Kentucky High School Welcomes Face-scanning Robot Into Classroom

Central High School in Louisville, Kentucky, has introduced “Ryan Pepper,” a social robot designed to assist students in learning advanced coding and AI programming. Equipped with facial recognition and AI capabilities, Ryan allows students to experiment with programming by making the robot perform tasks like dancing, following sounds, and engaging in simple communication.

The robot’s facial recognition technology involves AI-driven software that identifies and interprets human facial features to respond to students. Using embedded cameras and sensors, the robot captures and analyzes facial patterns, allowing it to distinguish between individuals and react accordingly. This feature enables personalized interactions, making Ryan adaptable to different users’ expressions and commands.

Ryan is the second high-tech addition to Central’s STEM program, following the purchase of a manufacturing robot in 2022. The introduction of these tools aligns with the school’s mission to provide industry-standard equipment, ensuring that students develop the skills needed in the evolving tech landscape.

STEM teacher Jim Gilbert emphasized the importance of equipping students to adapt to and thrive in a technology-driven economy, stressing that they should be creators rather than bystanders as AI continues to advance.

The robotics initiative has already sparked enthusiasm among students, some of whom had no prior coding experience before joining Central’s engineering program.

Source: WHAS11, WDRB

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October 25, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis