SPRiNG 2009
FA C U LT Y S P O T L I G H T
Dr. John wright INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY
Gives new perspective on the innovative world of robots.
think of robots and chances are an almost human-like figure with a head, arms and maybe even legs comes to mind. however, Dr. John wright Jr., associate professor of automation and electronic technologies, reminds us that most robots do not look like mechanical people. “Robots are more likely to be sophisticated vehicles that go places where people cannot,” says wright, who received two major national service awards from the National Association of industrial technology (NAit) in November. Most recently, wright has been featured in Robot Magazine’s March/April 2009 issue in an article titled “Bots & Bubbles: Students go for the Gold in the NAit Robotic Manipulator Contest.” Some of the places robots can go include into smoke-filled buildings, where they can locate victims and even extinguish fires. Robots can go into space, to explore and photograph planets that do not support human life. Robots can be used to detonate bombs in situations where human life would be in jeopardy. And robots can serve as the arms and
legs of persons with disabilities, allowing them to do things they otherwise might not be able to do. teaching students about robots and helping them engineer their own robotic technology gives wright great satisfaction. For him, it is a passion that he has pursued since he was a child. his interest in robots and electronics goes back to a remote-controlled, red Corvette car he received for Christmas when he was 9 years old. in two days, he had removed all the electronic components and hotglued them onto one of his tonka trucks. his revamped truck worked pretty well, except that it wouldn’t turn left. “they say that if you do what you love in life, it’s never work,” says wright. it’s easy to see that wright doesn’t think of working with students as work. his research includes autonomous mobile robotics, electric vehicle development and systems integration. “when i first started my education, i was planning on going into research and development,” says wright, adding that both of his parents are educators at the University of Southern Maine.
teaching became his calling after he was given the opportunity to teach a senior-level robotics course at iowa State University. he discovered that he loved sharing his knowledge, guiding students in solving problems and finding new ways of making things work. he is equally enthusiastic about promoting his profession and helping students compete in national student technical competitions. in 2007, his students took two first-place awards with their robot in the NAit competition. wright also has a few surprises up his sleeve. An avid harley-Davison fan, he took a 7,625-mile, 39-day, cross-country motorcycle trip with his father in the summer of 2007. And he has his black belt in tang Soo Do karate. As a volunteer, he has been teaching robotics at Lincoln Middle School, St. Anne’s School and Burrowes Elementary School in Lancaster. “it’s thrilling to see these young minds. the world is changing so fast, and they will be a part of it,” says wright. “My goal as an educator is to teach them the process of learning.”
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