Volunteer Work
MassRobotics Initiative
Robotics Interest Group Meetup
The MassRobotics initiative is dedicated to providing the resources needed to develop, prototype, and commercialize robots in Massachusetts. The Robotics Interest Group was created to support these endeavors by brining together members of the robotics community for pizza and a few informal talks on a robotics theme every month. The events are a fun way to connect with other roboticists, while offering them a platform to collaborate and discuss common resources that would enhance our work.
As a co-organizer, I choose themes for events that I believe to be interesting and important to roboticists, and invite experts to give short presentations on the selected topic. I also coordinate sponsors for events and other behind-the-scenes setup.
I have been supporting this meetup group since it began in September 2015.
Check out more details about events (or join) the Robotics Interest Group.
Speakers at two separate events. The themes on those evenings were 'Standards in the Robotics Inudstry' and 'Robotics and Grasping'.
This page highlights work related to robotics. For a complete list of my volunteer work, please check out my CV.
Kids going for a ride in an automated, solar powered, and ruggedized golf cart developed by Vecna
Kids playing life-sized chess participating in the human race
This team developed a dog-like robot called K-9 for the robot race
Robot Race
A community event in Cambridge to rally excitement for robots
Vecna invtited members of the community to build a robot and enter it in a race. There was also a separate race for humans. In the months leading up to the race, Vecna offered technical guidance to teams (especially kids) developing robots.
I supported organizing the race and was there to help with the proceedings on race day.