On June 17, the Center for Rural and Regional Connected Communities (CR2C2) had the pleasure of hosting a lab tour for the 2026 NSF ATHENA Program cohort from Duke University. The visit welcomed a talented group of students with a shared passion for artificial intelligence, robotics, and engineering.

Designed to inspire curiosity and showcase cutting-edge research, the tour gave participants an inside look at CR2C2's drone and autonomous vehicle laboratories. Students learned how emerging technologies are being developed to address real-world challenges in rural mobility, transportation safety, infrastructure resilience, and environmental sustainability. The visit also provided an opportunity for meaningful conversations with faculty, researchers, and students about the future of connected and automated systems.