Robotics Research Projects and Professors
As we saw with Professor Maurizio Porfiri, in the early 2000s-2010s, Poly is finally starting to realize that it should place much more emphasis on funding robotics research than it has compared to other universities.
The earliest insight we can see with Poly’s robotics research developments is from an undated set of five images titled “robotics lab” taken in black and white. Considering that black-and-white photography lost popularity in the 1970s, we can assume these images date to circa 1970, potentially the first-ever initiative Poly undertook in robotics research (Torres, 2022; Polytechnic Institute of New York, undated, circa 1970).
(Polytechnic Institute of New York, undated, circa 1970)
(Polytechnic Institute of New York, undated, circa 1970)
Jumping forward to 2012, similar images of a robotics lab under Professor Kapila, featuring an iPad controlling a robotic arm and smaller LEGO robotics projects, are featured in the school’s marketing and advertising section of archived CD images (Polytechnic University, February 28th, 2012).
(Polytechnic University, February 28th 2012)
(Polytechnic University, February 28th 2012)
(Polytechnic University, February 28th 2012)
Professor Porfini’s research was also showcased in the marketing CD archives, cited in the mechanical engineering department's brochures as having won multiple awards, and as research conducted with various other professors across universities and departments to further the innovation of robotic fish in the wild.
(Polytechnic University, Fall 2011)
(Polytechnic University, Fall 2011)
(Polytechnic University, August 19th 2008)
(Polytechnic University, March 31st 2011)
(Polytechnic University, August 10th 2009)
(Polytechnic University, August 10th 2009)
(Polytechnic University, March 31st 2011)
(Polytechnic University, August 8th 2010)
The robotics research at Poly is amazing to see; however, it’s too late and too few! Poly has very little record of substantial robotics research for its undergraduate population, conducted in association with professors researching or teaching robotics at the time. Unfortunately, while Professor Porfini and Kapila’s work was incredible research and made significant strides for the school, it just wasn’t enough when schools with higher acceptance rates and lower rankings were opening entire robotics centers decades earlier.
Since the early 2000s, Poly has undertaken more initiatives in robotics research and classes, but where does it stand compared to other universities? Are we still behind, or do we still not have enough robotics research initiatives today?