Abu Dhabi: Eight teams representing the UAE were among the 65 winners at the final round of the 8th International World Robotics Olympiad (WRO), which concluded yesterday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).
The closing ceremony was attended by the UAE Minister of Education Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qattami, Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, director general of Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), which hosted the competition, and Eugene Zhang, chairman of the WRO.
It was the first time that the final round of the WRO took place outside the Far East. Next year, it will be held in Malaysia.
"We noticed a high level of enthusiasm among the pupils from our schools, which strengthens our position that technology is a tool that must be used to enhance our pupil's education, which is something that we have addressed in our new school model, with initiatives such as iClass, a pilot project that currently under way in six schools," Dr Al Khaili said.
Over 1,500 pupils representing 34 countries were cheered on by family, friends and supporters as they competed in three main categories. In the Open Category, participants had to develop and present a robotic solution that would assist in improving the lives of humans. In the Regular Category, specific rules were given relating to a particular mission, which is determined by the age group categories.
Challenges
Elementary participants developed and guided a robot, junior high participants developed a stair-climbing robot and high school participants developed a recycling robot. The Green City Challenge saw participants solve various environmentally based challenges. There were also participants, aged 11 to 19, for the WRO GEN II Robot Football Category, where they had to construct robots, including controller and sensors, for a 122cm by 183cm official football playing field.
Victorious
List of categories that the UAE teams won in:
Green City Challenge — Elementary School
- 1st Al Reqa Team
- 2nd Fairies
- 3rd Al Nahda Junior Girls 1
Green City Challenge — High School
- 1st Zayed-GC
- 2nd Energetic Team
- 3rd Surattani Club (Thailand)
Green City Challenge — Junior High School
- 1st P-Wit Genius 1 (Thailand)
- 2nd Nefafa Been Al Kethar
- 3rd GC3
Open Category — Technical Award, High School
The Sixth Sense
— N.F.
