PCC Willow Creek AI Lab
Your hub for AI, robotics, 3D prototyping, and digital systems
Open lab hours
The AI Lab is open to all PCC students, staff, and faculty members.
- Contact the lab manager below to schedule time on the calendar.
- View the lab calendar (Staff: see how to reserve a timeslot: how to reserve a time – external, how to reserve a time – internal)
The PCC Willow Creek AI Lab is a composite facility supporting research in artificial intelligence, autonomous robotics, digital systems, 3D printing, and digital scanning for rapid prototyping and industry application.
- Location: Willow Creek Opportunity Center, room 309
- Lab manager: GD Iyer
- Contact: GD Iyer or DaNene Dwyer
- PCC AI Lab user agreement
Upcoming events and workshops
JetBot Road Following
- November 6, 2026, 9am-1pm
- Join us for a hands-on robotics workshop exploring Python programming, geometric calculations, and algorithmic thinking!Working in teams with Jetson Nano-powered JetBots, you’ll learn to program robot movements, calculate motion using wheel geometry, and solve real-world engineering challenges. Program autonomous robots to follow lines using camera-based detection, then test, debug, and refine your code. Through collaborative experimentation, you’ll build skills in coding, problem-solving, and iterative design while discovering how these concepts power real-world industrial automation, from warehouse robots to intelligent machines.
- See more: JetBot Road Following
Jetbot Collision Avoidance
- November 13, 2026, 9am-1pm
- Learn machine learning, computer vision, and robotics by programming jetson nano-powered jetbots. work as a team to train ai models, navigate obstacles, and explore real-world autonomous technology.
- See more: JetBot Collision Avoidance
Featured advanced technologies
Autonomous systems development
Robotics and AI
Our dedicated bays are equipped for developing and testing computer vision, navigation, and reinforcement learning algorithms on physical platforms.
- YAHBOOM DOFBOT AI Vision robotic arm: ROS development platform for robotic arm studies with Raspberry Pi 5.
- Agilex Robotics Limo: High-payload ROS development platform for indoor and outdoor navigation studies.
- Jetson Nano myCobot: 6-axis collaborative robotic arm for vision-based pick-and-place tasks.
- Compute resources: High-performance AI workstations for local AI experimentation (LLM, SD, etc.).
Precision 3D printing and digitization
Fabrication and scanning
Equip yourself to move from digital concept to physical object, and back, using the latest in additive and digitization technologies.
- Prusa XL (5-Toolhead): Multi-material FDM printer (360mm3) for advanced, large-scale prototypes in PLA, PETG, PC, and more.
- Einscan H2 Hybrid Light 3D scanner: High-resolution color scanning for reverse engineering, quality inspection, and digital asset creation.
Digital systems prototyping and IoT
Electronics
A dedicated workspace for learning digital logic, embedded systems development, and sensor integration for Internet of Things (IoT) projects.
- Microcontrollers: Stations equipped with Arduino and Raspberry PI kits for rapid embedded systems prototyping.
- Sensor array: Access to a wide range of digital and analog sensors (e.g., ultrasonic, temperature, gyroscopic) for experimentation.
Virtual reality development
Mixed reality
A dedicated space for immersive computing, focusing on developing and testing applications for virtual training, data visualization, and interactive design.
- VR headsets: High-performance HTC VIVE setups for virtual environment testing and development.
Lab AV system
The lab’s A/V system allows you to route various audio/video sources to different destinations in the lab, including projectors and station monitors.
Mandatory lab protocols
- Safety certification: All users must complete the appropriate zone safety certification (robotics, fabrication, or AI) before access is granted.
- Equipment use: Only lab-provided materials (filament, data storage) are permitted in the lab unless pre-approved by the Lab Manager.
- Data security: No sensitive or personally identifiable information (PII) is allowed on the workstations/laptop for AI/ML projects.
- Cleanup: Users must power down and clean their immediate workspace (3D printer beds, robotics work surfaces) immediately following their session.