ARIC’s Transformation
Ever driven by the big yellow garage door on Union Alley, behind Westminster New & Used Furniture, and wondered what happens there? Heard of ARIC, but aren’t quite sure what we do? Let’s take a journey of discovery and showcase the latest upgrade that is transforming our robotics center into a hub of technological advancement.
The Legacy of Robotics in Carroll County
The former headquarters of General Dynamics Robotics Systems (GDRS; formerly F&M Manufacturing) in Carroll County produced robotics components for Lockheed Martin and General Electric. GDRS cultivated a large workforce with robotics expertise during the 1990s and early 2000s. When they closed, most employees remained in the area; some started robotics businesses like Dynamic Dimension Technologies and Land Sea Air Autonomy (now called MACH). Other GDRS alumni who remained local now work for various technology companies, including Textron, Robotic Research, and Knorr-Brake. Leveraging this brain trust, Westminster has the ability to push the boundaries of autonomous robotics and educate future engineers. Enter the Autonomous Robotics Innovation Center (ARIC).
A New Era of Robotics
In 2021, the Westminster Autonomous Corridor Project marked the beginning of the journey to establish ARIC. Originally designed in the 1930s as a service center for The W.H. Davis Buick dealership, the basic layout remained largely unchanged over the years. Using a generous initial donation from Knorr Brake Company, a makerspace grant from TEDCO, and some additional funding from various local organizations, we were able to reimagine and renovate the space into what it is today. ARIC includes a community makerspace, robotics clubs and programs, and virtual reality and simulation software. This allows us to offer hands-on learning experiences that inspire creativity and innovation.
Community support has allowed us to accomplish so much in just three short years, and we owe a great deal of thanks to our supporters for their generosity and belief in our mission. We would especially like to thank The Kahlert Foundation for their recent investment in our HVAC system, which is fully up and running as of December 6th! This was a significant milestone for ARIC because we did not previously have air conditioning, which limited our programming offerings during the Summer. “I didn’t know how inefficient and underwhelming the old oil furnace was until the new system was in place,” said Kim Samuelson, Executive Director of MAGIC. “As cold as it has been, the entire space is evenly heated and comfortable, making a pleasant working environment for students, coaches, and staff. I can only think how nice the building will be in the Summer when we actually have air conditioning.”
Meet the Team Leading ARIC’s Future
Kim, MAGIC’s new Executive Director, has been an integral part of our organization since 2018, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous roles as a Systems Administrator and Network Engineer. Raised in the world of network and cloud services before they became mainstream, her passion for education and technology makes her the perfect leader to guide our organization into its next chapter. She will build upon the strong foundation laid by our previous Executive Director and current Executive Board Vice President, Graham Dodge.
Joining Kim is our new Program Coordinator, Amy. Amy has dedicated 17 years to teaching educators, and her robotics coaching experience positions her to scale our education programs. Hunter Childs, our Communications & Development Coordinator, brings expertise in administration and operations to the role and enjoys telling the story of our MAGICal community. Rounding out our team is Robert Jaffe, a retired electrical engineer who was introduced to us by Carroll County Workforce Development in 2022. Since his start at MAGIC, he has worked with our interns on various robotics projects.
What’s Next For ARIC?
The past year has been one of significant change and progress at MAGIC and ARIC. With the improved facilities, we look forward to increasing the number of learning opportunities, and we are very excited to finally be working on a Summer schedule of workshops, open houses, and events.
To kick off 2025, we will be holding two open houses to showcase our K-12 educational initiatives on January 27th and February 24th from 6-8 PM. These events are open to kids of all ages and will feature hands-on learning, demonstrations, and a special “make & take” robot activity. We look forward to welcoming you to ARIC, and stay tuned for the full Summer schedule.
Dates: Monday, January 27, 2025 & Monday, February 24, 2025
Time: 6:00-8:00pm
Location: ARIC – 31 West Main Street, Rear, Westminster, MD 21157
Entry: Free
