PHOTO GALLERY | GJCTC adds robotic 'dog' to curriculum

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The newest addition to the offerings at Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center is a robotic "dog" named Spartan that has endless possibilities for boosting the curriculum, according to administrators and teachers.

"We're trying right now to find a use for him in every program," said Amanda Harrington, GJCTC's assistant administrator of program operations and principal.

From culinary arts and construction to HVAC and pre-teacher courses, Harrington said Monday, Spartan has the opportunity to benefit the career and technology center in Richland Township.

"This is the next generation of what we're going to do," GJCTC Administrative Director John Augustine said.

PHOTO GALLERY | Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center | Robotic Dog

He said he often joked with Harrington, who has a background in social-emotional learning, that the only way the GJCTC would get a therapy dog would be if it was robotic.

When the pair were at a conference last year, the Unitree Go2 robot "dog" was on display, and Augustine told Harrington that was the dog they would get. Spartan was delivered late last week and introduced to the school Friday.

Harrington said that tour brought smiles to everyone's faces and drew the whole school together. She said that whether a dog is alive and breathing or made up of circuits, it's a massive benefit to a school environment's culture.

"I think I was most excited," robotics instructor Shelby Kieta said. "I would check in every other day after I found out it was approved."

The robotic "dog" resides in her classroom, and Kieta said it "definitely adds value" to her program and the rest of the GJCTC. She plans to use Spartan to search rooms and identify objectives at the start and to build on its use from there.

Tylor McLaughlin, an adult program student in Kieta's class, said the robot was strange-looking but cool.

The four-legged machine has a futuristic design, sporting silver and gray coloring, a camera and sensors in the small head unit, a cooling fan underneath, hinged appendages, thermal imaging software and a plethora of other features. It can be controlled using a tablet with built-in commands such as "roll over," "shake" and "beg."

Some students remarked on the sophistication of the robot dog while testing its capabilities Monday. Others lifted Spartan by the back strap and noted how light it was, considering the machinery that is needed to make it work.

McLaughlin and classmate Katelyn Wertz said they were excited to learn how to operate the cybernetic hound. Wertz said she never thought she would have the opportunity to explore technology like Spartan.

Augustine said adding Spartan to the curriculum was similar to the school implementing drone training.

"They're all intertwined educationally," he said, adding that GJCTC's goal is to help prepare the next generation of the workforce.

All of these offerings and more will be on display at the school's open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 445 Schoolhouse Rd., Richland Township. Information about high school and adult programs will be available, as well as staff to discuss the classes.

Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center has high school pathways for students from Conemaugh Township, Ferndale Area, Forest Hills, Greater Johnstown, Richland, Westmont Hilltop and Windber Area schools. More information is available at www.gjctc.org .