SpelBots - The 1st African American Robotics Team

 SpelBots, founded in 2004, is Spelman College’s all-female robotics team whose goal is to encourage students and young women of African descent to explore robotics and computer science. The team is led by Andrew B. Williams, Ph.D., the founder and coach of the SpelBots and director of Humanoid Engineering and Robot Systems (HERS) Lab at Spelman College. SpelBots are funded by the National Science Foundation, Boeing, and General Motors.

During Black History Month, the Spelman College SpelBots robotics and computing team, are launching a local and national K-12 outreach and social media campaign in partnership with Everywhere, A Social Media Marketing Firm. They have created and are promoting and inspiring “Young Black Women in Computing and STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math)” Month. Throughout the month of February, the SpelBots, will honor 21 of the next generation of computer scientists, engineers and technologists, along with their mentors and role models. The honorees will be highlighted on the SpelBots website www.spelbots.org and on their social media platforms.

In support of this initiative and in recognition of their achievements, the SpelBots will be honored by the city of Atlanta on Feb. 6, 2012, during the full council’s meeting. Council member Keisha Lance Bottoms will present the SpelBots with a proclamation declaring Feb.6, 2012, “SpelBots-Young Black Women in Computing and STEM Day” in the city of Atlanta.

The SpelBots made history in 2005 as the first all-female, all African-American, undergraduate team to qualify and compete in the International RoboCup four-legged robot soccer competition. In another history-making moment, in 2009 the Spelbots tied for first place in the RoboCup Japan 2009 Standard Platform League Nao League humanoid soccer championship.

The team will make history once again as the first all-female, all African-American team to compete in the International RoboCup 2012 Mexico Standard Platform League Humanoid Robot Soccer Competition. They are one of 28 teams from universities worldwide that have qualified for this event, which will be held this June in Mexico City.
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