Notes to Members
IEEE Lone Star Robotics and Automation Chapter
September, 2021

As most of you know, the LSS Robotics and Automation Chapter was approved by the IEEE on February 26, 2021. We have now been in existence about six months and this is a good time to share some thoughts on the progress and plans of the chapter.

The LSS Fall Planning Meeting was held on September 11 and each chapter reported on status and activities. Currently there are 42 RAS members in the Lone Star Section, up from 31 when the chapter was formed in February. As a new chapter we have had four planning and administrative meetings and 5 technical meetings. The average attendance at technical meetings has been 21. The complete FPM chapter presentation is available on the chapter website.

A Member Preferences Survey was conducted on line during August. The response rate was about 35% and some of the member preferences include:

  • Meeting time: Noon – 76%
  • Format: In-person – 70%, hybrid – 30%
  • Location for in-person meetings – 410 & Culebra area – 53%
  • Meeting day: Weekdays equally preferred
  • Meeting topics:
    ◦ Novel applications – case studies – 91%
    ◦ Research topics in robotics – 82%
    ◦ Plant / Facility tours – 73%
    ◦ Security in robotic systems – 73%
    ◦ University research (faculty/student), Social, Student Groups – 50% orless
  • Suggested Topics: Advanced Manufacturing, Collaborative Robotics
  • Four members interested in attending Planning Meetings

Thanks to everyone who responded. The Planning Committee will use this information to guide future meetings and activities.

Chapter Finances are satisfactory for our current level of activities. We submitted a proposal for a Start-Up grant to the Robotics and Automation Society and received $500. Expenses have been $71 for the kick-off meeting and $195 for virtual meeting supplies (see next section). We will be able to receive the maximum rebate of $295 from IEEE next year giving us a balance of $541 for the 2022 budget. We expect to spend most of that amount for speaker appreciation gifts, meals for speakers (assuming we return to in-person meetings) and a chapter banner to display at IEEE events.

Providing a satisfactory virtual meeting experience is difficult using the builtin camera and microphone found in notebook computers. The chapter purchased a USB camera (with digital zoom and microphone) and a sturdy camera tripod with tripod dolly. With this arrangement we can provide close shots of speakers and then zoom out to show members of the audience. We can use the tripod and dolly with a wifi connected notebook computer to stream video of speakers during tours of facilities. We used this arrangement for the tour of ReckonPoint and plan to use it for the Renu Robotics program and tour on September 23. Please register for this meeting to see how well the system works.

Future Meetings are being planned. The September 23 meeting will be a presentation and tour at Renu Robotics, 12918 Delivery St (That’s just off Wetmore Road, north of the airport). Participation is both in-person and via Zoom. If you have not yet registered, follow the link below to the vTools event: (https://events.vtools.ieee.org/tego_/event/manage/281003)

Our October meeting will be on October 28 (note this is a week later than the normal date to accommodate the speaker’s schedule). This will be a virtual presentation on “Robot Reliability Management – Applications at Toyota Motor Manufacturing”. The presentation will be by Joe Li, Engineering manager of Paint & Plastic Department at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas.

Other meetings in the planning stages include:

  • Labs and Maker Space at UTSA
  • Tour of the ZYREC robot facility
  • Cyber Security for Industrial Robotics
  • Applications of UAV Drones
  • Designing Customized Transforms and Inverse Transforms Based on the Concept of the Resolution of Identity

The RA Chapter Webpage can be found at: https://r5.ieee.org/lonestar-ras/ The webpage includes slides and recordings of past meetings, announcements of future meetings and other current information such as the results of surveys and other activities. Drop in and check it out occasionally. If you have comments or suggestions regarding chapter operations, please use the “Contact Us” form on the webpage or send an email to: e.franke@ieee.org.

Sept Newsletter (PDF)