The ARTSI (Advancing Robotics Technology for Societal Impact) Alliance is a collaborative education and research project centered around robotics for healthcare, the arts, and entrepreneurship.  Spelman College, a historically black college (HBCU) for women is leading the alliance in partnership with several other HBCUs and Research I (R1) institutions. These institutions include Florida A&M University, the University of the District of Columbia, Hampton University, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, Winston-Salem State University, the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Brown University, Duke University, the University of Alabama, the University of Washington, and the University of Pittsburgh.

ARTSI Goals: 

• Increase the number of African Americans who study computer science and robotics in college, and encourage them to pursue advanced training in graduate school.
• Increase the number of HBCU faculty who educate students in robotics and involve students in robotics research.
• Recruit K-12 and HBCU students to pursue computer science and robotics education.

BROADER IMPACTS of the ARTSI Alliance

• Promoting role modeling and mentoring for HBCU faculty and students in robotics education and research.
• Creating a nation-wide resource and learning community of African Americans involved in robotics, and increasing public awareness of their work.
• Enlarging the audience of students who find robotics computing careers attractive.