Site-Inspection Drone Designed to Help Enforce Regulations and Monitor Work

Khalifa University student Fahad Al Shaibani and alumna Iman Hableel were one of five teams to make the finals of the “Drones for Good” Competition in the national category. Their site-inspection drone is designed to help enforce regulations at labour camps — from ensuring that employees are taking appointed break to monitoring hours of operation and building boundaries. 

Their drone is also capable of conducting post-construction inspections thanks to a live internet feed capacity that provides three-dimensional imagery of building sites. 

“We were looking at the municipalities [as possible clients] because it’s a hard job that’s very time consuming and covering a huge area ” said Mr. Al Shaibani. 

The site-inspection drone is estimated to cost between Dh20 000 and Dh30 000.

[mobile]

Khalifa University student Fahad Al Shaibani and alumna Iman Hableel were one of five teams to make the finals of the “Drones for Good” Competition in the national category. Their site-inspection drone is designed to help enforce regulations at labour camps — from ensuring that employees are taking appointed break to monitoring hours of operation and building boundaries. 

Their drone is also capable of conducting post-construction inspections thanks to a live internet feed capacity that provides three-dimensional imagery of building sites. 

“We were looking at the municipalities [as possible clients] because it’s a hard job that’s very time consuming and covering a huge area ” said Mr. Al Shaibani. 

The site-inspection drone is estimated to cost between Dh20 000 and Dh30 000.

[/mobile]

Projects competed in recent UAE Drones for Good Award also on display.

Khalifa University is participating in the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2015 by highlighting its Masters programs in International and Civil Security and
Information Security and displaying several student/alumni projects. The projects are all non-military-use drones that were finalists in the recent UAE Drones for Good Award. IDEX takes place from February 22-26 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) and the drones will be showcased at Khalifa University’s booth. The drones creators as well as Khalifa University students faculty and management will also attend.

Khalifa University’s participation in this event comes on the heels of the announcement that they will be organizing the upcoming Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC). This exciting event will draw participants from around the world for a challenging competition aimed at improving robotics technology especially in the areas of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.

Of the drones on display the Fog Dissipation Drone was a finalist in the International Category of the “Drones for Good” competition and is designed to carry a salty solution that can be used to dissipate fog over highways and airport runways. The drone also uses fog sensors to measure the density and if the range of visibility is low or the fog particularly dense an intelligent controller can adjust the spray rate of the salty solution. The dissipated fog will fall in the form of rain which is not harmful clears the sky reduces the temperature and cleans the atmosphere.

Another drone on display is the site inspection drone which was one of five finalists in the national category of the UAE Drones for Good Award. The students created the drone to help enforce regulations at labor camps the drone can be used to do everything from ensuring that employees are taking their midday break to monitoring sites operating outside permitted hours and building work that exceeds permitted boundaries. The drone is also capable of post-construction inspections.  The device has a live internet feed capacity and is able to provide three-dimensional imagery of a building site.

“We are looking forward to presenting our students projects at this prestigious event ” said Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi Khalifa University’s Executive Vice President. “IDEX is a great platform for us to present our programs that tie heavily in with local regional and worldwide security. We currently boast Master’s programs in International and Civil Security Information Security and options to specialize in Robotics and Aerospace Engineering at a PhD level. We believe in pushing boundaries and creating technologies that will benefit the UAE and the world and the student projects on display at this event will be a small taste of that.  This is one of the reasons we have been chosen to host Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge. I highly encourage people especially Emirati security professionals interested in pursuing a graduate degree to visit us and discuss the opportunities available for them at Khalifa University.”

[mobile]

Projects competed in recent UAE Drones for Good Award also on display.

Khalifa University is participating in the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2015 by highlighting its Masters programs in International and Civil Security and Information Security and displaying several student/alumni projects. The projects are all non-military-use drones that were finalists in the recent UAE Drones for Good Award. IDEX takes place from February 22-26 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) and the drones will be showcased at Khalifa University’s booth. The drones creators as well as Khalifa University students faculty and management will also attend.

Khalifa University’s participation in this event comes on the heels of the announcement that they will be organizing the upcoming Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC). This exciting event will draw participants from around the world for a challenging competition aimed at improving robotics technology especially in the areas of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.

Of the drones on display the Fog Dissipation Drone was a finalist in the International Category of the “Drones for Good” competition and is designed to carry a salty solution that can be used to dissipate fog over highways and airport runways. The drone also uses fog sensors to measure the density and if the range of visibility is low or the fog particularly dense an intelligent controller can adjust the spray rate of the salty solution. The dissipated fog will fall in the form of rain which is not harmful clears the sky reduces the temperature and cleans the atmosphere.

Another drone on display is the site inspection drone which was one of five finalists in the national category of the UAE Drones for Good Award. The students created the drone to help enforce regulations at labor camps the drone can be used to do everything from ensuring that employees are taking their midday break to monitoring sites operating outside permitted hours and building work that exceeds permitted boundaries. The drone is also capable of post-construction inspections.  The device has a live internet feed capacity and is able to provide three-dimensional imagery of a building site.

“We are looking forward to presenting our students projects at this prestigious event ” said Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi Khalifa University’s Executive Vice President. “IDEX is a great platform for us to present our programs that tie heavily in with local regional and worldwide security. We currently boast Master’s programs in International and Civil Security Information Security and options to specialize in Robotics and Aerospace Engineering at a PhD level. We believe in pushing boundaries and creating technologies that will benefit the UAE and the world and the student projects on display at this event will be a small taste of that.  This is one of the reasons we have been chosen to host Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge. I highly encourage people especially Emirati security professionals interested in pursuing a graduate degree to visit us and discuss the opportunities available for them at Khalifa University.”

[/mobile]

Dr. Blix will lecture on “The Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World”

Khalifa University in collaboration with the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) will host the Head of the UAE’s Nuclear Program Advisory Board and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and United Nations Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission for a special lecture on the importance of nuclear power at ECSSR on March 17 2015.

The lecture comes as part of Khalifa University’s Distinguished Speakers Series and will provide an overview of Dr. Blix’s career in nuclear energy which spans over three decades since his appointment to the head of IAEA in 1981 to his appointment as the Head of the UAE Nuclear Program Advisory Board in 2010. His career makes him one of the most influential thinkers in the nuclear world and his discussion on the “Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World” will expound on his long-standing focus on the importance of safe nuclear power and the effect it could have on worldwide energy consumption.

Dr. Blix has been a leading voice in the nuclear world during an era of fast-paced change and development. He was head of the International Atomic Energy Agency during the Chernobyl disaster and lead investigations into its causes and aftermath and he has written multiple reports on the nuclear situations in Iraq and Iran on nuclear disarmament and on freeing the world from the threat of nuclear biological and chemical weapons. Now he will be one of the guiding voices in the development of the UAE’s nuclear future lending his ample experience and knowledge to the creation of safe and clean nuclear power.

Dr. Blix’s lecture will start at 7:30 pm at ECSSR in Abu Dhabi. This lecture is open to the public. Those interested may send an RSVP at: rsvp@ku.ac.ae.

[mobile]

Dr. Blix will lecture on “The Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World”

Khalifa University in collaboration with the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) will host the Head of the UAE’s Nuclear Program Advisory Board and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and United Nations Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission for a special lecture on the importance of nuclear power at ECSSR on March 17 2015.

The lecture comes as part of Khalifa University’s Distinguished Speakers Series and will provide an overview of Dr. Blix’s career in nuclear energy which spans over three decades since his appointment to the head of IAEA in 1981 to his appointment as the Head of the UAE Nuclear Program Advisory Board in 2010. His career makes him one of the most influential thinkers in the nuclear world and his discussion on the “Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World” will expound on his long-standing focus on the importance of safe nuclear power and the effect it could have on worldwide energy consumption.

Dr. Blix has been a leading voice in the nuclear world during an era of fast-paced change and development. He was head of the International Atomic Energy Agency during the Chernobyl disaster and lead investigations into its causes and aftermath and he has written multiple reports on the nuclear situations in Iraq and Iran on nuclear disarmament and on freeing the world from the threat of nuclear biological and chemical weapons. Now he will be one of the guiding voices in the development of the UAE’s nuclear future lending his ample experience and knowledge to the creation of safe and clean nuclear power.

Dr. Blix’s lecture will start at 7:30 pm at ECSSR in Abu Dhabi. This lecture is open to the public. Those interested may send an RSVP at: rsvp@ku.ac.ae.

[/mobile]

 

Dr. Blix will lecture on “The Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World”

Khalifa University in collaboration with the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) will host the Head of the UAE’s Nuclear Program Advisory Board and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and United Nations Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission for a special lecture on the importance of nuclear power at ECSSR on March 17 2015.

The lecture comes as part of Khalifa University’s Distinguished Speakers Series and will provide an overview of Dr. Blix’s career in nuclear energy which spans over three decades since his appointment to the head of IAEA in 1981 to his appointment as the Head of the UAE Nuclear Program Advisory Board in 2010. His career makes him one of the most influential thinkers in the nuclear world and his discussion on the “Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World” will expound on his long-standing focus on the importance of safe nuclear power and the effect it could have on worldwide energy consumption.

Dr. Blix has been a leading voice in the nuclear world during an era of fast-paced change and development. He was head of the International Atomic Energy Agency during the Chernobyl disaster and lead investigations into its causes and aftermath and he has written multiple reports on the nuclear situations in Iraq and Iran on nuclear disarmament and on freeing the world from the threat of nuclear biological and chemical weapons. Now he will be one of the guiding voices in the development of the UAE’s nuclear future lending his ample experience and knowledge to the creation of safe and clean nuclear power.

Dr. Blix’s lecture will start at 7:30 pm at ECSSR in Abu Dhabi. This lecture is open to the public. Those interested may send an RSVP at: rsvp@ku.ac.ae.

[mobile]

Dr. Blix will lecture on “The Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World”

Khalifa University in collaboration with the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) will host the Head of the UAE’s Nuclear Program Advisory Board and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and United Nations Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission for a special lecture on the importance of nuclear power at ECSSR on March 17 2015.

The lecture comes as part of Khalifa University’s Distinguished Speakers Series and will provide an overview of Dr. Blix’s career in nuclear energy which spans over three decades since his appointment to the head of IAEA in 1981 to his appointment as the Head of the UAE Nuclear Program Advisory Board in 2010. His career makes him one of the most influential thinkers in the nuclear world and his discussion on the “Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World” will expound on his long-standing focus on the importance of safe nuclear power and the effect it could have on worldwide energy consumption.

Dr. Blix has been a leading voice in the nuclear world during an era of fast-paced change and development. He was head of the International Atomic Energy Agency during the Chernobyl disaster and lead investigations into its causes and aftermath and he has written multiple reports on the nuclear situations in Iraq and Iran on nuclear disarmament and on freeing the world from the threat of nuclear biological and chemical weapons. Now he will be one of the guiding voices in the development of the UAE’s nuclear future lending his ample experience and knowledge to the creation of safe and clean nuclear power.

Dr. Blix’s lecture will start at 7:30 pm at ECSSR in Abu Dhabi. This lecture is open to the public. Those interested may send an RSVP at: rsvp@ku.ac.ae.

[/mobile]

 

Dr. Blix will lecture on “The Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World”

Khalifa University in collaboration with the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) will host the Head of the UAE’s Nuclear Program Advisory Board and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and United Nations Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission for a special lecture on the importance of nuclear power at ECSSR on March 17 2015.

The lecture comes as part of Khalifa University’s Distinguished Speakers Series and will provide an overview of Dr. Blix’s career in nuclear energy which spans over three decades since his appointment to the head of IAEA in 1981 to his appointment as the Head of the UAE Nuclear Program Advisory Board in 2010. His career makes him one of the most influential thinkers in the nuclear world and his discussion on the “Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World” will expound on his long-standing focus on the importance of safe nuclear power and the effect it could have on worldwide energy consumption.

Dr. Blix has been a leading voice in the nuclear world during an era of fast-paced change and development. He was head of the International Atomic Energy Agency during the Chernobyl disaster and lead investigations into its causes and aftermath and he has written multiple reports on the nuclear situations in Iraq and Iran on nuclear disarmament and on freeing the world from the threat of nuclear biological and chemical weapons. Now he will be one of the guiding voices in the development of the UAE’s nuclear future lending his ample experience and knowledge to the creation of safe and clean nuclear power.

Dr. Blix’s lecture will start at 7:30 pm at ECSSR in Abu Dhabi. This lecture is open to the public. Those interested may send an RSVP at: rsvp@ku.ac.ae.

[mobile]

Dr. Blix will lecture on “The Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World”

Khalifa University in collaboration with the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) will host the Head of the UAE’s Nuclear Program Advisory Board and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and United Nations Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission for a special lecture on the importance of nuclear power at ECSSR on March 17 2015.

The lecture comes as part of Khalifa University’s Distinguished Speakers Series and will provide an overview of Dr. Blix’s career in nuclear energy which spans over three decades since his appointment to the head of IAEA in 1981 to his appointment as the Head of the UAE Nuclear Program Advisory Board in 2010. His career makes him one of the most influential thinkers in the nuclear world and his discussion on the “Importance of Nuclear Power to States and the World” will expound on his long-standing focus on the importance of safe nuclear power and the effect it could have on worldwide energy consumption.

Dr. Blix has been a leading voice in the nuclear world during an era of fast-paced change and development. He was head of the International Atomic Energy Agency during the Chernobyl disaster and lead investigations into its causes and aftermath and he has written multiple reports on the nuclear situations in Iraq and Iran on nuclear disarmament and on freeing the world from the threat of nuclear biological and chemical weapons. Now he will be one of the guiding voices in the development of the UAE’s nuclear future lending his ample experience and knowledge to the creation of safe and clean nuclear power.

Dr. Blix’s lecture will start at 7:30 pm at ECSSR in Abu Dhabi. This lecture is open to the public. Those interested may send an RSVP at: rsvp@ku.ac.ae.

[/mobile]

 

Master’s student Nour Abura’ed wins first place in intermediate category

Three KU students –Omar Al Suwaidi Sara Mubarak Al Sulaiman and Nour Abura’ed – participated in the third “Japanese Language Speech Contest ” organized by the Embassy of Japan and held on Monday February 23 2015. The contest required students to write a text about a topic of their own choosing in Japanese and then deliver it to the audience.

Nour a Master’s student in Electrical and Computer Engineering took first place in the intermediate category for her talk on “Miyazaki Hayao.” She thanked student counselor Ms. Megumi Uchiyama “for acknowledging our efforts and constantly motivating us to do our best in curricular and extracurricular activities. We would have never reached this level without the Japanese teachers and your encouragement.” She also offered appreciation to Dr. Katherine Hal Assistant Professor of English and Speech for the techniques to deliver good speeches.

“It is often difficult to continue learning a language as an extracurricular activity while taking on the vigorous studies at KU ” offers Ms. Megumi. “These students have been working consistently by taking the Japanese lessons offered as a part of Nippon club. I was very proud to see the quality of the speeches all our students performed.”

[mobile]

Master’s student Nour Abura’ed wins first place in intermediate category

Three KU students –Omar Al Suwaidi Sara Mubarak Al Sulaiman and Nour Abura’ed – participated in the third “Japanese Language Speech Contest ” organized by the Embassy of Japan and held on Monday February 23 2015. The contest required students to write a text about a topic of their own choosing in Japanese and then deliver it to the audience.

Nour a Master’s student in Electrical and Computer Engineering took first place in the intermediate category for her talk on “Miyazaki Hayao.” She thanked student counselor Ms. Megumi Uchiyama “for acknowledging our efforts and constantly motivating us to do our best in curricular and extracurricular activities. We would have never reached this level without the Japanese teachers and your encouragement.” She also offered appreciation to Dr. Katherine Hal Assistant Professor of English and Speech for the techniques to deliver good speeches.

“It is often difficult to continue learning a language as an extracurricular activity while taking on the vigorous studies at KU ” offers Ms. Megumi. “These students have been working consistently by taking the Japanese lessons offered as a part of Nippon club. I was very proud to see the quality of the speeches all our students performed.”

[/mobile]

Forum on ICT Research took place on first day of International Conference on Information and Communication Technology Research (ICTRC2015)

Under the Patronage and with the attendance of His Excellency Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi Minister of Education the first day of the Khalifa University organized International Conference on Information and Communication Technology Research (ICTRC2015) featured a forum focused on “smarter city” challenges and solutions.

The ninth Information and Communication Technology Research Forum 2015 (ICTRF2015) took place at the Dusit Thani Hotel on Sunday May 17 2015. The forum focused on “Smarter City” and featured discussions my preeminent ICT specialists and industry leaders. Some of the discussions included a presentation by Dr. Eesa Al Bastaki President of University of Dubai a seminar on “Smarter Citizens for Smarter Cities” by Roberto Saracco Director of EIT ICT Labs Chair of the IEEE Future Direction Committee Italy; “Smarter Cities are Changing Lives Prove It” by Michael Dixon IBM General Manager Smarter Cities USA; “Smarter Cities are a Global Imperative” by Dr. Glenn Ricart President US-Ignite USA; “Smart Cities IoT and Big Data – The Untold Story” by Professor Mischa Dohler Head of the Centre for Telecommunications Research (CTR) Member of Board of Directors Worldsensing King’s College University of London UK; “Smart Cities and Big Data: Opportunities and Challenges” Dr. Ng See Kiong SERC Program Director Urban Systems Initiative A*STAR Singapore; and “Architecting a Programmable City: Motivations and Experiences of Designing and Deploying: Bristol Is Open” by Professor Dimitra Simeonidou University of Bristol UK.

Other panel discussions looked at the impact importance and challenges of developing “Smart Cities” and how digital technologies can be used to enhance performance and wellbeing to reduce costs and resource consumption and to engage more effectively and actively with citizens.

Taking place in conjunction with the forum was the International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICTRC2015) which focuses on presentations of original work by professionals who submitted papers to the event. Presentations of the papers will be conducted from the May 18 to the 19 with best paper winners being announced on the final day of the Conference.

“This forum is expanding every year. In this year’s ninth edition it received and reviewed 186 papers from 39 countries around the world” said Dr. Arif Al Hammadi General Chair and Executive Vice President of Khalifa University. “The topic of smart cities is certainly a timely one and one of great interest to the UAE. By providing a platform such as ICTRF2015 and ICTRC2015 to discuss issues surrounding the creation of smart cities Khalifa University hopes to spur innovation in these areas and contribute to the development of smarter cities in the UAE.”

ICTRF2015 is co-organized by ETISALAT-BT Innovation Centre (EBTIC) and the Emirates Advanced Network for Research and Education (ANKABUT). ICTRF2015 is sponsored by the TRA (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority) in partnership with Etisalat Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) and the IEEE.

[mobile]

Forum on ICT Research took place on first day of International Conference on Information and Communication Technology Research (ICTRC2015)

Under the Patronage and with the attendance of His Excellency Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi Minister of Education the first day of the Khalifa University organized International Conference on Information and Communication Technology Research (ICTRC2015) featured a forum focused on “smarter city” challenges and solutions.

The ninth Information and Communication Technology Research Forum 2015 (ICTRF2015) took place at the Dusit Thani Hotel on Sunday May 17 2015. The forum focused on “Smarter City” and featured discussions my preeminent ICT specialists and industry leaders. Some of the discussions included a presentation by Dr. Eesa Al Bastaki President of University of Dubai a seminar on “Smarter Citizens for Smarter Cities” by Roberto Saracco Director of EIT ICT Labs Chair of the IEEE Future Direction Committee Italy; “Smarter Cities are Changing Lives Prove It” by Michael Dixon IBM General Manager Smarter Cities USA; “Smarter Cities are a Global Imperative” by Dr. Glenn Ricart President US-Ignite USA; “Smart Cities IoT and Big Data – The Untold Story” by Professor Mischa Dohler Head of the Centre for Telecommunications Research (CTR) Member of Board of Directors Worldsensing King’s College University of London UK; “Smart Cities and Big Data: Opportunities and Challenges” Dr. Ng See Kiong SERC Program Director Urban Systems Initiative A*STAR Singapore; and “Architecting a Programmable City: Motivations and Experiences of Designing and Deploying: Bristol Is Open” by Professor Dimitra Simeonidou University of Bristol UK.

Other panel discussions looked at the impact importance and challenges of developing “Smart Cities” and how digital technologies can be used to enhance performance and wellbeing to reduce costs and resource consumption and to engage more effectively and actively with citizens.

Taking place in conjunction with the forum was the International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICTRC2015) which focuses on presentations of original work by professionals who submitted papers to the event. Presentations of the papers will be conducted from the May 18 to the 19 with best paper winners being announced on the final day of the Conference.

“This forum is expanding every year. In this year’s ninth edition it received and reviewed 186 papers from 39 countries around the world” said Dr. Arif Al Hammadi General Chair and Executive Vice President of Khalifa University. “The topic of smart cities is certainly a timely one and one of great interest to the UAE. By providing a platform such as ICTRF2015 and ICTRC2015 to discuss issues surrounding the creation of smart cities Khalifa University hopes to spur innovation in these areas and contribute to the development of smarter cities in the UAE.”

ICTRF2015 is co-organized by ETISALAT-BT Innovation Centre (EBTIC) and the Emirates Advanced Network for Research and Education (ANKABUT). ICTRF2015 is sponsored by the TRA (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority) in partnership with Etisalat Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) and the IEEE. 

[/mobile]

Teams to Vie for USD 5 Million in Prize Money.

Khalifa University organizer of the upcoming Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) has released information regarding the competition including details on competetion tasks as well as the call for “Intention to Participate and Request for Information (ITP-RFI).’’

The inaugural 2016 competition will consist of three challenges and a triathlon-type “Grand Challenge.” The event will take place in an outdoor arena the approximate size of a football pitch.

Challenge 1 requires an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to locate track and land on top of a moving ground vehicle. Challenge 2 requires an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to locate and reach a second ground vehicle and locate and physically operate a valve on a side of the vehicle. Challenge 3 requires a team of UAVs to collaborate to search locate track pick and place a set of static and moving objects. The Grand Challenge requires a team of robots (UAVs and UGVs) to compete in an event that combines Challenges 1 2 and 3.

“Our wise leadership aims to make our country a hub for innovation particularly for innovation that will have an impact on technology around the world.  This competition will bring international focus on the UAE its capabilities and on our youth and educational programs and also encourage universities in the region to focus more on science technology and robotics.” said Dr. Arif Al Hammadi Executive Vice President of Khalifa University. “The challenge is designed in a way that will encourage teams to develop enhancements to current robotic technologies It is our hope that the innovative solutions the teams come up with will advance the way we design robots in the future. MBZIRC is really a catalyst for the future of robotics technology development in the UAE and beyond.”

“This competition is motivated by the technological challenges facing next generation robotics which are poised to have a transformative impact in a variety of new markets ” said Dr. Mohammed Al Mualla Senior Vice President for Research and Development at Khalifa University. “We aim to focus on some of these technologies by providing a demanding set of benchmark robotics challenges that will attract the best international teams showcase state-of-the-art robotics technology and inspire innovation. Similar to other major competitions MBZIRC aims to provide an environment that fosters innovation and technical excellence while encouraging spectacular performance with robotics technology.”

An independent panel of judges which brings together top international robotic experts will oversee and judge the competition. MBZIRC is expected to attract the greatest minds in the field of robotics from among the world’s best universities research centres and international companies.

Teams interested in participating in the competition and applying for sponsorship are requested to submit an online application form at www.mbzirc.com by June 15 2015. More information can be found on social media via #MBZIRC on Twitter and Facebook @MBZIRC.

[mobile]

Teams to Vie for USD 5 Million in Prize Money.

Khalifa University organizer of the upcoming Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) has released information regarding the competition including details on competetion tasks as well as the call for “Intention to Participate and Request for Information (ITP-RFI).’’

The inaugural 2016 competition will consist of three challenges and a triathlon-type “Grand Challenge.” The event will take place in an outdoor arena the approximate size of a football pitch.

Challenge 1 requires an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to locate track and land on top of a moving ground vehicle. Challenge 2 requires an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to locate and reach a second ground vehicle and locate and physically operate a valve on a side of the vehicle. Challenge 3 requires a team of UAVs to collaborate to search locate track pick and place a set of static and moving objects. The Grand Challenge requires a team of robots (UAVs and UGVs) to compete in an event that combines Challenges 1 2 and 3.

“Our wise leadership aims to make our country a hub for innovation particularly for innovation that will have an impact on technology around the world.  This competition will bring international focus on the UAE its capabilities and on our youth and educational programs and also encourage universities in the region to focus more on science technology and robotics.” said Dr. Arif Al Hammadi Executive Vice President of Khalifa University. “The challenge is designed in a way that will encourage teams to develop enhancements to current robotic technologies It is our hope that the innovative solutions the teams come up with will advance the way we design robots in the future. MBZIRC is really a catalyst for the future of robotics technology development in the UAE and beyond.”

“This competition is motivated by the technological challenges facing next generation robotics which are poised to have a transformative impact in a variety of new markets ” said Dr. Mohammed Al Mualla Senior Vice President for Research and Development at Khalifa University. “We aim to focus on some of these technologies by providing a demanding set of benchmark robotics challenges that will attract the best international teams showcase state-of-the-art robotics technology and inspire innovation. Similar to other major competitions MBZIRC aims to provide an environment that fosters innovation and technical excellence while encouraging spectacular performance with robotics technology.”

An independent panel of judges which brings together top international robotic experts will oversee and judge the competition. MBZIRC is expected to attract the greatest minds in the field of robotics from among the world’s best universities research centres and international companies.

Teams interested in participating in the competition and applying for sponsorship are requested to submit an online application form at www.mbzirc.com by June 15 2015. More information can be found on social media via #MBZIRC on Twitter and Facebook @MBZIRC.

[/mobile]

Khalifa University students came first in Computer Programming Cyber Security Mobile Application Programming Game Development and Build and Fly challenges

The Khalifa University teams won all of the challenges that took place at the first Khalifa University-organized Emirates Technology and Innovation Competition (ETIC) 2015. The event which was part of the Emirates Skills 2015 took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center last week. The event pitted teams of high school and university students against each other in a variety of competitions namely Computer Programming Cyber Security Mobile Application Programming Game Development and a category called Build and Fly.

In addition to the first place wins Khalifa University also came second and third in the Build and Fly challenge second in the Computer Programming challenge and third in Mobile Development and Game Development. Other winners included HCT who came second in Game Development and third in Cyber Security and Computer Programming and Zayed University who came second in Mobile Development and Cyber Security.

The challenges focused around innovative themes that required teams to work together in order to either solve a problem or build a prototype. In the mobile development challenge teams were required to design an app called iBudget the application had to keep track of individual’s monthly expenses and collect receipts for different purchases. In addition recurrent monthly payments had to be managed and users needed to be alerted when a certain amount was due. The application also needed to provide additional features that would allow users to control their monthly budget by generating an alert when the Maximum Allowable Budget (MAB) was reached.

The game development challenge asked students to create a game called Heroes of UAE: Raising awareness of energy and water consumption. The game required teams to come up with a creative game that would teach players about the importance of energy and water and how not to waste them.

The cyber security challenge required students to work as a group wherein each participant was given a dedicated task such as analyzing a website’s structure assessing the website’s vulnerabilities and finally planning and performing attacks. The programming contest was similar in its design to the cyber security competition but teams had to write programs using C C++ or JAVA.

“We are thrilled with our student’s performance at this exciting event ” said Khalifa University Executive Vice President Dr. Arif Al Hammadi. “Khalifa University is dedicated to teaching our students everything they need to know to succeed in environments like this where they will be required to think on their feet and create on the fly. We’re very proud to see that these efforts have been effective and that our students have the ability to handle any challenges thrown at them”.

[mobile]

Khalifa University students came first in Computer Programming Cyber Security Mobile Application Programming Game Development and Build and Fly challenges

The Khalifa University teams won all of the challenges that took place at the first Khalifa University-organized Emirates Technology and Innovation Competition (ETIC) 2015. The event which was part of the Emirates Skills 2015 took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center last week. The event pitted teams of high school and university students against each other in a variety of competitions namely Computer Programming Cyber Security Mobile Application Programming Game Development and a category called Build and Fly.

In addition to the first place wins Khalifa University also came second and third in the Build and Fly challenge second in the Computer Programming challenge and third in Mobile Development and Game Development. Other winners included HCT who came second in Game Development and third in Cyber Security and Computer Programming and Zayed University who came second in Mobile Development and Cyber Security.

The challenges focused around innovative themes that required teams to work together in order to either solve a problem or build a prototype. In the mobile development challenge teams were required to design an app called iBudget the application had to keep track of individual’s monthly expenses and collect receipts for different purchases. In addition recurrent monthly payments had to be managed and users needed to be alerted when a certain amount was due. The application also needed to provide additional features that would allow users to control their monthly budget by generating an alert when the Maximum Allowable Budget (MAB) was reached.

The game development challenge asked students to create a game called Heroes of UAE: Raising awareness of energy and water consumption. The game required teams to come up with a creative game that would teach players about the importance of energy and water and how not to waste them.

The cyber security challenge required students to work as a group wherein each participant was given a dedicated task such as analyzing a website’s structure assessing the website’s vulnerabilities and finally planning and performing attacks. The programming contest was similar in its design to the cyber security competition but teams had to write programs using C C++ or JAVA.

“We are thrilled with our student’s performance at this exciting event ” said Khalifa University Executive Vice President Dr. Arif Al Hammadi. “Khalifa University is dedicated to teaching our students everything they need to know to succeed in environments like this where they will be required to think on their feet and create on the fly. We’re very proud to see that these efforts have been effective and that our students have the ability to handle any challenges thrown at them”.

[/mobile]

Khalid Al Awar Designs Popular Cayram Mobile App

Khalifa University-student Khalid Al Awar won first place in the Games Category of the UAE leg of the Microsoft Imagine Cup. Khalid won for his innovative mobile application that turned a popular Gulf board game into a fun 3D mobile game. The app called Cayram has been downloaded close to 1 million times to date with over half a million of those downloads coming from the GCC.

This is the first time that an Emirati has won the contest since its inception. The Microsoft Imagine Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious global student technology competitions. It provides opportunities for students across all disciplines to team up and use their creativity passion and knowledge of technology to create applications games and integrated solutions that can change the way we live work and play.

Khalid who is a sophomore in Computer Engineering originally designed the app when he was 16. Cayram is a popular GCC multiplayer board game that requires a high level of skill and accuracy.

Says Khalid “I started this game because I thought the younger generation was drifting towards technology. So I thought that if I couldn’t turn kids away from phones pads and other devices perhaps I could put a popular game onto them. While there may be other Cayram apps out there mine is the only one that uses UAE rules which is why it’s so popular in the GCC.”

Khalid will be competing in the Pan-Arab Finals of the Microsoft Imagine Cup which is scheduled to take place in June in Bahrain. He hopes to win at this level and continue on to the World Finals that will be held in Seattle.

“We are very proud of Khalid for his achievement ” said Dr. Arif Al Hammadi Khalifa University’s Executive Vice President. “It’s wonderful to see our students develop exciting UAE-based game with new technology and for that combination to be recognized in a major competition by an industry leader. We are looking forward to seeing the results from the Pan-Arab finals and wish Khalid all the best in the next round of the competition. Khalid’s achievement especially as he is the first Emirati to be honored is a clear sign that the country’s strategic plans for the future are progressing and fostering a culture of innovation creativity and ambition among the youth.”

[mobile]

Khalid Al Awar Designs Popular Cayram Mobile App

Khalifa University-student Khalid Al Awar won first place in the Games Category of the UAE leg of the Microsoft Imagine Cup. Khalid won for his innovative mobile application that turned a popular Gulf board game into a fun 3D mobile game. The app called Cayram has been downloaded close to 1 million times to date with over half a million of those downloads coming from the GCC.

This is the first time that an Emirati has won the contest since its inception. The Microsoft Imagine Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious global student technology competitions. It provides opportunities for students across all disciplines to team up and use their creativity passion and knowledge of technology to create applications games and integrated solutions that can change the way we live work and play.

Khalid who is a sophomore in Computer Engineering originally designed the app when he was 16. Cayram is a popular GCC multiplayer board game that requires a high level of skill and accuracy.

Says Khalid “I started this game because I thought the younger generation was drifting towards technology. So I thought that if I couldn’t turn kids away from phones pads and other devices perhaps I could put a popular game onto them. While there may be other Cayram apps out there mine is the only one that uses UAE rules which is why it’s so popular in the GCC.”

Khalid will be competing in the Pan-Arab Finals of the Microsoft Imagine Cup which is scheduled to take place in June in Bahrain. He hopes to win at this level and continue on to the World Finals that will be held in Seattle.

“We are very proud of Khalid for his achievement ” said Dr. Arif Al Hammadi Khalifa University’s Executive Vice President. “It’s wonderful to see our students develop exciting UAE-based game with new technology and for that combination to be recognized in a major competition by an industry leader. We are looking forward to seeing the results from the Pan-Arab finals and wish Khalid all the best in the next round of the competition. Khalid’s achievement especially as he is the first Emirati to be honored is a clear sign that the country’s strategic plans for the future are progressing and fostering a culture of innovation creativity and ambition among the youth.”

[/mobile]