SC Tech Initiative Launches State-Wide Robot Naming Competition
Who Will Name the State’s New AI-Enabled Robotic Dog?
February 25, 2023 (Columbia) – SC Tech, an initiative of SC Competes, is excited to launch a state-wide K-12 naming competition for their new Boston Dynamics robotic dog at the South Carolina Regional Championship part of the FIRST® Tech Challenge held at Dreher High School.
Currently named “Spot,” SC Tech is putting the call out to Palmetto State schools to find a name for the new AI-enabled robotic canine that will soon be traveling the state introducing students to careers in robotics. “Spot” is part of the SC Competes Palmetto AI Corridor (PAIC) initiative and is made possible, in part, through the support of Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
“It’s remarkable what an impact this small but mighty robot has on not only our kids but adults, too,” says SC Competes President & CEO Susie Shannon. “We envision Spot offering our students a glance into the future of robotics, while also showing them how accessible technology can be for them right now.”
While “Spot” was built to support companies in industrial applications, such as automated inspections and data capture, the SC Competes team and its partners will travel with “Spot” to schools and communities around South Carolina to show off the future of Artificial Intelligence, Industry 4.0 technology, and other STEM-related career paths.
Kim Christ, Director of SC Tech, is excited to get “Spot” into classrooms for the 2023-2024 school year. “We want to show that South Carolina is building the educational foundation for tech careers in our school system and showing off emerging technology like this one to young minds is just one creative way to do that.”
Any school, classroom, or community group is welcome to submit name ideas at https://sccompetes.org/robotic-dog-naming-competition. Submissions will remain open until May 1, 2023. A group of judges will choose a winning name, and the winning submission will be recognized at a ceremony in Columbia on May 19. Along with naming rights, the winning submission will have the opportunity to hang out with “Spot” and the SC Competes team at their home base before scheduling is opened statewide.
Media Contact:
Adrianne Beasley
Director of Strategy and Communications
SC Council on Competitiveness
(803) 760-1408