(Bluefield)—When the Technology Collaborative (formerly the Robotics Foundry) meets with representatives of Israeli defense contractors to consider national defense/security applications in robotics, the Center for Applied Research and Technology (CART) at Bluefield State College will be at the table.

As a member of the Technology Collaborative, CART will join the National Council for Defense Robotics’ (NCDR) summit in Pittsburgh, PA. The summit was originally organized to explore how unmanned ground vehicles could be used for security fence patrols, with the scope of the dialogue having recently expanded to involve robotics researchers from Israeli universities and their United States academic counterparts.

Patti Rote, Director of The Technology Collaborative, noted, “This summit can serve as a starting point for establishing long-term business relationships with the Israelis. We can help to provide meaningful solutions to their border patrol concerns and related security matters.”

More than a year ago, CART accepted an invitation to join what was then known as the Robotics Foundry, a Pittsburgh-based organization designed to establish and grow a thriving robotics industry cluster. “As a member of the Technology Collaborative, CART shares the organization’s vision of utilizing technology and technology transfer. We are particularly encouraged about the summit because of the networking opportunities it presents.”

Bruce Mutter, Director of CART, will represent CART at the NCDR summit, November 7-9. An October 31 conference call will provide information to prepare participants for the three-day event.

October 28, 2005