着眼于制造业的未来，我们需要熟练和兴奋的人才能自动化。这要求我们鼓励和投资学校的STEM（科学，技术，工程和数学）计划，以帮助开发下一代制造业。
TechFit（用于利用未来创新者和技术人员的教学工程概念）引发了四位教授之间的合作：主要合作者，普渡大学机械工程技术教授Brad Harriger，Brad Harriger；普渡大学计算机和信息技术教授Alka Harriger；以及查尔斯顿学院运动科学和运动教学法教授Susan＆Mike Flynn。根据苏珊·弗林（Susan Flynn）的说法，TechFits的目标将为儿童/青年提供探索，学习和从事与STEM学科有关的活动的机会；并为学生提供工具和知识，以了解一生健康。
该计划培训多个学科的中学教师，以使用基本自动化技术（例如PLC逻辑，DC接线技术，PushButtons，指示器和传感器技术）结合健身等基本自动化技术进行课后计划。布拉德·哈里格（Brad Harriger）指出，在反思Techfit的开始时，我们研究了舞蹈革命和Wii Fit等现有系统，并想知道我们如何使用类似的东西使孩子们对我们的学术领域感到兴奋。Healy尤其是Balluff喜欢支持TechFit，因为它在鼓励STEM技能和身体健康之间取得了生活平衡。
TECHFIT is made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation, but the program still required industry support to get started. TECHFIT received product donations from Phoenix Contact, Automation Direct and Balluff. The donated sensor kit from Balluff included connectors and multiple sensing technologies like photoelectric, capacitive, and ultrasonic sensors. Using these donations, students will create interactive fitness games, wire the sensors, and program the logic of their games. Some of the kids ideas include using sensors to count pushups, measure the height of squats, or count kicked soccer goals. Healy states, The opportunity to work with TECHFIT helps us imbue middle school students with an interest in automation, which can benefit everyone in manufacturing.
In the fall, students will begin developing and building their games to compete in a showcase taking place in December 2014 at Purdue University and College of Charleston.
Balluff
www.balluff.us
Filed Under:Student programs,Cables + cable management,连接器（电气）•压接技术,Pneumatic equipment + components
