The Department of Defense is doubling down on its commitment to the Pittsburgh-based Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute following a $35.4 million contract that will be used to further robotic workforce development efforts over the next five years.
"Over the past seven years, the ARM Institute-Department of Defense public-private partnership has made important progress in strengthening U.S. manufacturing through advanced robotics, related AI technologies, and workforce development," Greg Hudas, DoD program manager for the ARM Institute, said in a prepared statement. “With the continuation agreement in place, this partnership will build on this progress and continue to push innovation to a higher level for the good of the warfighter and the nation."
Based in Hazelwood Green's Mill 19 complex, ARM works to aid manufacturers across the country that are looking to bring robotics into their materials-building process, among other tasks.
Per the agreement, DoD has the option to renew the contract again for another five-year term after 2028, which would bring its total investment into ARM to $70.4 million.
“The ARM Institute would like to thank the Department of Defense and, in particular, our government program manager Dr. Greg Hudas for working diligently to secure our continued agreement,” Ira Moskowitz, ARM Institute CEO, said in a prepared statement. "We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Defense to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and respond to our nation’s greatest challenges."
Since its inception in 2017, ARM has invested in over 150 robotics and workforce projects nationally and its membership includes more than 300 organizations.
It employs about 40 people across its headquarters in Pittsburgh and at an outpost in St. Petersburg, Florida.
