SUNY Poly opens new robotics lab at Marcy campus

MARCY — A new robotics lab at SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s (SUNY Poly) campus in Marcy is focused on research, development, and educational opportunities based on robotics and automation capabilities.

The university formally opened the new lab in December.

The Hage Family Robotics Lab is named in honor of the Hage family “in recognition of decades of significant support” for SUNY Poly “over nearly a quarter century.”

“On behalf of the SUNY Poly Foundation, I am grateful for the generous contributions of the Hage family, who have been steadfast supporters of the hands-on educational opportunities that SUNY Poly students have always received,” Andrea LaGatta, executive director of the SUNY Poly Foundation, said in a news release. “We are thrilled to be able to name this state-of-the-art robotics lab after a family whose impact is helping support SUNY Poly students as they gain highly relevant skills that will help them succeed while strengthening our local, regional, and New York State workforce.”

The Hage Family Robotics Lab is located in Donovan Hall on the Marcy campus. It is part of SUNY Poly’s new Center for Global Advanced Manufacturing (CGAM). 

The lab has robotics technologies that “enable unique experiential learning opportunities and collaboration,” SUNY Poly contends. 

For example, Baxter, a “smart, collaborative” robot is housed in the lab, aiming to redefine the use of industrial automation in manufacturing environments. Baxter is also currently being used in the research of Yu Zhou, professor of mechanical engineering at SUNY Poly. 

“SUNY Poly represents the future of technology in Central New York, and we, as rural New Yorkers, are committed to full participation in the 21st century economy,” J.K. Hage III, an attorney with Utica law firm Hage & Hage, said in the school’s release.

The Hage Family Robotics Lab is accessible to any SUNY Poly student who is “inspired to pursue a robotics project of his or her own upon completion of a baseline safety test.” 

In addition, the lab supports the institution’s Fabrication Club. It also supports FIRST Robotics Team #5030, The Second Mouse, an award-winning FIRST robotics team that has earned a berth to the FIRST robotics world championship in three of the last five years, per the SUNY Poly release. 

The team is comprised of area high-school students mentored by SUNY Poly engineering and computer-science mentors.