Pittsburgh, a city renowned for its thriving tech scene and innovative spirit, recently hosted the inaugural Aviation & Robotics Summit. The event attracted industry leaders from around the globe who gathered to discuss advancements and trends within their respective fields. During his speech at the summit, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro praised the region's ability to grow and foster promising startups over the years.
Gov. Shapiro spoke passionately about how he plans to help support efforts that would continue such work as part of his duties as governor: "This region has always been a hotbed of innovation, particularly when it comes to aviation and robotics technology," said Gov. Shapiro during his address at the summit. "As your governor, I am committed to ensuring that we not only maintain this momentum but also actively promote growth within these industries."
The two-day event featured panel discussions on topics ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drone regulations, autonomous systems integration into existing infrastructure, and more.
One of the key speakers was Dr. Karen Chen-Wiegart, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science: "It is truly inspiring to see so many industry experts come together under one roof," she said after her presentation on AI-powered drones for environmental monitoring purposes.
Other notable attendees included representatives from major corporations like Google X's SkyBender project team members Bill Marisota and Sarah Hunter; Airbus Aerial CEO Jesse Kallman; Boeing HorizonX Ventures' Brian Schettler; Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® director Russ Anarde; Pittsburgh City Council member Corey O'Connor; Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald among others.
The summit not only facilitated conversations surrounding cutting-edge technologies but also provided an opportunity for networking between professionals across various disciplines within aviation and robotics.
Several local startups were given space during the event to showcase their latest innovations in unmanned systems, AI applications, and more. Among them was a team of engineers from the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering who displayed their prototype for an autonomous drone system designed to assist with bridge inspections.
As the summit came to a close, Gov. Shapiro reiterated his commitment to supporting growth within these industries: "I am honored and excited to be part of this groundbreaking event," he said. "This is just the beginning – we will continue working together, fostering collaborations between academia, industry leaders, government officials and entrepreneurs to ensure that Pennsylvania remains at the forefront of aviation and robotics innovation."
With such strong support coming from both government leadership and world-renowned institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, there is no doubt that Pittsburgh's reputation as a hub for technological advancement will only grow stronger in years ahead. The inaugural Aviation & Robotics Summit has undoubtedly set an ambitious precedent for future gatherings focused on these rapidly evolving fields.