Potentia Robotics is a student-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which was created by students at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Potentia Robotics Team Leader Anish Suvarna to learn more about the nonprofit.
Anish Suvarna’s Background
What is Anish Suvarna’s background? Suvarna said:
“I am a rising senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, the top high school in Virginia and a renowned magnet school. I have a strong background in artificial intelligence, computer science, robotics, mathematics, and entrepreneurship. My passion lies in contributing to the scientific community and inspiring the younger generation to break age barriers in STEM fields.”
Formation Of Potentia Robotics
How did the idea for the organization come together? Suvarna shared:
“The goal has always been to accomplish the impossible. Our founders were inspired by the incredible feats and sci-fi projects depicted in movies and shows, and they wanted to bring that level of innovation into reality. When I took on the role of president and team lead, I expanded the vision of what we could achieve. I pushed forward efforts on the research side to build our humanoid robot, Olympian, and managed the software, mechanical, manufacturing, design, electrical, and operations components of the team. I also emphasized collaboration and hands-on work, which are core to our organization’s ethos.”
Favorite Memory
What has been Suvarna’s favorite memory working for the organization so far? Suvarna reflected:
“My favorite memory so far would be at the GMU Space Day event, where we set up interactive face detection simulation demos for the students. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and they were eager to learn more about our work and the technical aspects behind it. Seeing their joy and being able to convey that there are no age limits to knowledge and innovation was incredibly memorable for me and my team.”
Main Projects
When asking Suvarna about the main projects that the organization is focused on, he explained:
“Our main project is to successfully design and build a six-foot-tall humanoid robot that can autonomously complete tasks. We have various subteams, each with their own goals. For example, the software team works on our gait generation algorithms, which involve complex math and inverse kinematics to model movement.”
“Our computer vision workflows use SLAM-based navigation and depth cameras to enable the robot to understand and navigate its environment by generating 3D maps. We have design and manufacturing teams as well that work on CAD designs and raw manufacturing and building of our prototypes, and we have our electronics team which focuses on the Arduino megaboards and hardware items. We also have a dedicated outreach team which focuses on hosting STEM camps and other activities for the younger students to enjoy and be motivated by.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Suvarna and the team faced in these projects? Suvarna acknowledged:
“We faced several challenges, including design and manufacturing issues. We had to reorder a lot of our motors, which were expensive linear actuator motors, because they didn’t fit our initial design. We also had to redesign many of our algorithms as new libraries were being pushed out in the overarching AI space since we wanted our tech to be state-of-the-art. To solve these issues, I implemented a testing team to ensure thorough testing of all components after they were made. This approach ensured everything worked in unison, improving our team’s synchronization and efficiency.”
Evolution Of Potentia Robotics’ Technology
How has the organization’s technology evolved since launching? Suvarna noted:
“Our technology has evolved significantly. Initially, we had minimal funds, but we secured funding from local organizations and tutoring centers by offering our services. Our team members’ extensive STEM knowledge allowed us to run boot camps and outreach events, which helped us gain sponsors and additional funding. This financial support enabled us to advance our technology and capabilities.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the organization’s most significant milestones? Suvarna cited:
“Our most significant milestones include completing the lower body of our humanoid robot and integrating it with our gait generation algorithm, allowing the robot to take its first steps. We achieved this with a scaled-down version, about 2.5 feet tall, to avoid wasting materials. Additionally, we completed all our software navigation algorithms, enabling autonomous navigation through environments with optimal path planning using A* search method. Our control systems and electronics teams also finished the hardware components.”
Future Goals
What are some of the organization’s future goals? Suvarna pointed out:
“Looking ahead, our goals include continuing research and development to manufacture the upper body and integrate all the components, which will require rigorous testing. We also plan to increase our outreach events for students, as progress in our projects enables us to inspire and engage more young minds. Additionally, we aim to partner with larger companies to offer our resources, staying true to our mission of advancing the scientific community and achieving the impossible.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Suvarna concluded:
“I’d like to highlight the impact of our community outreach and the importance of fostering a collaborative environment for innovation. Our work at Potentia Robotics is not just about building a robot; it’s about inspiring the next generation of thinkers and doers. We believe that age should never be a barrier to innovation, and we are committed to demonstrating this through our actions and achievements.”
