A team of students from the UAE, who have developed a robot capable of identifying microplastics in food, is set to compete in an Olympics-style robotics event in Athens, Greece. Comprising over 22 young individuals from diverse schools in Dubai, the group has been meticulously designing, constructing, and programming their robot for the upcoming FIRST Global Challenge (FGC), scheduled for later this month.
Saif Alsaedi, one of the Emirati students involved in the project, highlighted the significance of incorporating AI and machine learning in their robot's programming. The 16-year-old explained to Khaleej Times that their robot is specifically designed to detect microplastics, a critical health and environmental concern. The prototype employs sophisticated machine learning techniques to accurately identify and categorize microplastics in various food samples.
This marks the second consecutive participation of students from Unique World Robotics (UWR) in the competition. Bansan Thomas George, the founder of UWR, noted that the team has also engineered a robot capable of collecting and precisely placing water and energy elements. This intricate task demanded meticulous engineering and programming to ensure the robot's mobility and handling precision.
Dhriti Gupta, a 15-year-old member of the team, who also competed last year, described the competition as an Olympic-style event where collaboration with teams from different countries is crucial. The competition requires robots to navigate and gather points by collecting green and blue balls representing food and energy. The team, consisting of 14 to 17-year-olds, will participate in the FIRST Global Challenge (FGC), themed around feeding the future, organized by the US-based nonprofit FIRST Global to foster STEM skills and international cooperation among high school students.
Dhriti emphasized the educational value of the competition, particularly the importance of teamwork and cross-cultural collaboration. Bansan expressed high hopes for the team, acknowledging their hard work and dedication, with aspirations to rank in the top ten. Despite the competitive nature, the primary goal remains to provide students with a valuable learning experience to nurture their talents in robotics.
The interest in robotics among students has surged in recent years, with many schools incorporating it into their curriculum. For many, robotics serves as a stepping stone towards achieving their larger aspirations. Saif, who has been involved with robotics for over three years, dreams of creating a life-sized version of Terminator, continuously advancing his coding skills.
