Bluefield State College’s student robotics team and “Archon,” the autonomous ground vehicle the students have created, will participate in the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Student Ground Robotics Demonstration on the National Mall in Washington, DC.  The students and Dr. Bob Riggins, BSC Professor of Electrical Engineering Technology, will join student teams from nine other institutions of higher education during the three-day event at the Mall, in front of the U.S. Capitol, April 9-11.  The program is a signature activity during the second annual National Robotics Week, April 9-17.

“The Student Ground Robotics Demonstration coincides with the final week of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which attracts about one million visitors to the Nation’s Capitol,” Riggins noted, “so we’re very excited to be a part of this high profile event.  We have contacted the offices of U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, as well as U.S. Congressman Nick Rahall in the hope they can attend.”

BSC, which won the 2008 world championship in the “Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) Autonomous Challenge,” will utilize the Student Ground Robotics Competition as a practice opportunity in preparation for the 19^th annual IGVC competition that will take place in June.

Solar energy panels have been installed at Bluefield State College, as a result of a $40,000 “Energy Conservation Grant” from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund/Department of Energy.  The award has covered the cost of a research project to promote adopting solar energy to illuminate a primary parking area at the College and to train BSC students in solar panel installation technology.

Dr. Tesfaye Belay, a faculty member at Bluefield State College, submitted the grant and was awarded for one year from July 2010 through January 2011. The BSC Offices of the Vice President of Financial and Administrative Affairs, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Engineering Technology & Computer Science were the major parties engaged to implement the research project.

Electrical Engineering Technology Professor Roy Pruett introduced the energy conservation project (solar panels) to his Power Systems Class during fall 2010 semester. As a result, BSC students Jason Roten, Garry Viars, Bernie Maynard, and Daniel Seide participated in class assignments, including a research paper on energy conservation.  Additionally, the solar panel locations, type, system and installation set-up were determined through the participation of BSC students, faculty and administrative staff.  Energy generated from the panels will be used to illuminate the campus parking lot adjacent to the Brown-Gilbert Basic Science Building.

“The project is also designed to reach out into the community to increase understanding and utilization of solar energy technology, reduce the College’s electricity costs, and increase students’ knowledge of the principles of solar energy conservation,” noted Dr. Belay, an Associate Professor of Biology at BSC.  “This grant permits Bluefield State College to illustrate how an energy conservation program can benefit students, administration and community.”