Robotics award to focus on projects designed to serve humanity

Team MITBRL from the United States with the Hermes robot that can enter areas dangerous for humans.

The organising committee of the UAE AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Robotics Award for Good announced that 20 contestants have qualified to its semi-final stage of national and international competitions with a total prize money of Dh4.67 million.
Successful entries come from countries like the UAE, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Spain. The award aims to encourage research and applications of innovative solutions in artificial intelligence and robotics to meet existing challenges in health, education and social services.
Saif Al Aleeli, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Museum of the Future Foundation and Coordinator General of the UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good, said the award involves robotics projects designed to serve humanity.
He said 20 innovative projects qualified out of 664 submissions from 121 countries.
The UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good is different from other awards in two main aspects, he said. Firstly, it focuses on the practical side of robotics technology making it easier for investors to identify the economic and social values of these projects to transform them into services and commercial projects. Secondly, it focuses on artificial intelligence which plays a major role in transforming robots from mere technical tools into smart tools capable of making decisions and dealing with complex situations.
Among the semi-finalists, team MITBRL from the US has developed the Hermes (Highly Efficient Robotic Mechanisms and Electromechanical System) robots which can enter areas dangerous for humans.
"In its commercial phase, we imagine the robots will cut costs by handling dangerous tasks," said Albert Wang of MITBRL team.
Stressing the urgency to bring them to market, Wang said both the first customers and the likely first investment will be from governmental organisations.
The 'UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good' was launched by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, during the third Government Summit in February 2015.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com