Learn Systems Engineering by Building a Robot

Texas Instruments has a new offering for engineering education: the TI-Robotics System Learning Kit (TI-RSLK). The kit provides all the hardware necessary to build a functional robotic system, but its real value comes from the complementary curriculum. Developed in partnership with Jon Valvano, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, the TI-RSLK comes complete with a set of 20 educational modules meant to guide students through fundamental systems engineering concepts.
“The ultimate goal of the learning kit is to design, build and test a robot system capable of solving complex tasks,” explained Valvano. “Example challenges you might try are line following, maze exploring and autonomous driving. However, it’s not the final robot that matters, but the educational journey that discovers a wide range of engineering principles in the process.”
Although the TI-RSLK was developed with first-year engineering students in mind, the curriculum is flexible enough to complement a variety of engineering courses spanning multiple disciplines. And you don’t have to be a student to take advantage of the kit-professional engineers might learn a thing or two themselves.

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Comfort Systems USA Announces Acquisition

Business Wire | February 01, 2024

Comfort Systems USA, Inc. today announced that it has closed its previously announced transaction to acquire Summit Industrial Construction, LLC (“Summit”) headquartered in Houston, Texas. As previously disclosed, Summit is a specialty industrial mechanical contractor offering engineering, design-assist and turnkey, direct hire construction services of modular systems serving the advanced technology, power, and industrial sectors. Summit’s capabilities encompass a wide range of modular and site-based construction, including process piping, equipment setting, large pipe rack trestles, and related steel erection and specialty concrete work. Summit is a trusted supplier to some of the world’s largest advanced technology, power and industrial companies and is currently deployed on several major chip fabrication projects. Initially, Summit is expected to contribute annualized revenues of approximately $375 million to $400 million, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of $35 million to $40 million. In light of the amortization expense, Summit is expected to make a neutral to slightly accretive contribution to earnings per share in 2024 and 2025. Brian Lane, Comfort Systems USA’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are delighted to announce the closing of our agreement to acquire Summit, an extremely capable provider of modular and other complex mechanical services. Summit brings a stellar reputation as a modular technology leader in growing end markets, including multiple ongoing and large semiconductor projects. We are happy to welcome Summit’s wonderful leadership team and excellent production and craft workers across many states, and we are confident Summit will continue to innovate and grow as a part of our network of world-class contracting companies. We are grateful that Summit has chosen to become part of Comfort Systems USA.”

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