Quotes About Advanced Robotics Venture Led by CMU

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.)

"Western Pennsylvania is creating its own future and Carnegie Mellon is helping to lead the way. This funding will make sure that the next generation of technology advances and the jobs that come with them are created in Pittsburgh."

Frank Kendall, U.S. Undersecretary of Defense

"We could build designs that [other countries] could only conceive of, and that is why manufacturing is so important."

"This will not only meet key defense needs, it will also enhance manufacturing competitiveness."

"This will give our war fighters a second to none capability and protection on battle fields."

Rick Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive

"We're proud to answer the call again to serve this nation in its defense capacity."

"You can't pick a better place than Pittsburgh to do this, because when you think of the innovation of science and technology, it's been done in Pittsburgh. It's been done at Carnegie Mellon University."

James H. Garrett Jr., Dean, College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University

"Our faculty in the Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering have a number of important capabilities and exciting research projects on advanced manufacturing technology, robotics, material science and data storage, and look forward to working with the companies and universities in the ARM to advance our national manufacturing capability."

Erica R.H. Fuchs, Professor of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University

"Robotics has the potential to profoundly change U.S. competitiveness in manufacturing — not just by improving our productivity and the prospects for more manufacturing to happen locally — but by enabling the U.S. to produce products that couldn’t be produced anywhere else in the world."

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.)

"This is big for Pittsburgh, but it's big for the country, too."

"In Pittsburgh, we like to build things. It's our history."

"One of the keys to our [Pittsburgh's] success is our universities."

"We need to retain a vibrant and capable industrial base. We have to make sure we have a workforce that is educated and trained. It's no surprise to any of us that Carnegie Mellon was selected."

William Peduto, City of Pittsburgh Mayor

"We saw our city die…for so many people, they thought it was temporary. But for visionaries at Carnegie Mellon, they were creating the first robotics institute."

"Pittsburgh survived because we understand the importance of partnerships…it was innovation and partnerships that allowed Pittsburgh to rise to a global level."

Robert Mandelbaum, Chief Technology Officcer at Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories

"This is really the dream team....This is the team of the best of the best of the best in the world. There is no other team that you could form that could do this work in robotics."

Subra Suresh, Carnegie Mellon University President

"This new institute will provide significant benefits to the region and the nation, while creating enormous opportunities for CMU scholars and researchers, and new momentum for the university. The institute, in return, will benefit from CMU's expertise in technology, as well as its strengths in policy, ethics and human interfaces that will ensure that new technologies work to benefit humankind."

"Through this new initiative, we will not only make robotics more accessible, we will usher in new manufacturing jobs across the nation."

Farnam Jahanian, Carnegie Mellon University Provost

"The institute will tap into CMU's research strengths in collaborative robotics, sensor technologies, materials science and human-computer interaction, areas that are rapidly transforming many sectors of our economy."

"With this unique partnership between academia, government and industry, CMU is poised to bridge the gap between research, innovation and practice in the emerging field of advanced manufacturing."

Gary Fedder, Carnegie Mellon University Vice Provost for Research

"When the DOD announced its intention to create a new institute dedicated to robotics manufacturing, we knew that CMU's historic strength in the field, leading to cutting-edge research underway today, gave us a great opportunity."

"We were fortunate to build a team that brought complementary strengths from across the nation."

Howie Choset, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute

"This work has the power to benefit society broadly, and to benefit many, many potential workers and their families."

"We're going to create robotics technologies that are going to create jobs and empower the worker."

"We're going to establish the United States as the leader in robotics technology."