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University of Minnesota Students Tour Khalifa University’s Main Campus

A group of MBA students from the University of Minnesota, USA visited the Khalifa University Main Campus on 12 January 2020 to learn more about KU’s position as a world-class educational institution dedicated to producing academic research that has local and international impact and relevance.

Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Senior Vice President, Academic and Student Services, gave the group an overview of KU’s different graduate programs and research centers and the opportunities, advantages, as well as challenges of higher education in the UAE, specifically, in Abu Dhabi.

The visitors toured the campus and visited different labs and facilities. They also enjoyed a guided tour of the Body Worlds Museum, where plastinated bodies are displayed to provide a detailed look on how the human body works.

Ara Cruz
News Writer
15 January 2020

 

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Khalifa University Student Receives UAE Student Award for the Advancement of Postgraduate Education 2020

Yusra Abdulrahman, recent PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering graduate from Khalifa University, was one of the four distinguished individuals who received the prestigious UAE Student Awards for the Advancement of Postgraduate Education 2020 during the Gulf Intelligence UAE Forum on 8 January 2020 at New York University, Abu Dhabi.

The UAE Student Awards for the Advancement of Postgraduate Education aims to promote the importance of research-focused education as a major component in building the knowledge capacity and talent required to deliver an innovative R&D ecosystem in the UAE. The award recognizes outstanding masters and PhD students in the country for their exceptional research achievements and celebrates the country’s future industry and academic leaders and role models who will grow the UAE’s R&D hub.

Yusra’s thesis project, which she was recognized for, aims to develop a non-destructive testing and thermal imaging system that tests carbon fiber reinforced plastic and low conductive materials using state-of-the-art techniques and artificial neural networks. It is a new testing technology to improve the testing methods currently used by many industries.

The project will help the manufacturing sector in Abu Dhabi adopt the latest technologies and inspection methods, improving the productivity and quality of the industry. Applying this technology will help Abu Dhabi, and the UAE, achieve sustainable manufacturing growth. Currently, similar technologies are being studied in the USA, Germany, and Canada. Applying this in the UAE will strengthen the country’s global competitiveness.

According to Yusra, she is thankful for the great leadership the UAE, which has provided numerous opportunities for its people to grow and learn. She said: “This alone should encourage everyone to always be concerned with helping the society with integrity and passion, find innovative solutions to advance the country in different fields and set themselves as examples for the coming generations.”

She added: “His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the father of the nation said, ‘Wealth is not money. Wealth lies in men. This is where true power lies, the power we value. This is what has convinced us to direct all our resources to building the individual, and to using the wealth which God has provided us in the service of the nation.’”

Yusra received her BSc in Engineering Management, minor in Systems and Industrial Engineering, from the University of Arizona, USA and her MSc in Engineering Systems Management from Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. She was also a member of the Young Future Energy Leadership program and has co-authored five research papers in scientific ranked journals.

Ara Cruz
News Writer
20 January 2020

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Faculty Invited to Deliver Lecture on the Evolution of the UAE Armed Forces at the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research

Dr. Athol Yates, Assistant Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences teaching security, disaster management, and public policy, was invited to deliver a lecture on the evolution of the UAE Armed Forces and its predecessor forces at a prestigious center in Abu Dhabi.

The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) is the leading research center serving decision makers in the UAE and aims to raise awareness and disseminate knowledge among all segments of society about a variety of contemporary issues and developments on a local, regional, and global level.

Dr. Yates delivered a lecture at the ECSSR on 15 January titled ‘The Evolution of the UAE Armed Forces and its Predecessor Forces: 1965-1980.’

The first Ruler-controlled military in the Emirates was established by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1965. Within a decade, the Abu Dhabi Defence Force had grown into one of the region’s most capable militaries and fielded supersonic jets and armored vehicles fitted with advanced missiles. When the UAE Armed Forces was established in 1976, merging all armed forces in the UAE, the Abu Dhabi force became the core of the UAE’s military.

Dr. Yates detailed the history of the Abu Dhabi Defence Force, other militaries of the Emirates, and the UAE Armed Forces to 1980, and explained how Sheikh Zayed was able to build an advanced military from nothing within 15 years.

Jade Sterling
News and Features Writer
16 January 2020

 

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KU Success at the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority Hackathon

Offering the opportunity for skilled individuals to showcase the future of Abu Dhabi through the applied use of artificial intelligence, the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) issued four challenges to teams comprising government employees, academia, and private sector startups. The ADDA Hackathon was in collaboration with KU’s Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems Institute, with a number of students from KU and EBTIC. At the ADDA Hackathon 2019, 16 teams competed from various UAE and international universities.

“The Hackathon involved applying artificial intelligence to tackle challenges set by Abu Dhabi government entities,” explained Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, SVP Academic Affairs at KU. “The participating teams comprised a mix of government and industry employees, as well as university students. I’m pleased to report that the top three awards were won by teams led by KU students.”

Each challenge was issued by a government department and focused on applying artificial intelligence to a real business challenge. The 48-hour hackathon saw teams develop solutions for wildlife management, city traffic management, inspection route management, and government policy management.

First place was awarded to the team including Ahmed Al Dhanhani, Farah AlKurdi and Amenah Abood Salem from KU. This team took the challenge issued by the Department of Transport and investigated an Adaptive Toll System, based on historical data of traffic throughout the capital. Their model predicted traffic behavior and provided a solution for re-routing traffic for decongestion via an adaptive toll system.

Second place went to Ahmad Obeid, Maryam AlShehhi, Abdel Gafood Haddad, Mahmoud Khalil and Mohamed Alzarooni. This team proposed a solution for visual animal tagging to solve the Wildlife Management challenge. Their solution involved replacing physical animal tags with an intelligent visual identification system to help identify patterns and perform predictions on essential day-to-day animal functions.

In third place, Nada Alhashmi, Abdulla Alshimmari and Begad El Houty were the KU team members taking the Government Policy Management challenge, in which they developed a virtual assistant to augment ADDA employee functions around policy and standards enquiries.

The winning teams received monetary prizes and official certificates and were also invited to present their solutions at the preliminary session in the Digital Next to Global Audience in Abu Dhabi in December 2019.

Jade Sterling
News and Features Writer
20 January 2020

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EBTIC Researchers Win Best Application Paper at SGAI Conference for AI Solutions

A team of researchers from KU’s Emirates ICT Innovation Center (EBTIC)  has won Best Application Paper at the Chartered Institute for IT’s 39th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Cambridge. Himadri Sikhar Khargharia and Dr. Siddhartha Shakya, both from EBTIC, collaborated with researchers from BT on the winning paper.

The British Computer Society’s Specialist Group on Artificial Intelligence (SGAI) hosted its Annual International Conference, bringing together researchers and developers at the cutting edge of AI solutions. The leading papers presented in each stream of the conference are reprinted as a special issue of an international journal and Khargharia’s paper is set to be among them alongside its publication in Lecture notes in Computer Science.

Khargharia presented his paper in the Application Stream, titled ‘Evolving Prediction Models with Genetic Algorithm to Forecast Vehicle Volume in a Service Station.’ This paper is one of many to emerge from the EBTIC smart surveillance system designed to help streamline operations at petrol stations.

Using Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure in the form of CCTV cameras and sensors, the system captures the data required to build a demand prediction model and analytical dashboard to provide insight into the large volume of data collected.

“In the service industry, having an efficient resource plan is of utmost importance for operational efficiency,” explained Khargharia. “An accurate forecast of demand is crucial in obtaining a resource plan that can be efficient. At the conference in Cambridge, I presented a real world application of an AI forecasting model for vehicle volume forecasting in service stations. This improved a previously proposed approach by intelligently tuning the hyper parameters of the prediction model, taking into account the variability of the vehicle volume data in a service station.”

“We built a genetic algorithm-based model to find the topology of the neural network and to also tune additional parameters related to data filtration, correction, and feature selection. Our results were compared with those from ad hoc parameter settings of the model from previous work and show that the combined genetic algorithm and neural network-based approach further improves forecasting accuracy. Now, service stations can better manage their resource requirements,” added Dr. Shakya.

A genetic algorithm is a search heuristic inspired by Charles Darwin’s theory of natural evolution. The algorithm reflects the process of natural selection where the fittest individuals are selected for reproduction. The same principle can be applied to a search problem where a model selects the best solution out of a set. The algorithm assesses the ‘fitness’ of the solution to the problem and produces a score. In the selection phase, the solution with the highest fitness score is selected and then crossed at random with another solution. This new generation of solutions is then used in the next iteration of the algorithm to result in a different, ideally more effective set of solutions.

This improvement to the forecasting model is part of phase three of the system’s development in which capabilities are developed and the program can make business intelligence decisions.

Jade Sterling
News and Features Writer
20 January 2020

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Khalifa University’s Masdar Institute to Showcase Latest Research Innovations in Advanced Sustainable Technologies and Clean Energy at WFES 2020

University Also to Drive Knowledge Exchange Sessions and Sign Collaboration Agreements with Industry and Technology Leaders
Khalifa University announced it will showcase Masdar Institute’s latest research innovations in advanced sustainable technologies and clean energy during the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2020 that is part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2020.

As a research-intensive higher education institution focusing on renewable energy, advanced sustainable technology, energy storage, biofuel, and water and environment, Khalifa University will be signing collaboration agreements, while showcasing its most recent research innovations at its stand (A-411) at WFES 2020. In addition, faculty experts will participate and lead various dedicated workshops, technical sessions, panel discussions and forums at the event focusing on energy, energy efficiency, water, solar, waste and smart cities.

In addition, a total of 26 members of the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program will be honored during the week for successfully completing their year-long schedule of mandatory programs.

Dr Arif Sultan Al Hamadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “We are privileged to showcase Masdar Institute’s renewable and sustainable energy technology innovations at the World Future Energy Summit, which serves as the most prominent networking platform for business, innovation and knowledge exchange. We believe such gathering of technology and industry leaders will give further momentum to expedite the adoption of clean technologies, thus benefiting the communities globally.”

He added: “At the same time, we are delighted to host the graduation of YFEL members who are trained to become tomorrow’s decision-makers and industry leaders driving advanced energy and sustainable technology solutions.”

Other Khalifa University innovations that will be featured at the event will include the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC), the Masdar Institute Solar Platform (MISP), and a nuclear project.

Dr Steve Griffiths, Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Khalifa University, will share his perspectives during a keynote panel on ‘Making a city smart and sustainable: Closing the gap between public need and available services’. Dr Griffiths, will also share his thoughts on leveraging artificial intelligence in renewable energy environments and moderate a keynote panel on “Happy Cities: The goal of sustainable urban master planning”.

From the Khalifa University Center for Membranes & Advanced Water Technology at Masdar Institute, Prof. Hassan A. Arafat, Director, will offer his views on socio-political factors impacting the sustainability of desalination during a research and development spotlight. Additionally, Dr Riaan van der Merwe, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering, will share his views on rethinking brine discharge from regional desalination.

Research centers and facilities at Masdar Institute in Khalifa University continue to lead innovation in renewable energy. Most recently, the University’s Masdar Institute Solar Platform (MISP) in partnership with Wahaj Solar installed the UAE’s first-of-a-kind concentrator to helps achieve higher temperature with less mirror surface, thus enabling conversion of more solar energy into electricity. The MISP is part of the Masdar Solar Hub development launched in 2015 focused on accelerating and testing pilot scale solar technology.

Khalifa University’s Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) completed significant structural improvements to enable better yields of the salt-loving Salicornia plant and the growth of a wider range of fish species. SBRC’s Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS), is the world’s first research facility to grow both food and fuel using desert land irrigated by seawater.

Moreover, Masdar Institute’s Research Center for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment (ReCREMA) will showcase its recently launched Renewable Energy Management System for Saudi Arabia.

A global hub for business, innovation and knowledge exchange at the heart of ADSW, the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) is a global industry platform connecting business and innovation in energy, clean technology and efficiency for a sustainable future. The WFES 2020 will be held from 13-16 January 2020 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).

Clarence Michael
News Writer
7 January 2020

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UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry Launches Emirates Nuclear Technology Center at Khalifa University’s Sas Al Nakhl Campus in Abu Dhabi

 The new center will support research, innovation and capacity building in the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy industry

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by UAE’s MoEI, and the Korea’s MoFA to cooperate in research projects

 The UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry opened the Emirates Nuclear Technology Center, at Khalifa University’s Sas Al Nakhl Campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to support the long-term sustainability of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program by creating a dedicated innovation hub for peaceful nuclear technologies.

 A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged by His Excellency Suhail Bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Industry, and His Excellency Lee Taeho, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea, during the opening ceremony, attended by His Excellency Engineer Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, Christer Viktorsson Director General of the Federal Authority of Nuclear Regulation (FANR), Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi Executive Vice President of Khalifa University, and senior officials from all five entities.

The MoU between the UAE MoEI and the Ministry of Science, and Information and Communications Technology of Korea, under the UAE-Korea Consultation Committee on Nuclear Technology, outlines the framework of cooperation on research projects between the center’s relevant partners.

The Emirates Nuclear Technology Center will engage in research projects designed and approved by ENEC and FANR, and will be conducted by students, academics and researchers from Khalifa University. The Center’s initial research projects will focus on three areas – nuclear safety and systems, nuclear materials science and chemistry, and radiation safety in the environment.

Through the MoU, the ENTC will benefit from sharing of knowledge and expertise from the Korean nuclear energy industry, which has been operating for over 40 years, along with experience in developing nuclear research reactors.

“It is my pleasure to launch the Emirates Nuclear Technology Centre in Abu Dhabi, which is an outcome of our collaborative approach with our South Korean government counterparts and all UAE nuclear stakeholders, who are working to further Nuclear Science & Technology Research and Development. Investing in research and innovation are prerequisites for the long-term success of the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy industry. It will further position the UAE as an international role model for the development of a peaceful nuclear energy program by building UAE National capabilities and conducting industry-leading research on radiation safety and nuclear energy technologies,” said His Excellency Suhail Al Mazrouei.

“Within the frame of the High-Level Consultation on Nuclear Cooperation, we and our UAE partner are expanding areas of cooperation in the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant construction and operations, new nuclear energy project in third countries, nuclear R&D, and safety regulations. I believe that the MoU on nuclear energy and R&D cooperation will serve as a catalyst that will further accelerate our bilateral nuclear energy cooperation”, said His Excellency Lee Taeho,.

H.E. Eng. Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO of ENEC, said: “We are delighted to be part of this initiative to establish the Emirates Nuclear Technology Center. As the UAE’s emerging peaceful nuclear energy industry continues to grow and develop, collaboration and cooperation between academia and industry will allow us to ensure the long-term sustainability of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, as well as enhancing our global competitiveness and high standards of safety. Through its projects and research the Center will provide talented UAE Nationals with the opportunity to work alongside international experts in conducting cutting-edge research, thereby developing their skills and capabilities within the field of peaceful nuclear energy.”

 Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “We are delighted to join the official launch of the Emirates Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC), hosted on our campus, in collaboration with our stakeholders including our partners ENEC and FANR. The ENTC reflects another strong commitment from Khalifa University to contribute to enhancing the UAE’s nuclear technology research capability and support our key stakeholder’s goals for the delivery of safe, clean and efficient nuclear technology to meet the UAE 2030 vision. The center will significantly optimize the multidisciplinary capabilities through Khalifa University’s diverse community of faculty and researchers to meet the national objectives.”

“We are delighted to join our national and international stakeholders in launching the Emirates Nuclear Technology Centre. Investing in research and innovation in nuclear technologies is indispensable to ensure the sustainability of the nuclear program. We will work closely with our partners to identify priority areas, focus on strategic nuclear sector research, ensure continuity of projects and provide support to national and international initiatives in line with FANR’s R & D Policy, which was launched in 2017. FANR will support the mandate of the new center by utilizing its Research and Development Program. FANR’s Research and Development Program aims to develop and attract Emiratis by providing opportunities for postgraduate education and research in the nuclear field. It also aims to ensure sound technical basis for all regulatory activities, mitigate risks related to safety, security and safeguards in the UAE nuclear sector,” said Christer Viktorsson, Director-General of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) in the UAE.

The establishment of the Emirates Nuclear Technology Center will cement the UAE’s position as an international role model for the development of a new peaceful nuclear energy projects around the globe. Innovation and continuous development are essential to the sustainability and long-term success of the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy industry, as well as the UAE’s ongoing transition to a knowledge-based economy and society.

The MoU comes at a pivotal time for ENEC, with the 4 Units of Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant more than 93% complete. Unit 4 is over 82% complete, Unit 3 is more than 91% and Unit 2 is more than 95%. Unit 1 construction has been completed and is currently undergoing operational readiness preparations pending regulatory approval and receipt of the Operating License for Unit 1 from FANR, anticipated in early 2020.

After the launch of ENTC and the MoU signing, His Excellency Suhail Al Mazroui, His Excellency Lee Taeho and members of the official delegation from Korea, ENEC, and FANR along with Khalifa University senior management team, faculty members and researchers toured the research facility.

Later, delegation members from the two countries attended the second meeting of the ‘UAE-Korea high-level consultations on nuclear cooperation’.

News Writer
27 November 2019

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Three Teams Emerge Leaders from Day 1 Trials at US$5-Million MBZIRC 2020 in Abu Dhabi

 Preparations in Full Swing for Grand Challenge while Teams Asses their Performance during Trials in All Three Challenges

Organizers of the US$5-million Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) 2020 today announced the names of three leading teams from Day 1 trials as the participating teams complete Day-2 trials, looking forward to the Grand Challenge.

In Challenge 1 trials, the Beijing Institute of Technology emerged leaders from Day 1, proving their skills in autonomously tracking the intruder unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), while capturing and neutralizing it inside the arena. The Prague Czech Technical University-University of Pennsylvania-NYU team came second, while the University of Tokyo came third.

In Challenge 2, the Prague Czech Technical University-University of Pennsylvania-NYU team emerged leaders, demonstrating the autonomous maneuverability of a team of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned guided vehicles (UGVs) to collaborate and autonomously locate, pick, transport and assemble different types of brick-shaped objects to build pre-defined structures, in an outdoor environment. The Technical University of Denmark came second, while the University of New South Wales – Sydney came third.

In Challenge 3, the Technical University of Denmark came out the leaders, presenting their drones’ capabilities in a firefighting scenario in an urban high-rise building. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) came second, while the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and the Polytechnic University of Madrid-University Pablo Olvide-Poznan University of Technology teams shared the third place honors.

The UAE’s Al Nokhba Team has performed strongly to reach sixth and seventh positions respectively in the Challenges 2 and 3, thus emerging among the most prestigious research centers worldwide. The performance indicates the high level of innovation the young Emirati team has achieved in advanced technologies, enabling them to compete globally.

Winners will be announced on the last day of the Challenge in all four categories. Each of the teams at MBZIRC 2020 attempt two trials for Challenges 1, 2 and 3 and the best score is retained. For the Grand Challenge, there is just one trial. Trials are scheduled during daylight hours, from 7.30am-5.30am, while floodlights may be used in the event of adverse weather conditions or overrunning of schedules.

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US$5-Million Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge 2020 Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi

Day 1 Trials Test Teams for Embodied Artificial Intelligence Skills in Challenges 1, 2 and 3

 The US$5-million biennial international robotics competition Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) 2020 kicked off today with 32 participating teams competing to establish their superior embodied artificial intelligence (AI) skills in drone capture, construction automation, firefighting and emergency response, organizers Khalifa University of Science and Technology announced.

The three-day Challenge is organized in parallel with the 4th edition of Unmanned System Exhibition (UMEX) and the Simulation and Training Exhibition and Conference (SimTEX) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). Following the MBZIRC 2020 challenge, a two-day MBZIRC Symposium will be held from 26-27 February at ADNEC.

Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Steering Committee General Vice-Chair for MBZIRC 2020, said: “We are delighted to witness the teams from top-ranking universities and research laboratories taking part in MBZIRC 2020, pushing technological boundaries to demonstrate their capabilities. This signifies the prestige and global appeal of MBZIRC 2020, which offers the most suitable environment to bring out highly advanced technologies in drone capture, construction automation, firefighting and emergency response. We believe MBZIRC 2020 will firmly establish Abu Dhabi and the UAE among the top league of countries renowned for technology-intensive competitions that contribute to the overall benefit the global community.”

Dr. Lakmal Seneviratne, Technical Chair, MBZIRC 2020 Organizing Committee, Director, Center for Autonomous Robotic Systems, Khalifa University, and Professor, Mechanical Engineering, said: “Day-1 at MBZIRC 2020 is setting the tone for the rest of the Challenge, making the competition even more exciting. The MBZIRC 2020 Challenges will truly test the limits of UAV and UGV autonomy in complex outdoor environments.”

A total of 24 teams signed up for the Day 1 trials for Challenge-1, which will test the teams for autonomously tracking the intruder unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs), while capturing and neutralizing it inside the arena. The MBZIRC 2020 jury panel includes globally-renowned scholars and eminent researchers in robotics and artificial intelligence.

A total of 20 teams are seeking to outshine others in Challenge-2, in which a team of UAVs and a UGV will collaborate to autonomously locate, pick, transport and assemble different types of brick shaped objects to build pre-defined structures, in an outdoor environment.

For Challenge-3, a total of 22 teams have agreed to display their skills in a firefighting scenario in an urban high-rise. All Challenges are designed to ensure fast autonomous navigation maneuverability of drones by the teams in semi-structured, complex, and dynamic environments.

Day 2 entails second trials for all three Challenges, while final winners will be announced on Day 3, which will also witness the teams competing for the Grand Challenge followed by the final award ceremony to honor the winners.

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US$5-Million Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge 2020 to Kick Off Tomorrow in Abu Dhabi

Challenge-1 Will Assess Performance of UAVs for Autonomously Tracking, Capturing and Neutralizing Intruder UAVs Inside the Arena;

Khalifa University Lines Up Array of Scientific Innovations for UMEX and SimTEX 2020

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 22 February 2019 – Khalifa University of Science and Technology, organizers of the Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC 2020), today announced the second edition of the US$5-million biennial international robotics competition kicks off on 23 February (tomorrow) with 32 participating teams at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).

The three-day MBZIRC 2020 is co-located with the 4th edition of Unmanned System Exhibition (UMEX) and the Simulation and Training Exhibition and Conference (SimTEX). The Khalifa University stand at UMEX 2020 will offer an array of innovations in various science, engineering and technology areas. Following the MBZIRC 2020 Challenge, a two-day MBZIRC Symposium will be held from 26-27 February at ADNEC.

Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Steering Committee General Co-Chair for MBZIRC 2020, and Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, said: “The much-awaited MBZIRC 2020, beginning on Sunday, will be offering a glimpse of the technical and scientific skills of various teams from top-ranked institutions across the world. We welcome the participating teams and believe the prestigious international competition will prove Abu Dhabi’s pioneering status as a place for advancing technologies in drones, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) embodiment, UAVs and UGVs.”

The 32 participating teams represent 17 countries and have been shortlisted from a total of 134 teams from across the globe that applied to compete in the MBZIRC 2020 competition. With an average of 15 members, the teams currently have over 400 international robotics experts present in Abu Dhabi.

An elite panel of judges – globally-renowned scholars and eminent researchers in robotics and artificial intelligence from some of the top universities and research labs in the world – will assess the participating teams for their technical capabilities.

On Sunday 23 February, the teams will have their first trials for Challenge 1, 2, and 3. Challenge-1 will assess the performance of a group of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for autonomously tracking, capturing and neutralizing intruder UAVs inside the arena.

Challenge-2 will focus on how a team of UAVs and an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) can collaborate to autonomously locate, pick, transport and assemble different types of brick-shaped objects to build pre-defined structures, in an outdoor environment. Challenge-3 will assess how a team of UAVs and a UGVs will collaborate to autonomously extinguish a series of simulated fires in an urban high-rise and related tasks. The Grand Challenge requires a team of UAVs and UGVs to compete in a ‘triathlon-type’ event, combining Challenges 1, 2 and 3.

Meanwhile, Khalifa University’s various research institutes, centers and facilities have lined up their innovations at UMEX 2020. The College of Engineering is displaying projects including the innovative ‘Di-wheel’ – a remotely-controlled vehicle for confined mobility spaces; a magnetic brake system to reduce vehicle speed and for energy storage; a smart, reliable, affordable, and integrated technological solution to assist people with Alzheimer’s; and a wearable system for monitoring mobility disorders for rehabilitation.

In addition, the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) will share latest updates on its Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS) project, while the Masdar Institute Solar Platform (MISP) will showcase its newly installed pre-commercial scale solar concentrator. The Emirates Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC) will demonstrate a nuclear reactor model, and the Aerospace Research Innovation Center’s (ARIC) display will feature the KU-Strata bike. The multiple award-winning aerodynamic solar car built at Petroleum Institute will also be on display.

The Emirates ICT Innovation Center (EBTIC) will present eight innovations including a tool to assess customer volumes and services at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) petrol stations, an intelligent software analytics and governance platform, an AI solution to predict the need for spare parts in a given network to optimize distribution, a tool to harvest publicly available social media messages and perform text analytics to better manage vehicular traffic build-up or disruption in a telco network, an AI-based tool that allows for rapid automated planning of completely optimized wired and wireless networks, another AI tool for Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioner (HVAC) systems to forecast future energy usage within a building, a novel time synchronization technology for mobiles communications and applications, Radio Access Network (RAN) slicing for 5G networks, and geo-scope analytics for future smart cities.

In addition, Ankabut – Emirates Advanced National Research and Education Network – at Khalifa University, will offer an insight into its various products and services, while the College of Arts and Science and the College of Medicine and Health Sciences will provide visitors with details about their offerings.

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Over 60 Government Institutions, Companies and Private Sector Organizations Explore Talent at Khalifa University Career Fair 2020

World-Class Faculty and State-of-the-Art Campus Facilities Help Equip Students with Right Abilities to Tackle Challenges as Industry Professionals

More than 60 government institutions, companies and private sector organizations participated in the Khalifa University of Science and Technology annual Career Fair 2020 to identify and recruit talented students and future leaders, capable of becoming full-fledged professionals and contributing to the UAE’s growth.

Organized by the Khalifa University Career Services department at the Main Campus, the annual Career Fair 2020 witnessed the participations of organizations including Etisalat, UAE Ministry of Education, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), UAE Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA), Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company (TRANSCO), Abu Dhabi Investment Council, Abu Dhabi Municipality, Abu Dhabi Police, DP World, du, Dubai Asset Management, Emaar Group, Emirates Steel, Etihad Aviation, National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, RAK Properties, Smart Dubai, Strata Engineering, Tadweer and Tawazun Economic Council.

Other participants included ABB Industries, Aramex, Baker Hughes, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Diehl Defence, EMITAC Healthcare Solution, Ernst & Young, GE, General Motors, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Mott Mac Donald, Petrofac International, Samsung Engineering, Schlumberger, and Schneider Electric.

Each year, Career Services organizes the on-campus Career Fair to create mutual links between upcoming graduates and potential employers. The event provided students with the opportunity to explore careers in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, biotechnology, clean energy, nuclear engineering, aerospace, oil and gas, as well as other advanced technology sectors such as robotics, artificial intelligence, supply chain logistics, and 3D-printing.

Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Senior Vice-President, Academic and Student Services, Khalifa University, said: “We are delighted to witness the participation of a very high number of government institutions, companies and private sector organizations in our annual Career Fair 2020, hunting for the right talent. We realize that most industries today are going through transformation at the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution and therefore Khalifa University has taken the initiative to offer academic programs which prepare our students for the jobs of the future by equipping them with 21st century skills. Khalifa University has the resources and assets to achieve this because our faculty lead cutting-edge research in their fields. Our students have the distinct advantage of having access to these top researchers and their labs, and therefore they are exposed to the latest technologies as part of their educational journey in Khalifa University.”

Shireen Al Romaithi, Head of Scholarship, Talent Acquisition, ADNOC, said: “ADNOC and Khalifa University have a strong and long-established strategic relationship that facilitates closer engagement during participation at events and exhibitions, including the Career Fair. ADNOC seeks to support young Emiratis keen to pursue their graduate studies, and obtain degrees in technical disciplines that meet with ADNOC Group’s future vision. We aim to achieve this through providing academic scholarships to talented students who look for new majors, including different engineering specializations.”

A significant number of Khalifa University students have received employment, training or internship offers in the last few years when the annual career fairs were held on campus. Career fairs offer employers an easy way to begin building their recruiting efforts on-campus, while providing a valuable platform for them to interact with students, as Khalifa University remains a key enabler for talented and skilled future professionals.

Additionally, such interactions also bring together emerging entrepreneurs, industry experts, and students to continue working towards rapidly changing the market landscape of the future, thus providing an impetus to the UAE’s knowledge economy transformation efforts.

Moreover, on-campus career fairs also facilitate graduate placements while enabling talented students to seamlessly integrate with the national workforce amid the rapid redefinitions of careers driven by technology. In addition, these fairs also help students in obtaining internships, and inspire them to chart their future career map.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
12 February 2020