Arts and Sciences | NewsMay 16, 2025

Future of Technology Begins with UAFS Computer Science

Written By: Ian Silvester

Three University of Arkansas – Fort Smith computer science seniors demonstrated the power of undergraduate research at this year’s Student Research Symposium, where they earned top honors for a project that applied artificial intelligence to warehouse automation.

Cameron Taylor, Josue Martinez, and Marco Garcia Montes presented “NumaWare: Process Automation Through Computer Vision and Robotics,” an AI-driven system that uses computer vision to identify inventory and autonomously move it within a warehouse with precision, safety, and efficiency.

“The presentations let us express the hard work that we put into the project and show what we have learned throughout our four years in the computer science department,” Martinez said.

By combining classroom instruction with hands-on experimentation, the team created a robotic vehicle capable of recognizing materials and navigating a warehouse environment safely and efficiently. The project demonstrated how the growing field of AI continues to shape business processes across various sectors.

“AI can help advance the way we work and enhance productivity throughout many industries,” Martinez said. “Although people worry that it will take jobs, AI is actually creating jobs that previously weren’t there because of the innovations.”

The trio was named a winner in this year’s Student Research Symposium and received a $200 prize to split among themselves.

For two decades, the UAFS Student Research Symposium has provided undergraduate students with the opportunity to present comprehensive research findings to their peers – an experience that students at other universities often don't have until graduate school.

• Tags:
• AI
• Student Research Symposium
• Computer Science