DUBAI // The robotics industry is gaining ground in the UAE – particularly in education and health, experts say.
“We are bringing a lot of robots to the UAE,” said Dr Claus Risager, founder of Blue Ocean Robotics. “People that we meet from the UAE seem very open, very motivated for being the early adopters that would like to take the lead on using robots.”
Several types of robots are already being commercialised worldwide, when such technology was only fiction just a few years ago, he said before the region’s first Robot Technology Exhibition at the Meydan in Dubai on Monday.
An example are the various types of tele-medicine or tele-education robots. These are computer controlled robots, which allow a person far away physically to communicate. The robot is also able to move around.
Dr Risager explained that a doctor can help patients through these robots, or a child could attend school if they are not physically capable. There are 20 kinds, with one for every need, he said.
A wide variety of robots cater to the needs of autistic children. “We’ve been using robots for sometime where the teacher has a new role,” Dr Risagar said.
“The teacher controls the robots and the robots are then running the training sessions.”
The cueball, a smart rolling ball, uses lights and sound effects to interact with children. In addition, it incorporates physical activity. The ball is able to react to touch.
Furthermore, Zeno, a humanoid robot, helps autistic children learn social skills. Unlike the cueball, this robot can use facial expressions and body movements. It can also speak more than 26 languages.
“The real strength to this is that children are much more connected to robots,” he added.
Robots are also being used in other activities. The shopping robot, Budgee, Dr Risagar said, is becoming increasingly popular. It can carry up to 23 kilograms, while it is merely nine kilograms and is easy to lift and transport.
Alongside the conference, the fourth University of Wollongong in Dubai Robotics Competition took place. More than 80 schools took part, with the chance for high school pupils to win a full scholarship to the university.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Price: From Dh2,099
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
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UAE SQUAD
Khalid Essa, Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammad Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoon Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
What is the Supreme Petroleum Council?
The Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council was established in 1988 and is the highest governing body in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry. The council formulates, oversees and executes the emirate’s petroleum-related policies. It also approves the allocation of capital spending across state-owned Adnoc’s upstream, downstream and midstream operations and functions as the company’s board of directors. The SPC’s mandate is also required for auctioning oil and gas concessions in Abu Dhabi and for awarding blocks to international oil companies. The council is chaired by Sheikh Khalifa, the President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is the vice chairman.
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The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final