Great news for soccer fans: The World Cup won’t be the only event taking Brazil — and the global stage — by storm this month. Kicking off in little over a week, robots from 45 countries will gather in João Pessoa to compete in the international soccer tournament known as RoboCup.
Founded in 1997, RoboCup is an annual international robotics competition aspiring to promote robotics and AI research by offering a publicly appealing, yet formidable challenge. The ultimate goal? To beat the human World Cup champions within the next 35 years.
When robots initially began playing soccer, it was a feat in itself just to have them see the ball, let alone stay upright and kick. Nowadays, these ‘bots are running up and down the field, scoring goals and “sometimes they’re so fast, you can’t even understand what’s going on,” says tournament co-chair Esther Luna Colombini.
The “players,” which range from life-size humanoids to soccer ball-sized wheeled gadgets, compete in size-based divisions on miniature indoor pitches.
According to Forbes writer Jeff Bercovici, the tournament (a perfect blend of athletics and Maker Movement) has matured throughout the years. The inaugural event hosted 38 teams from 11 countries; this year’s tournament will feature 550 teams from more than 45, competing in various divisions.
“You don’t program humans to play soccer,” said Sean Luke, a computer science professor. “We want (robots) to learn how to play soccer the same way humans learn how to play soccer.”
While certainly fun to watch, organizers say the annual competition isn’t just about creating kickin’ machines — it’s about teaching the fully-autonomous robots to make quick, smart decisions while working together in a changing environment.
“Those algorithms can translate off the field into technology like self-driving cars or delivery drones, said University of Pennsylvania engineering professor Dan Lee. RoboCup includes separate contests for service robots and search-and-rescue droids.”
Whether you’re predicting the German or Argentine squad to win this Sunday’s World Cup final, one thing is for certain: The team will be made of flesh and bones, and not powered by microcontrollers. By 2050, that may all change.
After Tim Howard’s incredible, record-breaking performance earlier this month, it makes you wonder if robots have already arrived!
With the month of July officially underway, Atmel is celebrating Independence Day in patriotic fashion, paying tribute to one of the quintessential cornerstones of the nation’s economic engine – manufacturing. Before cueing the Springsteen, firing up the grills and preparing for your 4th of July festivities, we’re celebrating U.S. manufacturing with this nifty infographic, “Made in the USA.”
Just weeks following the inaugural White House Maker Faire, it’s evident that the revival of American manufacturing is upon us, as the rise of the Maker Movement represents a significant opportunity for the United States. Last month, President Obama by increasing the ability of more Americans, young and old, to have access to tools and techniques that can bring their ideas to life.
“Today’s DIY is tomorrow’s ‘Made in America,” urged President Obama. “Your projects are examples of a revolution that’s taking place in American manufacturing – a revolution that can help us create new jobs and industries decades from now.”
Whether it’s Makers at home, students in universities or engineers in R&D, manufacturing is on the rise. It’s making a comeback and fueling innovation! Although a global corporation, Atmel is proud of the spirit of what many are calling the manufacturing renaissance here in the United States – in both Silicon Valley and Colorado Springs.
In just the past three years, the U.S. has experienced the creation 500,000 jobs, with Atmel the proud employer of 1,532 manufacturing employees. Bolstering American manufacturing is one of the best ways to increase the number of jobs – that manufacturing is at the core of the American ethos.
As in other parts of the country, businesses related to manufacturing have always played an important role in Silicon Valley. Throughout most of the 20th century, it was the American manufacturing industry that helped create the foundation for the middle class. It was the engine responsible for propelling the U.S. to global economic prominence, while setting the standard for quality; be it for cars, television sets or semiconductors.
As manufacturing boomed, industrialization came to change the very fabric of American life, symbiotically. Today, the semiconductor industry directly employs a quarter of a million people in the U.S. and supports more than one million additional American jobs. In 2013, U.S. semiconductor company sales totaled $155 billion – helping to make the global trillion dollar electronics industry possible. The U.S. has also seen a 52 percent increase in investment in the R&D semiconductor space, with $10 billion between 2007 and 2012. To be sure, U.S. semiconductor companies currently represent over half the worldwide market and are responsible for one of America’s largest exports.
Even in troubled economic times, the U.S. has managed to add approximately 520,000 manufacturing jobs since January 2010 and supports 17.2 million manufacturing jobs as a whole, with post-recession American manufacturing outpacing other nations. Nearly 12 million (about one in 10) people in the U.S. are employed directly in manufacturing.
Semiconductors – the little microchips controlling all modern electronics – are part and parcel of the American manufacturing landscape. As the building blocks of technology, they’re an integral component of America’s economic strength, national security and global competitiveness. Even more importantly, they’re used to develop the technologies helping us build a better future.
Most notably, the President notes that the path to this new era of American manufacturing has never been easier, citing the new tools and tech that are making the building of things easier than ever. Through resources and technology offered through the likes of Atmel-powered devices and other maker communities, we’ve reached a point at which there’s a democratization of manufacturing.
Sparklers and fireworks aside, today Atmel embraces the official observance of the national holiday through showcasing the best of U.S. manufacturing, investing and more. With that said, the Atmel team wishes you a very Happy 4th of July!
Writing for Bloomberg Businessweek, Christina Larson confirms that the Maker Movement continues to gain significant ground in China.
Indeed, the popularity of XinCheJian, which means “new factory,” is a sign of China’s continued participation in the global Maker Movement, which former Wired editor Chris Anderson describes as a “third industrial revolution” characterized by open-source design, 3D printing, and crowdfunding.
As Larson notes, 30 independent hackerspaces, including XinCheJian, have already opened across the country.
“DIY culture may be a little slower to pick up in China, but we’re closer to the supply chain,” David Li, a Taiwan-born programmer who co-founded XinCheJian in 2011, told the publication.
“Everyone knows someone who works in manufacturing. That makes it easier to move ideas from hobbyist tinkering to larger production runs. Makers turn startup much faster in China. That’s why governments in Shanghai and other cities, eager to jump-start innovation, are supporting the movement.”
To be sure, the Shanghai government initiated a program in 2011 to create 100 hackerspaces in the city, offering each up to 500,000 yuan ($80,000) in funding.
Shenzhen (Image Credit: Wikipedia)
In 2012, XinCheJian and DFRobot co-sponsored a Shanghai maker carnival with the Communist Youth League.
Unsurprisingly, the Maker Movement has captured the attention of numerous Chinese industry leaders, including Foxconn and PCH International, two co-sponsors of Maker Faire Shenzhen.
Atmel Corporation, a global leader in microcontroller (MCU) and touch solutions, calls the first-ever White House Maker Faire a success. With a goal of making technology simple, accessible and easy to use, Atmel is an ardent supporter of the Maker Movement and shares the passion for tomorrow’s innovators, visionaries and manufacturers.
From powering 3D printers to Arduino boards, Atmel’s 8 and 32-bit microcontrollers enable makers to create an extensive range of projects, further strengthening the DIY experience and government funded initiatives such as STEM, (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
“The Maker Movement is the next great revolution of industry and embodies the American Spirit,” said Sander Arts, vice president of marketing at Atmel.
“We congratulate the White House for putting on such a great event and appreciate its recognition and advocacy for the Maker Movement. Whether a hobbyist or an engineer, the power of this community is inspiring and Atmel is honored to be at its heart, providing the technologies that empower makers of all ages to turn imagination into reality.”
As seen at Atmel’s booth during Maker Faire Bay Area 2014, Atmel attended the White House Maker Faire joined by key makers who showcased their technologies including Quin Etnyre, age 13, CEO of QTechknow and Sylvia Todd, age 12, from Super Awesome Sylvia.
Additionally, Arduino, the popular open source platform and community for prototyping, was represented at the White House Maker Faire. Leveraging Atmel’s technology in a series of development boards, communities such as Arduino aim to enable open source collaboration, foster creativity and promote tinkering.
Follow the whereabouts of Atmel, Quin and Sylvia online and join the conversation with @Atmel and @TheAVRMan using the hashtag #NationofMakers.
For questions about the event and Atmel’s participation at White House Maker Faire, please email events@atmel.com.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Everybody, have a seat. Thank you. Well, good morning. And welcome to the first-ever White House Maker Faire — which is pretty exciting. (Applause.) Let me start off by saying, the only thing that I asked my staff about is why is there an “E” at the end of “faire.” (Laughter.) I mean, I wasn’t sure — is there jousting? Do we all have to get dressed up, or what? So I’m just warning you — next year, the “E” may be gone. I don’t know exactly who came up with that. This is America — we don’t have E’s at the end of “fair.” (Laughter and applause.) I’m just saying. I’m just saying. Whoever came up with that idea, you let me know.
We’ve got three outstanding members of Congress who are here. Bill Foster. (Applause.) Rush Holt. (Applause.) And Russ [sic] Takano. We’ve got National Science Foundation Director France Cordova, who’s here. France. (Applause.) Our NIH Director Francis Collins. (Applause.) My science advisor, John Holdren. (Applause.) We’ve got innovators like Dale Dougherty, who’s here, who helped launch the very first Maker Faire nearly a decade ago. Dale, stand up. (Applause.) We have Intel’s youngest intern, who I know because he’s probably the only person who was ever allowed to fire a marshmallow in the White House. (Laughter.) Joey Hudy — where’s Joey? There he is. (Applause.) There’s still a stain — (laughter) — from where the marshmallow hit. It was scary. The thing just went out a little — you don’t want to be at the receiving end of that marshmallow. He also brought, by the way, his “3x3x3 LED Shield,” which is his.
And we’ve got some wonderful folks like our Science Guy, Bill Nye, who’s here all the time. (Applause.) And Mr. Kamen, a great inventor. So this is a smart group right here. There are some innovative folks.
Before I begin, I have to ask: What on Earth have you done to my house? (Laughter.) I mean, there’s a mobile factory on the South Lawn. There’s a robotic giraffe. There’s a giant red weather balloon in the Rose Garden. There’s a paper-crafted dinosaur head in the hallway. Over here is a 3D-printed sculpture of my State of the Union Address. (Laughter.) Clearly, there could have been some edits right there in the middle. (Laughter.) The sculpture clearly goes on too long. (Laughter.) So this is not your typical day at the White House. We invited you here because today is “D.I.Y.” Today’s D.I.Y. is tomorrow’s “Made in America.” Your projects are examples of a revolution that’s taking place in American manufacturing — a revolution that can help us create new jobs and industries for decades to come.
And five years after the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes, our businesses have created jobs for 51 straight months — that’s 9.4 million new jobs in total. But we know we’ve got to create more. And one of the best ways to create more good jobs is by boosting American manufacturing.
So we’ve seen an auto industry that’s come roaring back, and our manufacturing sector has been adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s; about 640,000 new manufacturing jobs since February of 2010. And in the absence of much action from Congress, we’re doing what we can, I’m doing what I can on my own to keep that progress going. So I’ve launched four new high-tech manufacturing hubs across the country, with more on the way. Yesterday, I went to the TechShop in Pittsburgh, where you can use equipment like laser cutters and 3D printers for about the cost of a gym membership. We announced new steps that we’re taking to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into products. More than 90 mayors made commitments to help entrepreneurs manufacture new things in their communities, and we’re proud to have some of those mayors here today.
So we’re going to do whatever we can to bring good manufacturing jobs back to our shores, because our parents and our grandparents created the world’s largest economy and strongest middle class not by buying stuff, but by building stuff — by making stuff, by tinkering and inventing and building; by making and selling things first in a growing national market and then in an international market — stuff “Made in America.”
And the good news is, is that new tools and technologies are making the building of things easier than ever. There is a democratization of manufacturing that is potentially available because of technology. Across our country, ordinary Americans are inventing incredible things, and then they’re able to bring them to these fairs like Makers Faires. And you never know where this kind of enthusiasm and creativity and innovation could lead. So in the 1970s, Steve Wozniak designed the Apple One to show off for the members of the “Homebrew Computer Club.” And today, Apple is worth about $550 billion. I wish I had been there. (Laughter.) I’d like to think that I would have said, that’s a good idea. (Laughter.) Here, take my $100. (Laughter.)
And while I don’t know if the projects here today are the next Apple, I do know that by looking at some of these exhibits, it was just incredible what is being done. So you take the team from The Workshop School in West Philadelphia, and compared to most other schools there are a lot of advantages they don’t have. This is a poor community. They do have, however, Simon Hauger, a principal who is so talented, a student once said, “He could teach algebra to a guinea pig.” (Laughter.) And with Simon’s help, we’ve got Derrick Bell here, Taliya Carter, Joshua Pigford. Their team built a biodiesel sports car that gets around a 100 miles per gallon, which is why the Secret Service didn’t let me drive it. (Laughter.)
But what’s happening is, is that the young people now are able to learn by doing. So math, science all gets incorporated into the task of actually making something, which the students tell me makes the subject matter that much more interesting. Or you’ve got Jen McCabe, who is setting up a space called Factorli, in Las Vegas, to provide custom, small-scale manufacturing — kind of like a Kinko’s or a copy shop, but instead of printing flyers, they’re going to be able to print custom parts for American products.
There’s Marc Roth, from San Francisco. A few years ago, Marc found himself homeless. And at a shelter, Marc heard about a local “TechShop” that teaches folks how to use new tools like laser cutters and 3D printers, and he signed up. And within 16 months, he had started SF Laser, his own laser-cutting business. He just launched a program called “The Learning Shelter” to teach tech and manufacturing skills to other folks who are trying to get back on their feet.
As you were going through the exhibits, you saw young people who are students at places like MIT helping to design mobile factories that bring the tools for invention to communities that might have thought that kind of stuff was out of reach for them. An incredible story of a young woman who figured out how to make a cheap incubator that’s already helping 60,000 newbies around the world who can’t afford the sort of expensive equipment that we have in our hospitals.
It gives you a sense that we are at the dawn of something big. And one of the professors who I had a chance to speak to as I was taking the tour described it as analogous to where we were with the Internet 25, 30 years ago. In the same way that we were at that time reorganizing how we could use data and information, we are now at a point where we’re going to be able to reorganize how we think about making things and marrying the information revolution to what’s been an analogue manufacturing system. And it’s incredibly exciting and we’re at the cutting edge of it, but we’ve got to make sure that we continue to be at the cutting edge of it.
So as a country, we ought to be doing what Simon, and Jen, and Marc are doing every day, and we’ve got to make sure that more Americans have the skills and opportunities to land a job in a growing industry, or to create entirely new industries. So that’s why I’m declaring today a “National Day of Making” — and it’s why I’m backing those words up with action.
We’re helping schools take shop class into the 21st century, because one of the things I’m really interested in is how do we redesign high schools so that young people are able to do stuff as they are learning. And that’s not just true for schools in inner-city Philadelphia, that’s true for schools generally, in part because it also then gives new opportunities for young people who may have different learning styles to thrive in ways that they might not if they’re just sitting there listening to a lecture.
We’re providing new support for startups that want to file for a patent. From the Defense Department to the SBA, and from the National Science Foundation to NASA, we’re doing more to help entrepreneurs start new businesses that make things in America.
And of course, this is not just a job for government. Today, more than 150 colleges and universities are committing to giving young people more hands-on opportunities to make things. So a few minutes ago, a young man named Partha Unnava showed me the letter announcing that commitment — and of course, it was on some metal that was 3D-printed. He couldn’t just give me a piece of paper. (Laughter.) It’s harder to file, by the way, but it looks cooler. (Laughter.)
The private sector is stepping up, as well. From Indiegogo and Etsy to Disney and Intel, companies have pledged to help unleash a new wave of innovation here in America. And these companies do different things, they come from different industries, but they share the belief that when we tap the potential of every American, all of us are better off.
Camille and Genevieve Beatty are here today from Asheville, North Carolina. They’re 14 and 12 years old. Where are they? Raise your hands, guys. There you are. (Applause.) They happen to be the co-founders of Beatty Robotics. Genevieve does the wiring, Camille machines the metal. As their website puts it, “Who needs a paper route when you can start a robotics company?” (Laughter.) That’s a pretty good motto. That’s great, I love that. (Laughter.)
But the Beattys say one of the main things they’ve learned over the last few years isn’t about power tools or engineering or electronics. What they’ve learned is that, “If you can imagine it, then you can do it — whatever it is.” And that’s a pretty good motto for America.
This is a country that imagined a railroad connecting a continent, imagined electricity powering our cities and towns, imagined skyscrapers reaching into the heavens, and an Internet that brings us closer together. So we imagined these things, then we did them. And that’s in our DNA. That’s who we are. We’re not done yet. And I hope every company, every college, every community, every citizen joins us as we lift up makers and builders and doers across the country. If we do, I know we’re going to be able to create more good jobs in the years to come. We’re going to create entire new industries that we can’t yet imagine, although I suspect Camille and Genevieve may have already figured it out. (Laughter.)
And we’re going to rebuild our economy and restore our middle class, and give opportunities for people whose potential is not yet tapped. There are kids out there, there are adults out there right now who have a great idea. And they don’t have access to the capital they need. They don’t have the tools they need to put together a prototype. They don’t know how to link up with folks who could help refine those ideas. And what the Maker movement does, what technology does, what the information revolution does is it allows all those folks to suddenly be a part of this creative process. And what better place to do that than here in the United States of America?
This is a place where we know how to invent and we know how to dream and we know how to take risks. And this is a place where people who work hard have always been able to make it. We want to make sure that continues. So thanks for the great work you’re all doing. It’s very inspiring.
God bless you. God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (Applause.)
Note: Presidential transcript obtained via Makezine.
As Tom Kalil and Jason Miller note on the White House blog, the United States has always been a nation of tinkerers, inventors and entrepreneurs.
“In recent years, a growing number of Americans have gained access to technologies such as 3D printers, laser cutters, easy-to-use design software and desktop machine tools. These tools are enabling more Americans to design and build almost anything,” Kalil and Miller write.
“Across the country, vibrant grassroots communities of innovators, visionaries and manufacturers are organizing Maker Faires, creating local Makerspaces and mentoring the next generation of inventors.”
According to the White House, the rise of the Maker Movement represents a huge opportunity for the United States, with new tools for democratized production boosting innovation and entrepreneurship in manufacturing.
Indeed, Making is capable of inspiring and empowering more young people to excel in design and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), as well as helping them pursue careers in manufacturing.
That’s why President Obama is hosting the first-ever White House Maker Faire today, with Makers, innovators and entrepreneurs of all ages showcasing their cutting-edge tools and projects. We at Atmel are proud to be at the very heart of the global Maker Movement, with Quin Etnyre and Super Awesome Sylvia (both sponsored by Atmel) attending the DC Faire.
Indeed, our microcontrollers (MCUs) power a wide range of open source platforms and devices, from 3D printers to wildly popular Arduino boards.
For us, every Maker Faire has always been the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth – a family-friendly venue of invention, creativity, resourcefulness and a celebration of DIY culture. Simply put, it’s a place where people of all ages and backgrounds gather together to show what they are making and share what they are learning, whether in Washington DC, New York, San Mateo or Shanghai.
Working together, we can prove that in America, the future really is what we make of it.
Tom Kalil is Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Jason Miller is Special Assistant to the President for Manufacturing Policy at the National Economic Council.
Sylvia Todd – aka Super Awesome Sylvia – has been creating and making things since she was five. Sylvia, who learned how to solder when she was 7, also hosts her very own MAKE YouTube show.
Today, Bits & Pieces had the opportunity to interview the young Maker about DIY culture and Making at the very first White House Maker Faire – which Atmel is proudly attending.
Atmel: Who, or what inspired you to become a Maker?
Sylvia: I was inspired to be a Maker/make things when I went to the very first San Mateo Maker Faire in 2006 when I was 5. That event and the ones after it showed me that making is fun, interesting, and [helps] you learn lots of new skills. After that weekend, I wanted to solder and build and take apart things even more!
Atmel: How do you feel about being chosen to attend the very first Maker Faire at the White House?
Sylvia: I am so happy and honored that I was invited to attend the White House Maker Faire. It is pretty amazing that after being inspired by the Maker Movement to create my show back in 2009, I eventually became one of the people that helped others get into Making!
Atmel: How do you think the Maker Movement democratizes the tools and skills necessary to design and create just about anything?
Sylvia: I think the Maker Movement helps give us the knowledge resources to create lots of stuff, through sharing! The internet allows us to find and share projects, sell projects, and even show others how to make things. Sharing how to’s and project details really can inspire people to get out there and make something, even if it’s not exactly what they’re trying to make, it helps them learn by doing.
Sylvia: I have a book coming out next moth that shows three super simple Arduino projects for beginners, all using the Arduino Uno as the base. I am also going to use the Arduino in many other projects and might soon design a custom circuit board around the ATmega328 MCU for a kit. One of my older projects was an Arduino and GPS powered RC car that could navigate around my house, and one of my latest ideas is a sensor that senses when the mail truck comes and tells me by switching on a servo to ring a bell.
Atmel: How do you think the Maker Movement and DIY culture make the world a better place?
Sylvia: I think the Maker Movement will change the world because when you have lots of people thinking of new ideas or inventions and sharing their work and results, we could solve really big issues faster! Also when kids grow up in an environment of making, they’ll be more willing to fix or reuse things instead of just throwing them away, and they’ll be making themselves smarter about the world at the same time. Making stuff rocks!
At 13 years of age, Quin Etnyre is already an accomplished Maker and teacher working to change the world – one Atmel poweredArduino board at a time.
Today, Bits & Pieces had the opportunity to interview the young Maker about America’s burgeoning DIY culture on the sidelines of the very first White House Maker Faire.
Atmel: Who, or what inspired you to become a Maker?
Quin: I was inspired by LEGO. Every day I would build a kit. To be a Maker, you have to think outside of the box, and come up with new ideas on your own. Later on, I started ‘hacking’ LEGO, and making my own versions of kits that worked just as good, maybe even better. This concept led to me hacking other electronics and mechanical objects around the house, which made me a Maker.
Atmel: How do you feel about being chosen to attend the very first Maker Faire at the White House?
Quin: It is awesome!!! I can’t believe that last year I started to show my projects at Maker Faire, and just the next year I am picked to go to the White House, and show the President what I’m making! It is super fun to show people what I make, and teach them how they can learn how to make projects, too! Atmel: How do you think the Maker Movement democratizes the tools and skills necessary to design and create just about anything?
Quin: It allows more and more people the knowledge they need for free (open source), allows them to modify projects – and contribute to to the community in the end. Many people can learn, and many people can teach.
Atmel: What projects of yours are powered by Atmel-powered Arduino boards or stand-alone MCUs?
Quin: All of my projects with a microprocessor are Atmel-powered! Many of them are based on Arduino boards, like the FuzzBot, Gas Cap, and TFT LCD screen Instructables, and the Quasi-duino Arduino clone (also on Instructables!) uses the ATmega328 MCU with the bare minimum components needed to function as an extra small Arduino. [Since it] uses [a minimal number of] components on the breadboard, I even had to rewrite the Arduino core for it!
Atmel: How do you think the Maker Movement and DIY culture make the world a better place?
Quin: The average child or adult will be much smarter! They will have even more access to the digital tools and DIY machinery necessary to build complex projects with ease. Every open source product made will enable an average citizen to learn more and become ore knowledgeable, whether it is building space engines, or making light-up cupcakes.
Atmel’s comprehensive QTouch Library makes it simple for developers to embed capacitive-touch button, slider, and wheel functionality into a wide range of microcontroller applications.
The royalty-free QTouch Library provides several library files for each device, supporting various numbers of touch channels – enabling both flexibility and efficiency in touch applications.
Simply put, by selecting the library file supporting the exact number of channels needed, developers can achieve a more compact and efficient code using less RAM.
Earlier this week at Computex 2014, Atmel staff engineer Paul Kastnes demonstrated the integration of QTouch solutions with low-power consumption, using ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontrollers and sensor engines.
In addition, Atmel senior manager Dr. John Logan showcased how mobile applications can be customized using customized sensors, exhibited by a modified SAM D20 ARM Cortex-M0 microcontroller and an accelerometer gyroscope.
According to Sumasta, Atmel’s 8-bit AVR MCUs provide “the best small footprint controllers available in the market – especially when they are coupled with Arduino support.”
“We really like the form-factor but its hackability is where it really shines. Sumasta showed off the menu system which is quite snappy and makes it simple for you to add your own applications,” writes HackADay’s Mike Szczys.
“Software isn’t the only thing you can customize, as there’s a connector at the bottom of the phone. Sumasta showed off a breadboard attachment which was hosting LEDs of various colors. Their intensity can be altered using a simple slider app on the touchscreen.”
