robots) that work beside or cooperatively with people. The focus of the NRI-2.0 program is onubiquity&comma which in this context means seamless integration of co-robots to assist humans in every aspect of life.

NSF has identified $35,000,000 for investment with the anticipation of awards to 60 projects. Closing date for applications is February 19, 2019. NSF notes in the eligibility section that community colleges are eligible to apply.

The program supports four main research thrusts that are envisioned to advance the goal of ubiquitous co-robots: scalability, customizability, lowering barriers to entry, and societal impact. Topics addressing scalability include how robots can collaborate effectively with multiple humans or other robots; how robots can perceive, plan&comma act&comma and learn in uncertain&comma real-world environments&comma especially in a distributed fashion; and how to facilitate large-scale, safe, robust and reliable operation of robots in complex environments.

Customizability includes how to enable co-robots to adapt to specific tasks, environments, or people&comma with minimal modification to hardware and software; how robots can personalize their interactions with people&semi and how robots can communicate naturally with humans&comma both verbally and non-verbally. Topics in lowering barriers to entry should focus on lowering the barriers for conducting fundamental robotics research and research on integrated robotics application. This may include development of open-source co-robot hardware and software, as well as widely-accessible testbeds. Outreach or using robots in educational programs do not&comma by themselves&comma lower the barriers to entry for robotics research.

Topics in societal impact include fundamental research to establish and infuse robotics into educational curricula&comma advance the robotics workforce through education pathways, and explore the social&comma economic&comma ethical&comma and legal implications of our future with ubiquitous collaborative robots.

Collaboration between academic&comma industry&comma non-profit&comma and other organizations is encouraged to establish better linkages between fundamental science and engineering and technology development&comma deployment&comma and use.

The NRI-2.0 program is supported by multiple agencies of the federal government including the National Science Foundation (NSF)&comma the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)&comma the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)&comma the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)&comma and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

See: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19536/nsf19536.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click

Workforce Development and Good Jobs&colon Two Regional NGA Workshops Remain, Governors' Guide on "Good Jobs for All Americans" Slated for Release at Summer Meeting

Regional leaders, including governors&comma their staff&comma business leaders&comma researchers&comma philanthropists&comma and other stakeholders will gather to have in-depth discussions focused on the Good Jobs for All Americans framework&comma providing their input&comma and sharing solutions they have developed. The first meeting was held in Pittsburgh in mid-September. The remaining schedule:

Governors and other national leaders will gather in Whitefish&comma Montana to highlight state leadership&comma unveil the cumulative findings of the Regional Leadership Workshops, and finalize a Governors' Guide and next steps to ensure the availability of Good Jobs for All Americans.

At the 2019 NGA Summer Meeting&comma Governor Bullock will present the completed "Governors' Guide: A Roadmap for Providing Good Jobs for All Americans," building on the conversations and activities held across the country throughout the initiative. This will serve as a launching point for further action by governors to help workers prepare for current and future careers.

Questions regarding attendance interest in the Las Vegas and Des Moines meetings can be directed to Michael Bartlett ( mbartlett@nga.org ).

Latest Updates to WorkforceGPS&colon Enhancements to Search&comma Resource Library&comma Events Library

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