Thursday, 13 February, 2014

The annual Robotics Competition organised by the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) will this year take the stage at the Robot Technology Exhibition, coming to Dubai for the very first time in 2014.The Robot Technology Exhibition (RTEX) will be the first event in the MENA region exhibiting the latest innovations in this rapidly evolving field. Bringing knowledge and expertise from around the globe to a single platform, RTEX promises to provide both exhibitors and visitors with a unique experience of the latest developments in the science and mechanics of robot technology.UOWD introduced its Robotics Competition in 2010, with the last event attracting around 80 teams from across the region and beyond, including competitors travelling from as far afield as India to join in the exciting event. The competition’s place in the Exhibition was formalised with the signing of an MoU between UOWD President, Professor Trevor Spedding, and Mr Jalal Jassbi, Managing Director of RTEX organisers, Palladium.The contest was established to promote science and engineering among school students by giving them a chance to be creative, work in teams, and learn to implement their ideas using robotic kits. The competition also provides a platform for meeting other students from other cultures and school systems in the context of a friendly competition environment.This year’s contest will span across the two RTEX events planned for 2014. On 12 May, the school-level competition will take place as part of the RTEX Exhibition launch at The Meydan, Dubai. The challenge will be structured in three levels – primary school, middle school and high school – as well as an open category for creative robotic ideas. Participants will have the opportunity to win scholarships to join UOWD when they graduate from high school.Later in the year, a university level competition will take place as part of the three-day RTEX Exhibition, to be held from 28 to 30 September at The Meydan. There are also plans for competitions in future years to be held at subsequent RTEX Exhibitions.Also in attendance at the MoU signing were Dean and Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, Professor Mohamed Salem and Dr Farhad Oroumchian, and Palladium’s Operations Manager, Golnaz van Huyssteen.Golnaz said, “With the tremendous growth that is anticipated, we believe that our younger generation will be the carriers of this fascinating technology. This is why, when we decided to organise the first Robot Technology Exhibition in the MENA region, we knew very quickly that a Robotic Competition would be a vital component of the event.“Considering how new this technology is to the regional general public, UOWD’s student competition will be a great support in the promotion of this technology, as it is the best way to showcase the enthusiasm and savvy of young people. We are hoping that, seeing how the younger generations grow up with these new advancements, and how easily they are implemented,the hesitance that one might feel when not familiar with the technology will be overcome, ultimately leading to a wider uptake of robot technology.”