HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Von Braun Center is hosting government and defense industry leaders this week to discuss the future of defense technology. Among them, 20 student robotics teams.
“We’re here to showcase what the newer generation is doing in the STEM field, for all these, companies to see what we’re doing, what’s going on, and the future of STEM,” said a member of The Nerdettes, an all-girls robotics team.
The AUVSI Pathfinder Symposium is an annual opportunity for government and industries to show off the latest developments in unscrewed defense technology and share ideas.
“The goal is that the government and large industries that are procuring technologies, drones, automation, robotics, that they get informed about what’s really out there, that they understand really what is state of the art,” said Pathfinder President Casey Still.
This new technology is on display in the South Hall of the VBC. In several exhibits, some displays are interactive, like drone racing.
“It gives kids early exposure to unmanned technology, and it allows them to go explore those technologies,” said Kevin Forrest with RAVENTEK, one of the companies with an interactive exhibit.
“Then subsequently, as they grow up, they do all these things. For people that are like my age that didn’t start out with this stuff in their hands, it gives them the ability to get those training repetitions before they go out and use those platforms,” he said.
The Symposium is open to the public and it’s for a good cause. Profits benefit STEM scholarships, teaching grants, and fund student robotics teams. After speaking with experts, many leave inspired about a career in STEM.
“I think it’s very helpful for us to find out what opportunities we really have, because when you’re looking out there and you don’t have events like this, you don’t know what’s all out there,” said a member of the Rockets robotics team.
The AUVSI Pathfinder Symposium wraps up Wednesday with several guest speakers throughout the day.
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