ARLINGTON, Va.— The chief of naval research invites reporters and photographers to attend a media day at the Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL's) new Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) on April 2, 2012.
The nearly 50,000-square-foot lab recently opened its doors to researchers, and this is the public’s first opportunity to look inside the Department of the Navy’s dedicated space for robotics innovation to support research in autonomous systems. Lab facilities include environmental test areas that replicate a desert, a jungle, a highland forest and coastal waters and a prototyping high bay featuring the world’s largest motion-capture technology space, which will help scientists track and take accurate measurements of flying aircraft.
What: Media tour and press conference with naval officials at NRL’s Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research. Scientists will demonstrate ongoing research efforts in the environmental test areas. Project demos include: Pectoral fin swimmer—a biomimetic underwater robot; Benthic fuel cell—a system that produces electricity from the sea floor; Damage Control Technologies for the 21st Century—a firefighting robot; Theory of Mind—human-robot interaction; the Ion Tiger unmanned aircraft hydrogen fuel cell.
Why: The Naval Research Laboratory recently opened a new $17.7 million LEED Silver certified research facility, the Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research, which bridges the gap between laboratory research and field experiments.
Press Conference Participants: Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder, Office of Naval Research; Capt. Paul C. Stewart, NRL’s commanding officer; Alan Schultz, LASR director.
When: Monday, April 2, 2012 at 11 a.m. EDT
Where: Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington DC 20375. Media representatives are to meet in the Visitor Center (Building 72) next to the Main Gate no later than 10:45 a.m. for check-in and transport by shuttle bus to the LASR.
RSVP: By Thursday, March 29, to ONR public affairs at onrcsc@onr.navy.mil or 703-696-5031. Follow us on Twitter at #LASR for updates. Please note: No foreign nationals permitted—U.S. citizens only.
Editor’s note: Photography and videography is allowed with advance notice to Navy security prior to the event. Please note that in certain areas there may be videography restrictions due to infrared sensor interference.