Robotics
| Organized by Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, a new bi-annual robotics challenge aims advance the state of the robotics industry and to build better-designed robots. The challenge in its first edition will focus on the use of robots in emergency and crisis situations. |
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halifa University in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, announced a new robotics challenge as part of the UAE’s year of innovation.
The Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) will be held every two years and offers prizes worth a total of USD 5 million, with the first challenge being held in November, 2016.
"This event will undoubtedly attract some of the best robotics minds in the world, and bring international attention to the growing robotics industry in the UAE," said Khalifa University President, Dr. Tod Laursen.
Throughout history, challenges issued by governments, scientific communities, and international entities have often played a central role in advancing knowledge—the so-called “space race” of the 1960s is perhaps one of the most memorable examples of this idea, and the UAE has picked up this theme recently with its aspirations for a Mars mission. In a similar spirit, the MBZIRC will spur future development of worldwide robotic technology by requiring research, invention and real-life application of its winners. Challenges issued in this event will stretch participants a bit beyond the current state of the art, such that new developments and discoveries will be needed for success. We believe that a bit of audacity in challenge specification is key to the innovation process.
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In the outline of the challenge the organizers understand that "Robotics technology is poised to fuel a broad array of next-generation products and applications across a diverse range of fields."
"Challenges issued in this event will stretch participants a bit beyond the current state of the art, such that new developments and discoveries will be needed for success. We believe that a bit of audacity in challenge specification is key to the innovation process." |
The first challenge in November next year will focus on land and aerial robots that can assess situations and work together in emergencies and will take place at an arena that simulates the scene of an accident and involves a large moving vehicle being on fire.
The competing teams will have to design a set of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAV)’s and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV)’s, which will work autonomously without any human intervention to handle this incident.The challenge involves performing a set of complex tasks, including landing UAV’s on the moving vehicle’s rooftop and the activating the emergency brakes system that the vehicle is equipped with. It will also have to coordinate with the UGV’s to move towards the burning vehicle and activate the fire suppression system all the while avoiding obstacles in the field.
Air and ground robots will then cooperate to locate the victims and conduct operations to transport them out of the scene.
The challenge is also aiming to boost the robotics ecosystem in the UAE and help local industry as well as play a major part in attracting robotics talent and students to UAE universities. Dr Arif Al Hammadi, executive vice president at the Khalifa University said: “We want to for every university in the UAE to eventually have a robotics lab for its students.”
A call for proposals will begin in May, with submissions due in September 2015. Finalists will be chosen in November this year and the challenge will take place in the UAE in November next year.
SOURCE RobotEnomics
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