The region’s outstanding young talent in robotics will take centre-stage at Canadian University Dubai (CUD) next month for the grand finale of the IET GCC Robotics Challenge, which comes to the UAE for the very first time.
Now in its 4th edition, the competition challenges students to work in teams to build an innovative and robust robotic prototype that can compete in a range of exercises to demonstrate both technical and physical capabilities. It is an opportunity for some of the region’s most talented technology students to showcase their flair for engineering, creativity and programming, and to compete against counterparts from around the region.
CUD will also play host to the UAE leg of the qualifying round, which will bring together students from universities across the country on Saturday, March 16, to compete for a place in the April 6 grand finale. The competition final will also welcome an expert judging panel with representatives from the Institute of Engineering and Technology, the largest multidisciplinary professional engineering institution in the world.
CUD has a strong track-record in the competition, winning two of the previous UAE national qualifiers. With the University’s new bachelor degree in Mechatronics, the first program of its kind in the UAE, CUD is taking a leading role in educating students for what will be one of the most significant, multidisciplinary technology sectors of the future.
“Robotics and artificial intelligence touch so many aspects of everyday life, at increasingly advanced levels. With the proliferation of these technologies comes the demand for graduates who have the creative, technical and entrepreneurial flair to innovate and explore this exciting new landscape of engineering”, commented Dr. Sherif Moussa, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at CUD.
“To equip students with these skills requires the right blend of technical, theoretical as well as practical approaches to learning, which is why we began the CUD Robotics Club in 2015.
Since then we have seen some outstanding student innovations come to life, including a recent prototype for an unmanned aerial security vehicle showcased at the University’s Innovation Day. This and other innovations developed by our students show great potential to impact positively on wider society”, Dr. Moussa added.
Qualifying rounds for the GCC Robotics Challenge will take place in Bahrain, KSA, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, as well as the UAE, with the final winners being awarded the IET Cup at CUD on April 6.
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