Robotics Day at Capitol spotlights industry

Monday is Minnesota Robotics Day at the state Capitol, where students and people who work in the robotics industry will be demonstrating what they do.

The event at the Capitol is intended to educate lawmakers about the state's robotics industry and its prospects for growth, said Andrew Borene, the executive director of a group called Robotics Alley, which promotes the industry in Minnesota.

"What we want to do is introduce the state's government leaders and the public to our local ecosystem in a rapidly growing industrial segment globally, specifically unmanned systems," Borene said.

Demonstrations of robotic technology will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Monday in the Capitol rotunda, said Borene, who works for Edina-based ReconRobotics. The company manufactures throw-able remote-controlled cameras used by the military and law enforcement.

Borene said the event is intended to let government leaders know the industry is "willing to help them as they determine what's the future of Minnesota's economy going to look like and how do we secure high-tech job growth."

He said there are more robotics clubs at Minnesota schools than there are hockey teams.