Meet Abby, the robot coming to Raleigh's Marbles museum
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Abby the robot being fine-tuned in the Marbles Kids Museum workshop. Photo: Mary Helen Moore
A new wing under construction at Marbles Kids Museum hopes to spark curiosity in children about the high-tech jobs of now.
Why it matters: Don't worry — nobody is handing jobs out to elementary schoolers.
- But with the artificial intelligence boom expected to worsen shortages the U.S. already faces for engineers, construction workers and electricians, some in the Triangle are hoping to light a spark at a young age.
The big picture: Marbles' Futuropolis — a city of the future — has been in the works for nearly four years at the downtown Raleigh museum.
- The new multilevel play area is designed to let kids explore careers in advanced manufacturing, construction, engineering and science.
Zoom in: Nearing completion in the museum's workshop is Abby the robot — sponsored by tech company ABB, which has more than 2,000 North Carolina employees.
- Kids can press child-height buttons to have Abby's robot arm suction up a plastic ball that might then be spun up into the air or sent down an assembly line.
- The play is not intended to precisely mirror any specific scientific processes. "We kinda set the scene, but don't write the script," exhibits director Jeff Highsmith says.
- Abby the robot has safety sensors, and will be enclosed behind clear sheets of polycarbonate for extra safety, VP of exhibits Chris Alexander says.
What they're saying: "We're hoping to open kids minds … [and] selfishly inspire them. We'd be honored if they work with ABB someday," says Kelly Kling, an ABB executive who was in Raleigh on Tuesday meeting the robot.
- ABB is chiefly worried about shortages in electrification, Kling tells Axios, since the AI industry is "growing faster than our current population is being educated."
Zoom out: The museum's core audience is children ages 0 to 10. Marbles CEO Jonathan Frederick says Futuropolis will help spark their curiosity and nurture natural instincts to explore the world through play.
- "Working with kids is always an act of optimism and joy. We want them to be joyful about the future," Frederick says. "There's no reason not to lean into that."
What's next: Exhibits are scheduled to begin moving into Futuropolis next month.
- Opening is planned for early 2027.