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Robot UAVs Set To Revolutionize Abu Dhabi Maritime Patrols

In a few weeks, robotics experts will compete to create the best autonomous drone to detect criminals along Abu Dhabi’s coastline.

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11 months ago

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robot uavs set to revolutionize abu dhabi maritime patrols
MBZIRC

This year, the Mohammed bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) Maritime Grand Challenge will pit five elite teams of robotics specialists against one another in the ultimate showdown.

Handpicked from a pool of 52 contenders, the scientists will gather on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, to solve real-world maritime issues, encompassing problems like illicit fishing, smuggling, and human trafficking, all through the deployment of autonomous drones. Launched in 2017 by Khalifa University, the competition is jointly hosted by ASPIRE and Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC).

The scientists’ missions will include tasks such as autonomous target inspection and identification aboard vessels without relying on GPS, object retrieval via drones, and seamless collaboration between UAVs and robotic manipulators.

Professor Lakmal Seneviratne, Director of the Centre for Autonomous Robotic Systems (KUCARS) at Khalifa University, remarked, “We can train our robots and AI to do many things in a very controlled environment,” adding, “For example, factory automation has been around since the 1980s in highly controlled environments. But when you go out into the real world, the uncertainty is huge. So the adaptability and algorithms of our robots are the key aspects to look at in this challenge”.

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Dr. Irfan Hussain, team leader of Fly Eagle, one of the finalists, explained that adaptability will be crucial to win the contest. “They have only a few days to adapt to the environment here, and many parameters are still unknown until the day of the challenge,” says Dr. Hussain. “So their algorithms and their approach need to be robust enough to complete the task regardless of the conditions”.

The unpredictability of the scenarios mirror real-world conditions at sea, where turbulent weather could hamper the missions of autonomous drones tasked with detecting illicit vessels, and GPS signals might also falter in such circumstances.

Come the first week of February, the five finalists will vie for a coveted first-place prize of $2 million to bring their groundbreaking innovations to production.

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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.

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5 days ago

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December 17, 2024

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uae prepares to launch two satellites thuraya-2 and mbz-sat

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.

The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.

Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.

Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.

Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.

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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.

The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.

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