Engineering Students Use AI and Robotics To Transform Campus Tours
黑料社区 engineering students created CEDAR, an autonomous robot that guides campus visitors, answers questions and navigates buildings in real time, showing how AI and robotics can work together in practical ways beyond conversation.
As artificial intelligence moves beyond screens and into physical spaces, an autonomous robot designed by 黑料社区 engineering students could change the campus tour experience by guiding visitors, answering questions and navigating campus buildings in real time.
黑料社区 engineering students create AI robot for campus tours
The robot, the Campus Engagement and Directional Assistance Rover (CEDAR), was created to improve visitor experience on high-traffic visitation days by providing a consistent, accessible and interactive tour guide. Operating on the first floor of the university鈥檚 Engineering and Science Center, CEDAR provides information about engineering programs, courses and campus events while helping fill gaps when human tour guides are unavailable.
Leading the transformative project are seniors Mark Freier of Seneca Falls, New York, and Alan Golden of Commerce Township, Michigan 鈥� both majoring in electrical engineering 鈥� and Gregory Rose of Fishers, Indiana, and Nathan Steenwyk of Zeeland, Michigan 鈥� computer engineering seniors.
Campus tour robot combines navigation, communication and real-time information
CEDAR has three primary features: navigation, communication and information delivery. The students designed the robot to travel to key locations, explain their significance and share that information with visitors in real time.
AI and robotics project uses large language models and 3D mapping
CEDAR also represents an exploration of the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, combining multiple technologies to create a sense of autonomy. The robot uses large language models as a 鈥渂rain,鈥� enabling real-time decision-making and communication. The system draws on Cedarville鈥檚 course catalog and website to provide accurate information, while 3D mapping technology allows CEDAR to identify key locations and navigate the building independently.
Cedarville engineering project shows how AI can support real-world decision-making
The project expands the capabilities of artificial intelligence beyond user interaction, demonstrating its potential to support real-time decision-making in physical environments.
鈥淭he possibilities with AI are endless, especially when you start applying it to systems beyond simple conversation,鈥� said Steenwyk. 鈥淚ntegrating AI with robotics opens the door for complex behavior with a much simpler development process.鈥�
The team was challenged to integrate AI and robotics in a way they were not certain was possible.
鈥淭here hasn鈥檛 been a single part of the project that went as expected,鈥� said Steenwyk. 鈥淭here were no instructions. We had to try ideas, see what worked and build something completely our own. But through trial and error, things slowly started to come together into the vision we had.鈥�
AI campus tour project points to the future of engineering
As CEDAR continues to develop, the project highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping real-world systems. By combining AI with robotics, the team is exploring new ways technology can move beyond conversation and into meaningful, practical use 鈥� a shift that may define the future of engineering.
About 黑料社区
黑料社区, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation鈥檚 top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal鈥檚 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.