On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the University of Connecticut’s Innovate Labs hosted their very first skill-share of the 2024-2025 school year, titled “RoboTalent Showcase.” Taking place at the School of Business, this event allowed UConn students to learn how to program basic functions into VEX robots, which are small, motorized robots that the then students programmed to perform a talent.
The students split into four groups, each given the task of teaching their robot some sort of unique talent. After the robots were programmed, the students were given the opportunity to give their robot a costume made of construction paper. The robots each performed a talent, and the students voted on a winner.
The robotic talents on display included the singing of “Happy Birthday,” the drawing of a heart shape and the ability to follow instructions to the “Cha-Cha Slide” by DJ Casper. The winning robot, named “Robotica,” followed the instructions of the song in time with the beat, while wearing a hula dancer costume made from construction paper.
“Robotica” was programmed and outfitted by UConn students Kylie Jenkins, Tenzin Kyijong and Sofia Lototskyy. As a prize, the group won Innovate Labs water bottles.
On its website, Innovate Labs describes itself as “an educational research lab providing students of all disciplines with opportunities and resources to learn, explore, and develop industry-valued skills outside the classroom around emerging technology and analytics.” The program often hosts skill-shares, where students gain hands-on experience in the current topic.
The event was run by physics major Sophie Kozak and mechanical engineering major Reis Muccino. “Innovate Labs is an emerging tech lab and maker space on campus,” Kozak said. “We’re designed to teach students about technology that might not be used in the classroom but would be used in careers and industry.”
“It’s a place for students to come and learn,” Muccino said. “A lot of the stuff here is technology that students don’t really have access to. It’s nice to give them the opportunity to come and see it.”
“We’re open for all students, any major,” Kozak noted.
The room itself included a wide variety of tech, from the VEX robots to an array of virtual reality headsets and drones. During the opening presentation, Muccino even brought up Eco Innovate, a branch of technology involving the growth of plants.
When asked about why students should learn about robotics, even if their major doesn’t involve engineering, Muccino said robotics is “becoming such a normal part of life now.” He discussed the prevalence of robotics in modern life, such as in grocery stores. “Being able to put it together, see how they work, and then code one yourself — it’s a really useful experience in today’s age.”
Kozak brought up her own experience with her major, which doesn’t directly involve robotics. “I’m a physics major, which is heavily involved in STEM. It really helped me learn a lot about coding,” she said. Coding the VEX robots involved a simple block code system, but Innovate Labs offers programs related to coding languages such as Python and GIT.
“Before coming into the lab, I had never touched a robot before,” Kozak said. “So, it was a really cool experience to get a beginner knowledge on that.”
Innovate Labs will be hosting a variety of events this month. Future skill-shares include 3D Printing (Oct. 9, 7 p.m.), web design (Oct. 16, 7 p.m.) and XReality (Oct. 21, 5 p.m.). The XReality event is specifically designed around creating a 3D maze in virtual reality. More information about all of their events can be found on their website.
Innovate Labs is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday (with the exception of 10:10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesdays).