Diversity in data sets is integral in bringing robotics out of the lab and into the real world. Gender diversity in the data science and robotics workplace is equally important.

“Robotics can be a very niche subject, and a lot of people get into it from gaming,” said Maggie Wang (pictured), autonomy engineer at Skydio Inc. “But I think if we come to it as a way to solve humanity’s greatest problems, that’s what would inspire a lot of young women — to see that robotics is a way to help others.”

Wang spoke with Lisa Martin, host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio, during the Women in Data Science (WiDS) event. They discussed mentorship, autonomous drones and the role of women in robotics.

Early mentorship in STEM key to diversity in data roles

Personal mentorship from her teachers and parents inspired Wang to follow her passion for learning about the universe and astrophysics, leading to an undergrad degree in physics and a master’s in computer science, both from Harvard University.

“In high school, I was involved in an all-girls’ robotics team,” Wang said. “That opened my eyes to how technology can be used and why more women should be in STEM. It’s really important for everyone to be involved.”

Autonomous drones are Wang’s area of expertise; Skydio is at the forefront of expanding robotics beyond the controlled lab environment into more complex, real-world applications. The Skydio 3D Scan product allows drones to take pictures of anything physical and put it into digital form.

“To inspect any crumbling infrastructure, a lot of the time we use helicopters or things that could be expensive or dangerous. This is one example of how drones can save lives,” Wang said.

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the Women in Data Science (WiDS) event:

Photo: SiliconANGLE