Overview
Matt Tomblin, director of NIAR’s Automation Research Center, is uniquely experienced in advanced manufacturing and automation, previously serving as operations manager for the Smart Factory at Wichita, a division of Deloitte.
Tomblin, was directly involved in implementing the Smart Factory’s state-of-the-art production line, which is currently configured to produce Smart Rover kits, a STEM-forward, 21st-century learning experience designed to equip middle school students with the enduring skills needed to design, code, and build for the future.
NIAR’s Robotics & Automation Lab was also a critical partner in the Smart Factory production line development and implementation.
Prior to joining the Smart Factory, Tomblin was a research engineer for NIAR’s Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems, and worked as a student assistant for the Robotics & Automation Lab.
Tomblin graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
NIAR’s Robotics & Automation Lab is located on Wichita State’s main campus in the John Bardo Center. It is part of the 3DEXPERIENCE Center, a partnership with Dassault Systèmes. The lab employs 14 full-time employees and more than 50 student lab technicians in applied learning positions.