9355041 Henderson The University of Utah offers the unique combination of researchers who design and prototype advanced, teleoperated, dextrous robots with those who design and develop intelligent control methodologies for such robots. We believe that more research is necessary for the development of theory and engineering practice in the use of such advanced mainpulators as interfaces to complicate machine systems (e.g., from drug design systems to nuclear waste handling systems). We propose to develop a close relationship with North Carolina A&T (a historically black college) to give the opportunity for minority undergraduate students to visit and work in our research laboratories with the ultimate goal of recruiting them into the Traineeship program. We have also arranged for the graduate Trainees to spend time at the Advanced Robotics Laboratory at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Finally, we have also negotiated a coop arrangement with Sarcos Research Corporation (which builds and sells dextrous arms) to give some industrial experience for both the undergraduate and graduate participants in the program. ***
