The University of Bahrain’s IET GCC Robotics Challenge: indexing, certification and student support
At the annual IET GCC Robotics Challenge, participants benefit from academic support, employment opportunities, and general scholarly recognition
University of Bahrain
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While they may have once been the domain of science fiction writers, today robots are used by a range of industries, from agriculture to manufacturing. During the annual IET GCC Robotics Challenge, hosted by the University of Bahrain (UoB), students and young professionals from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are encouraged to build innovative robotics systems on a chosen theme.
“This year, for the ninth IET GCC Robotics Challenge, participants are asked to present ideas on the theme of AI for agriculture applications,” says Ebrahim Mattar, professor of robotics and cybernetics at UoB. “Given the global shift towards sustainable agriculture and green initiatives, teams will be tasked with designing robotic systems that can, for example, detect and monitor green areas within a landscape or address other relevant agricultural challenges using robotics. Previous years’ themes have included robotics for healthcare, robotics for social interactions and robotics for navigation and assistance applications.”
The IET GCC Robotics Challenge consists of two phases. First, there is a competition between local teams, before the top two teams progress to the regional challenge. A panel of judges, experts in the field of robotics, then evaluate presentations and demonstrations from the local and regional participants, scoring them on various criteria.
“The regional competition brings together qualifying teams from across the GCC area – for example, two teams from Bahrain, two from Oman, and so forth,” Mattar explains. “This culminates in a more extensive competition, with around 12 teams vying for top honours. Here, we recognise not only the first, second and third-place winners but also celebrate achievements in categories like Best Robotics Design, Best Innovation Ideas and Most Practical Application.”
An important aspect of the IET GCC Robotics Challenge is the formal recognition of participants' efforts. Certificates signed by the IET president are provided to all challenge winners, participants and even the judging teams.
“The certification granted to participants holds significant value for students, bolstering their resumes and providing tangible recognition of their skills and dedication as they pursue job opportunities,” Mattar adds. “We've seen firsthand how highly sought-after these certificates are by students.”
Another crucial element that elevates the IET Robotics Challenge is the steadfast support of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). This support extends to indexing the event’s publications. This is crucial for academic promotion, employment opportunities and general scholarly recognition. “The IET provides this indexing free of charge, which is a significant financial benefit underlining their commitment to fostering high-quality research,” Mattar adds.
The IET Robotics Challenge is backed by the IET's global robotics and mechatronics technical network. This network comprises specialists in robotics from around the world, with their endorsement lending credibility to the competition. Last year, members of this network attended and observed the event, further solidifying their support. This backing significantly enhances the challenge's scientific contribution and standing in the global robotics community.
“At its core, the IET GCC Robotics Challenge aims to provide invaluable opportunities for young graduate students,” Mattar says. “The event encourages participants from across the GCC to generate innovative ideas regarding the ways robotics, AI, software development and engineering design skills can positively impact a plethora of industries. This year, participants have the chance to make a transformative contribution to agriculture – both locally and around the world.”