With funding support from Georgia Space Grant Consortium and Mercer University, Dr. Anthony Choi has created an Open Robotics Laboratory (Machine Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory, MIRL) in the new Science and Engineering Building with work benches, equipment, consumable materials, and large open floor space for experiments. Due to increased research activity, MIRL lab space was increased in summer of 2012. MIRL now has another room solely dedicated to conducting robotics experiments. Laboratory is open to any student with interests in robotics or intelligent machines. Students can walk into the lab and start on predefined small projects, larger projects with other members, research projects led by senior undergraduate or graduate student, or their own projects. It creates an environment for students to get hands-on experience with formal and informal support system. Students can experience, experiment, and design with minimal cost and almost no delay in obtaining parts. The lab is stocked with not only major equipment, but also sensors, actuators, rapid prototyping capabilities, etc. The Open Robotics Laboratory provides a vibrant and conducive environment where students can let their interests and imaginations run wild.

In conjunction with this Open Robotics Laboratory, Mercer established Mercer Robotics Club in Fall of 2011. Mercer Robotics Club will help recruit from wide range of majors. We currently have 61 members with 8 major projects underway. Group Facebook page can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/MercerRoboticsClub/. It has attracted engineers from Robins Air Force Base interested in Robotics and Intelligent Systems.

MIRL is also starting to attract interest from local industry interested in collaborative prototype design of robotic systems to meet the requirements of Robins Air Force Base.