HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- The Air Force Sustainment Center’s fourth annual Bot Rodeo will kick off Oct. 9 at Hill Air Force Base, bringing together developers, leaders and automation enthusiasts from across the center to spotlight innovation in robotic process automation.
RPA is increasingly used across the Air Force to reduce manual workloads and improve accuracy. It allows users to define a set of actions for a bot to perform, automating standardized and repetitive tasks.
Designed to inspire and accelerate digital transformation, the Bot Rodeo provides Airmen a platform to present bots they’ve developed to streamline tasks and improve mission efficiency.
“What I’m looking forward to most is seeing how Air Force members will be empowered to develop their own RPAs to tackle specific needs in their units,” said Jason Lee, a member of the 75th Air Base Wing Communications and Information Directorate at Hill AFB, and the Air Force Materiel Command Center of Automation. “And how these solutions can be scaled and improved upon, inspired by the bots showcased this year.”
Anne Hanson, AFSC Automation Program Manager, said she continues to be impressed by the creativity and initiative of Airmen participating in the event.
“Every year I am surprised by Airmen who have embraced RPA technology, without having a technology background themselves,” Hanson said. “They prove these tools are accessible and have a place in nearly every role.”
Previous Bot Rodeos have showcased bots with measurable impact across AFSC.
Hanson pointed to the Bouncer Bot, developed by the 66th Air Base Wing Communications Squadron, which automates ID verification for base visit access requests.
“It has decreased the time it takes to complete this process annually by a total of 260 manpower days at their site alone,” she said. “Now it’s used across several bases, significantly enabling security forces officers to focus less on administrative tasks and more on security.”
Another standout is the Wallwalker Bot, developed by the 78th Air Base Wing Communications Directorate, which builds Art of the Possible gate charts.
“What used to take 48 hours now takes less than five minutes,” Hanson said. “It’s estimated to save up to $2.9 million in resources as it’s implemented across AFMC.”
Informational sessions on RPA and UiPath software will be followed by live presentations of bots built by Air Force personnel. Awards will be given to top-performing bots based on creativity, impact and technical execution.
In addition to the bot presentations, the Hill Center of Automation is scheduled to deliver a special showcase during the event.
In-person participation is encouraged, but virtual attendance is available for those unable to travel. To register or submit a bot, visit the Bot Rodeo site using a CAC-enabled device. For questions, contact Hanson at anne.hanson.ctr@us.af.mil.