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, Tennessee State University, Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina A&T, Jackson State University, and Howard University. R1 membes include 

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.