DUBAI, 15th November, 2022 (WAM) — Dubai Future Labs, the Dubai Future Foundation’s applied research and development laboratory specializing in robotics and artificial intelligence, has partnered with Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Khalifa Science and Technology to launch the Emirates Robotics Competition.
The competition aims to demonstrate the technological skills of young talents specializing in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies, while encouraging them to build their capacities and be part of the efforts of the United Arab Emirates to become a global hub for robotics and AI technologies.
Teams must develop intelligent robotic perception systems that provide the robot with the ability to perceive, understand and reason about the environment around it.
The competition will include two challenges; the first includes the use of intelligent robots to autonomously select and place objects of various sizes, shapes and weights; while in the second challenge, contestants will use their smart robot to move around a track autonomously while playing by the rules and avoiding obstacles.
The Emirates Robotics competition aims to bridge the gap between current real robotics capabilities and the requirements of potential applications. It tests the skills of university students, raises awareness of robotics and promotes the development of the country’s youth.
Dr. Yousef Al Assaf, President of RIT Dubai, said: “We are delighted to host the first Emirates Robotics Competition in February 2023. Through this competition, we aim to establish long-term commitments with universities and strategic partners to promote robotics, machine learning and automation solutions.”
Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of Khalifa University, said: “We are pleased to partner with the Dubai Future Foundation and RIT to launch the Emirates Robotics competition which challenges university students to design advanced robots. We remain committed to similar partnerships that not only inspire creativity, but also help build local skills for a growing robotics and AI sector that impacts all economic areas in the UAE and of the whole world.
Khalifa Al Qama, Director of Dubai Future Labs, said: “Through this partnership, we aim to encourage students to hone their skills and stimulate their creativity and innovation abilities while ensuring that the next generation of talents are equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in the fields of robotics and technology. It also establishes the UAE’s position as a global test bed for emerging technologies.”
Teams of 3 to 6 students are allowed to enter the competition, with each group supervised by a member of the university faculty.
Registration for the competition is now open until November 30, 2022. The competition will take place at the Dubai Campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology at Dubai Silicon Oasis on February 23, 2023.
Participating teams will go through a judging process, after which scores will be announced at a special event and cash prizes will be awarded to the top three winners.
