CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, March 28, 1984
Page
Engineering students bring robot to life
By DAVID SWAFFORD Staff Reporter
As if doing homework and spending leisure hours with a computer wasn't enough for Joseph Majerle, now the student is working full-time with a robot.
The Prairie Village graduate student is the manager of a team of five students working with the robot in the department of mechanical engineering
'Our kids have access to some of the best equipment for mechanical engineering. We're working with state-of-the-art equipment and what's great for us is that students are getting that kind of experience in our lab. We are able to turn out better students because of that.'
The $40,000 robot was recently given to the department by the Didde Graphic Corporation of Emporia for the design in designing an automated factory.
B. G. Barr.
professor of mechanical engineering
B. G. Barr, professor of mechanical engineering, said that the robot had been given to the department because the University was taking part in a nationwide study on computerized manufacturing.
He said that the field of robotics and computerized manufacturing was growing and that the University was in the middle of the growth.
"IT'S A HOT area to be in," Barr said.
He should know — he is the adviser to a group of five students who are designing guidelines that could be used in factory robots. The guidelines are designed programs that tell the robots what tasks to perform and how to perform them.
"Creating the programs is a lot of drudgery and a lot of work." he said
The group is working in conjunction with a national project, sponsored by the U.S. Navy and the Bureau of study computerized manufacturing.
manufacturing capabilities so we can stop buying from other countries is good." Barr said. "The Navy is trying to do research in this area."
Most automated factories of today, he said, still use humans to perform some tasks. However, automated factories one-tenth the workforce 24 hours a day.
"Anything we can do to improve our
The Didee Graphic Corporation also provides, from time to time, engineers who come to the University and give their advice to students working on the project.
SEVERAL OTHER universities across the United States are also involved, but Barr said that of all
universities involved, KU was participating in the most extensive way.
The computer that the University's engineering students are working with is about five feet high and has an armful of arm that can lift up to 50 pounds.
"Our kids have access to some of the best equipment for mechanical engineering." Barr said. "We're working with state-of-the-art equipment and what's great for us is that students are getting that kind of experience in our lab. We are able to turn out better students because of that."
Majerle said that the group wanted to emulate the robot into an automatic work station similar to that at the National Bureau of Standards.
"I'm very pleased to be a part of the project," he said. "It's prestigious work and I'm glad to have done it."
He said the point of the entire project was to increase the decision-making capabilities of computers and that the process was applying this to manufacturing.
Inmates would inhabit hospitals in new plan
By United Press International
TOPEKA — Officials yesterday unveiled a proposal in the Kansas Legislature to house 300 prison inmates at Larned State Hospital and send the hospital's mentally ill patients to other facilities.
Robert Harder, secretary of the Social and Rehabilitation Services department, said that the proposal would accommodate mentally ill inmates.
Some mentally ill patients now in the facility would move to their home communities or regional mental health centers in Hays, Garden City, Hutchinson and Great Bend, he said.
"According to Department of Corrections' figures, there are between 300 and 500 mentally ill offenders in the prisons who may not
be receiving the necessary care."
"We want the facility to remain a treatment facility, not be classified as a prison," she said.
Rep. Susan Roenbach, R-Lewis, said that her main concerns were safety and the continuation of treatment.
Harder said that there would always be a need for a facility for the mentality ill in the prison system. He told legislators that if the Legislature approved funds, he would introduce the first inmates in by July 1, 1985.
While no cost for the implementation of the plan has been drawn up, Harder said that an initial study and would require $50,000/$75,000.
Carlin Press Secretary Michael Swenson said later yesterday that the governor and Harder had discussed the plan.
SOPHOMORES
COULD THE NAVY INTEREST YOU IN 2 YEARS PAID TUITION?
If you are a sophomore at the University of Kansas, you may qualify for a Navy Two-Year Scholarship. The Navy will even include $100 a month spending money.
When you graduate, you will have a job in the fleet as a naval or marine officer. You will train in Nuclear Submarines, Surface Ships, Naval Aircraft or one of many other exciting jobs.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 2 YEARS PAID TUITION
Call Lieutenant Ted Beidler at 864-3161. He will be happy to tell you about the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC)
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION MARCH 30TH
FREE ADMISSION
Friday, March 30 9:00 p.m.
Burge (Satellite) Union Party Room
beer and other refreshments will be sold.
beer and other refreshments will be sold.
COMING SOON... The SUA FILM COMMITTEE
—And you can be the star—
And you can be the star Help choose the movies to be shown on campus. Apply for the SUA Film Committee.
Pick up an application in the SUA Office.
Deadline: Thurs.. March 29.