UC Robotics Keeps Keep Cincinnati Beautiful Robot Functional

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful’s trash-picking robot broke down. Who can blame the poor thing? It’s a thankless job, picking up trash left behind after a busy summer. No wonder its little battery was dead and its fuses fried.

The story starts a few months ago: When "Les Litter" began to show signs of malaise, intern Josh Stevens knew what to do. Stevens is a UC communication student working with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.

"I knew with UC’s organizations that we had to have a robotics group, so I looked on the Web,” says Stevens. He looked them up, found their Web site and talked with Professor Ernie Hall, Director of the UC Center for Robotics.

“He has to be one of the warmest guys I’ve ever talked to!” says Stevens. “He told me all about the team and all the great things they do.”

The first time that Les got to visit UC it was introduced to the Bearcat Cub robot and the whole UC Robotics Team. This time, however, Les broke down on its way to its home base at Cincinnati’s City Hall.

Mark McCrate, engineering grad student and long-time member of the UC Robotics Team, grabbed his tools and safety gear and drove downtown.

“I’m creating a grocery list of what I need,” explained McCrate.

Like what?

“A jarmundo battery would be good,” he answered. He passed around a fuse. All agreed that its official status was “cooked.”

Josman Rodriguez, program manager for public awareness for Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, explained that the robot was built in Atlanta especially for Cincinnati. It has delighted crowds here for years with its many talents.

After a trip to a nearby auto parts store for said “jarmundo” battery and several hours of McCrate’s tinkering, Robin Henderson, program manager for community involvement, was able to move the robot forward and backward. We won’t say how she did this, but you might think that she drinks a lot of coffee.

“This is so great that you all would come and do this for us,” Henderson said.

Finally the robot was humming along like new. And ready to have the last word.

“Don’t be a litterbug!” says Les.

Want to read more about UC's Robotics Team?

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UC Robotics Lab

UC Robotics Team Races to Build a Safer, Faster Robot — Watch the Trials on McMicken Commons on May 4 (2005)