[liberationtech] African Robotics Network

[Yosem Companys]

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that the African Robotics Network includes
members from Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria, as well as African
roboticists working outside of Africa, in America and Europe.  We also have
several key supporters or "affiliate members" outside of Africa, including
prominent leaders in the field of robotics.

We would like to encourage you to extend an invitation to AFRON to other
interested colleagues, particularly in parts of Africa not already included
in the network.  There is, of course, no cost and no requirement for
joining, except an interest in robotics, and excitement about enhancing
robotics-related education, research and industry in Africa.

------------------------------**--------------
Announcing:

The African Robotics Network (AFRON)
http://robotics-africa.org

** All are welcome to an introductory meeting at ICRA on  Tues May 15,
** 12 -1pm , at the Crowne Plaza Hotel - Governors Hall IV, Saint Paul, MN

The African Robotics Network (AFRON) is a community of institutions,
organizations and individuals engaged in robotics in Africa.  AFRON seeks
to promote communication and collaborations that will enhance
robotics-related education, research, and industry on the continent. To
achieve this, AFRON organizes projects, meetings and events in Africa and
at Robotics and Automation conferences abroad. Established in April 2012,
AFRON hosts a website, Facebook page, and moderated email list.

There are no subscription fees or dues.  To join, please visit the website
above and click "Membership".

For the purposes of AFRON, "robotics" is broadly defined to include
related areas such as automation, computer vision, signal processing,
machine learning, and other related topics.

Inaugural Project AFRON USD $10 Robot Design Challenge:  This is a
competition to develop an extremely low-cost programmable robot for
education.  More information will be announced in June!

Membership.

Institutions and individuals may join AFRON as regular or affiliated
members. Member institutions are represented by a contact person.

? Regular institutional and individual members are engaged in
robotics education, research or industry and have direct links to Africa.
Examples of such institutional members include universities, research labs,
non-profit organizations and companies in Africa.  Examples of such
individual members include university faculty and researchers; individuals
running robotics programs for tertiary, secondary or primary students;
African roboticists in the diaspora, and so on.

? Affiliated members are supportive of the AFRON initiative but may
not have direct links to Africa or may not be directly engaged in robotics
initiatives on the continent.

co-Founders:

Ayorkor Korsah <akorsah at ashesi.edu.gh>
Asst. Professor, Computer Science, Ashesi University, Accra, Ghana

Ken Goldberg <goldberg at berkeley.edu>
Professor, IEOR, EECS, Information, UC Berkeley
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