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UAE National Observatory to be formed in three years

National Observatory, robot to tackle search, rescue missions in future.

A UAE National Observatory will be established within three years, one of two prestigious projects to be funded by the Information and Communication Technology Fund.

The second project, announced on the third day of Gitex 2013, is a Semi-autonomous Mobile Robotic System for urban search and rescue.

The announcement was made by ICT Fund Board of Trustees chairman Dr Abdulqader Al Khayat at a Press conference on Tuesday.

The main strategic objective of the observatory will be to advance and facilitate scientific research in astronomy and astrophysics in the UAE, as well as to promote a solid astronomical base here too.

It will also encourage scientific literacy and boost UAE nationals’ interest in this area, Dr Al Khayat said, while adding the project will provide programmes of educational and general awareness and promote astronomy and space science as a valuable field of study.

Hassan Al Hariri of Dubai Astronomy Group told Khaleej Times the observatory would attract researchers and those who interested in the field astronomy from around the world, putting the UAE on top of other nations in this field. He also said it would be an astronomy resort where astronomy enthusiasts can come and study.

There are already big plans for the observatory, which is intended to support academic and research efforts through communication and explorations; hold national and international conferences to facilitate the exchange of scientific information; promote cooperation with other research centres; support the development of a national science curriculum in space exploration in collaboration with various universities.

The Observatory, to be established in cooperation with The Dubai Astronomy Group, will help the renaissance of Arab history in astronomy, Dr Al Khayat said.

The importance of the Semi-autonomous Mobile Robotic System project, to be used for urban search and rescue missions, will make the missions less dangerous and time consuming.

Dr Al Khayat said buildings on fire, collapsed buildings and other urban disasters were some examples of such situations, adding that robots could act as substitutes where possible where it would be difficult for humans to access unreachable or unexplored areas. It also eliminates unwanted collateral damage and fatigue in the workforce. This project will also involve the development of a robot system that can collaborate autonomously to negotiate compromised and collapsed structures, find victims and determine their condition, produce practical maps of their locations, identify hazards, process sensors and communicate with the command control base to allow human rescuers to quickly locate and extract victims.

“We are counting upon the implementation of these two projects as they represent the start of a new era that is rich in scientific experiences and research and development that will benefit the UAE market. Enabling the implementation of world class national Resraech and Development projects in the UAE will definitely contribute to the advancement of the ICT sector,” said Dr Al Khayat.

anuwarrier@khaleejtimes.com