Competing in International Robotics Olympiad

Ritesh Biswas, School of Audio Engineering student in Dubai and competitor in the International Robotics Olympiad in China in 2007.

The internet and computers have helped develop my creativity and my work has flourished as a result. I would love to be an entrepreneur in my industry.

I have noticed a very distinctive difference in the style of education in Dubai when compared to India. I have spent half my life studying in India. Having moved to Dubai, I noticed that Dubai integrates a practical approach whereas in India, there is a primary emphasis on theory.

I think that the Dubai education system enhances creativity.
Students in Dubai are able to interact with teachers on a one-on-one basis and as a result are able to receive more attention. In India, it's quite difficult to get personal guidance from teachers as the number of students per class is higher.

My alma mater has helped me to realise my dreams. My high school offered me a lot of opportunities to develop. I had inspirational teachers who encouraged me to get into robotics and media-related extra curricular activities such as art, photography and videography.

My teachers ensured that my academics were of a sound standard which allowed me to pursue my extra-curricular activities. I have become more independent and confident, thanks to the people who have supported me all along the way.

Although 'sound' degrees are considered to be those in the fields of engineering, medicine and accountancy. I chose to take up a course in animation.I've always had an interest in computers.

I am constantly experimenting with something or the other. I was quite interested in animation after watching a variety of movies and TV shows. I found there was tremendous room for creativity in the field of animation and it was something different compared to other degrees.

I believe in clearing my own path and not to walk on paths paved by others. If you do what you enjoy you will excel.

SAE is all about merging creativity with technology. The multicultural and dynamic environment on campus prepares me to develop my dreams. I have chosen the 3D animation diploma and degree. They are each one-year courses. Throughout the course they teach 3D application software, visual media and other related programmes.

We have state-of-the-art facilities to work with. By the end of the course we are well trained and are ready to work alongside professionals. We have a wonderful learning atmosphere that allows our imaginations to wander.
Our teachers encourage us to develop and run with our concepts and ideas.

The preparation for the robot competition in China was a turning point for me. When I was in Grade 10 I was told that there was an interschool robotics competition. My friends, Shashank Sheshadri, Chilaka Prasad and Athreya Upadhya and myself decided to enroll in this competition. We had no exposure to or facilities to accommodate robotics.

We had to learn everything from scratch with the guidance of our physics teacher Rama Rao and our supervisor Ahmad of Our Own High School. We failed with our first robot, but it was a learning curve, so we tried again having learnt from our previous mistakes.

The teachers were really supportive. In the ensuing two years we finally came up with something that really worked and we entered the interschool competition. We came first in the competition.

A few weeks later we had the national robotics event in which schools and colleges from all over the UAE participate. When we won that we received the golden ticket to China. It was the first international event of its kind and we were the only country from the GCC to participate.

Arriving in China, we were on cloud nine, although we were not hoping to win because there were countries with more experience in the industry and participants who had been making robots since they were 10 years old.
We were really happy when we beat Japan in our category.

The Chinese government put in more than $20 million to organise it and there was a lot of coverage from all over the world during the course of the event. The overall experience was spectacular; we made a lot of friends and also learnt a lot from them. This was by far one of the best things that had happened to my team and me.

In the future I aim to combine my skill, techniques and imagination and target the entertainment industry.
I want to be a 3D lighting, texturing and composition artist in the industry. I know that the road ahead will be tough and I know I have a lot to learn but I am completely motivated to achieve this goal.

Watching films implementing VFX and animation have motivated me to come up with something similar and perhaps better. Films with technical brilliance from a variety of genres inspire me to attain high standards of professionalism and creativity. Filmmaking is all about merging emotions, action, science and technology.

Life is all about gathering inspiration, following ambition and setting goals accordingly.When my teammates Shashank Sheshadri, Lakshya Madhok and I were given the opportunity to represent the UAE in the International Robotics Olympiad in China, it was a definitive moment of pride and satisfaction for us. I owe my current success and confidence to my present teachers in SAE and to my family – especially my dad as he constantly supported me and showed me that the things I was sceptical of are possible with hard work.

Time management is very important. I ensure that my friends and I spend quality time well, either going for a drive or eating out. I like playing video games, arcade and PS3 and I enjoy photography as a hobby. I am a simple person to be honest.

I like taking everything slow and easy and spending my free time relaxing. Taking up ambitious projects and tasks keeps me on my toes and that is ultimately what drives me.

Jyoti Easwaran is a Dubai-based freelancer.