Robot City Coming to the Steel City

CMU plans Robot City
By Bill ZlatosTRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 23, 2006

Carnegie Mellon University wants to build a research center called Robot City at LTV's former Hazelwood Works to develop the next generation of robots.

CMU would use the space to build and test prototypes of robots that would plant grass, mow the lawn, harvest crops, provide cleanup, oversee security and do other tasks. University officials hope the move will bring Pittsburgh closer to living up to the monicker given it by The Wall Street Journal: "Roboburgh."

"The community has been waiting for an exciting vision for that site, and this could be it," said Maxwell King, president of The Heinz Endowments. "It's the kind of vision that can not only lead to an exciting neighborhood but to economic development for Pittsburgh."
The first step is to move a faculty-student research team that is developing robotic vehicles into an old roundhouse that once serviced steam locomotives. Renovations are expected to begin on the roundhouse this spring, and university officials hope to complete the move this year.

Read More at The Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Proud Pittsburgh Comments:
This is a great development for Pitsburgh for a couple of reasons.

• CMU is continuing it's role leading Pittsburgh into the 21st century and beyond. It seems that the promise of Pittsburgh becoming the hub of world robotics has taken a big step forward.
• This development will showcase Pittsburgh's continued committment to reclaiming it's brownfield sites. By using the old steel mill sites as Robot City and South Side Works, we set an example to the entire nation.

Kudos to CMU! ( now lets build some robot manufacturing facilities )

Photo: CMU Robot Hall of Fame