Ayanna Howard
10-year member

Dr. Ayanna Howard

Georgia Institute of Technology
GA
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  • Barbara O’Reilly asked Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Added Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 12:16 PM

    Hello Ayana - I am a retired middle school teacher in Ohio and have some questions about your background. Where did you grow up and did you have a private or public education? And how did your teachers affect your future educational decisions?

    Answers 0
  • lalaine asked Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Added Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 10:22 PM

    Hi Dr. Howard! I am going to occupational therapy school and am very interested in integrating technology (i.e. robotics, assistive devices) and Occupational Therapy (our goal is to improve patient's physical function). What role can OTs play in the design of robotics? What computer coding languages would be useful for OTs to pick up if they are interested in working with robotics as well?. Thank you, I am inspired by what you do!
    Answers 1
    Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Friday, September 21, 2018 at 3:52 PM
    OTs and PTs are especially important in the design of robots for therapy. They are instrumental in terms of determining what types of robot behaviors are optimal for improving patient outcomes, designing appropriate human-robot interaction therapy ...
  • Mariam asked Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Added Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 1:24 PM

    Hi! I'm in a summer program for Girls Who Code, and we recently had a debate on whether robots can actually think or would have the ability to think like humans do. I personally don't think so, but this question really interests me. Thanks!
    Answers 1
    Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Monday, July 30, 2018 at 8:54 AM
    Yes, robots can be taught to think and taught to mimic the decision-making power of humans, but they do not process information exactly the same way humans do. For example, we can teach robots to recognize emotions by figuring out how humans recognize ...
  • Cat Monty asked Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Added Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 11:10 AM

    I'm researching you for school project and you are pretty amazing
    Answers 1
    Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 1:39 PM
    I truly do enjoy designing, building, and programming the intelligence of robotic systems. Robotics allows me to not only be creative by using my engineering and computer science skills but allows me to geek out on amazing technology.
  • Miss Meyer's Fourth Graders, Lisbon, ND asked Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Added Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 3:15 PM

    Hi Dr. Howard! We read about you in science class today and found this website. We have some questions for you! How long did it take you to actually make a fully functioning robot like SmartNav or SnoMote? How successful have SmartNav and SnoMote been at answering questions for scientists? Have you had any other jobs besides being a roboticist? Let us know if you can answer any of these questions. Great work with all of your robots!
    Answers 1
    Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 3:15 PM

    How long did it take you to actually make a fully functioning robot like SmartNav or SnoMote?
    It took about one year to build a working prototype and one more to get it functioning robustly in hazardous environment, with smarts.

    Have you had any other ...

  • Mia, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Added Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 12:33 PM

    Hi :) Stay in Civil or move to Electronic or Electrical? I am a first year, studying Engineering at Stellenbosch University. Currently I am registered for Civil Engineering, but we are allowed to still change courses within Engineering before December. This semester we started with the subjects Computer Programming and Electro-technique. Both these subjects are more in the direction of Electronic and Electrical engineering. I enjoy both subjects a lot and I am starting to think I should ...
    Answers 1
    Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 12:33 PM

    The answer to switch really depends on your interest level. If you haven’t taken any Civil Engineering courses yet, then it becomes more difficult to determine which you most enjoy until you do. I would not base a decision though on which courses ...

  • Ni asked Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Added Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 3:10 PM

    How old were you when you started engineering?
    Answers 1
    Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 3:10 PM

     I first learned how to solder when I was in middle-school. Wasn’t technically an engineer then, but was doing things that were engineering-focused. 

  • Adrienne, Jacksonville, FL asked Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Added Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 1:50 PM

    When did you start this job that you have now and was this your dream job....:)
    Answers 1
    Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 1:50 PM

    My dream job started when I received my first summer internship at NASA while in college. I worked on a space-related project focused on satellite communications. By the time I left NASA, I was programming advanced robots that might one day explore Mars. ...

  • Shelbie, Missouri asked Valarie King-Bailey, OnShore Engineering & Construction

    Added Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 7:30 AM

    I really want to be an engineer for the U.S. marines. I am one of the top in my class, though I am only in middle school, but I think I can do it. What are some classes you suggest I pay extra attention to? Thank you, Shelbie
    Answers 2
    Ayanna Howard, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 7:30 AM
    You definately seem to have one of the key ingredients - Motivation. As you go through middle school and continue through high school, try to take as many math and science courses as you can get your hands on. I also suggest trying to join a robotics ...