Girls of Steel Are My New Engineering Role Models

I found new engineering role models as I work on my new goal to increase the number of women engineers and designers in the SolidWorks Community. They are the Girls of Steel, a FRC FIRST Robotics high school team from Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

The Girls of Steel not only have a mission to build great robots but also to support women and children’s involvement in STEM (Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology) fields.

Pittsburgh was once known as the “Steel City” has inspired the Girls of Steel to become a strong, determined, and bold team. The Girls of Steel provide a place where the girls and women of their communities are encouraged to think both technically and creatively on the campus of Carnegie Melon University. CMU is known for some of the most innovative robot research in the world.

As proud as they are of their robot and outreach programs through FIRST LEGO League, FLL, the Girls of Steel’s list of members attending colleges for engineering and science is truly impressive.

I got a chance to interview CAD designer, Lynn Urbina and ask the Girls of Steel a few questions.

How long have you been interested in robotics?

The Girls of Steel has been a robotics team since 2010. This is our fourth year participating in FIRST.

What made you learn SolidWorks?

When our team designs our robots, we use SolidWorks to figure out our robot’s design and utilize the program to trouble shoot our design before we build it. We also use SolidWorks Drawings to give to our mechanical builders so that they can machine parts.

Why do you like SolidWorks?

SolidWorks is an innovative program that helps our team design our robot. It is a tool that can be learned; once learned well, it is a great asset to have.

What do you want to do after competition, besides sleep?

After competition, we mainly sleep, but we also celebrate the end of a season, have a final goodbye to our seniors, and begin to prepare for the next season.

What type of outreach does your team do?

We do international and regional outreach events. We have stations at different events and conventions, and we also host our own events, such as our open house at Carnegie Melon University and our FIRST Regional Week Zero Scrimmage at our practice field. We build a practice field so that other FIRST teams around our area can practice. More information can be found on our website.

Anything else you want to share with the SolidWorks community?

SolidWorks has been an amazing program that is an important tool to our team. We are very thankful that we can use a program that helps us design our robot.

Thank you Lynn and the Girls of Steel for sharing with the SolidWorks Community. Marie

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Marie Planchard

Senior Director, Early Engagement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works at Dassault Systemes

Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach for the 3DEXPERIENCE Works products across all levels of learning including educational institutions, Fab Labs, and entrepreneurship.