AUS hosts Sumo Robot Competition to encourage UAE students to pursue AI and robotics

The future of robotics looks bright as high school students from across the UAE competed in the Sumo Robot Competition held at American University of Sharjah (AUS), which aimed to inspire students to apply their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills and explore the world of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).

Sponsored by Petrofac, supported by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) UAE section, and organized by the AUS Department of Electrical Engineering, the competition witnessed the participation of 26 students from five schools, divided into 10 teams. 

The two-day event was held as part of the AUS College of Engineering’s (CEN) community outreach efforts and strategic plan to equip students to participate in the UAE’s development agenda of becoming a world leader in AI by 2031.

The competition involved the teams building small-scale robots that responded to different sensor inputs and used motors to control their movement. The goal was for the robot to successfully push all other robots out of the sumo ring, winning each match.

On day one of the competition, the teams were introduced to basic principles of robotics, including motor control, sensors and programming. They received a starter kit to help them to develop their robots. The teams continued working on their robots and making necessary adjustments before the real competition began on day two. The CEN faculty provided guidance, feedback and technical support to the teams, helping them optimize their designs and strategies to complete their robots.

Dr. Shayok Mukhopadhyay from the AUS Department of Electrical Engineering emphasized the significance of this competition in fostering the STEM competencies of students and enhancing other essential skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking, which are crucial for their future achievements in higher education and the workplace.

He said: “It was exciting to see how participants harnessed their creativity and innovation to compete in a fun and interactive manner. AUS strives to equip youth with skill sets needed to cope with the fast-paced AI and robotics sector, which greatly impacts the fast-evolving digital economy of today.”

“Capacity building, improving access to education and encouraging young people to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects are important to Petrofac. This will be the first experience in the field of robotics for most of these students, so it’s great to see them learn, have fun and develop wider skills, including teamwork and problem-solving,” said Elie Lahoud, Chief Operating Officer–Engineering & Construction at Petrofac.

The first-place team of students Huzefa Imtiaz and Muhammad Sarwar Khan from The Westminster School was awarded a 1,000 AED prize.

"I am thrilled with this win. We worked tirelessly to perfect the design and programming of our robot, and it paid off in the end. It was a challenging competition, but we were able to overcome the obstacles and emerge as the champions. I am grateful to my teammate and the organizers for this opportunity to showcase our skills and passion for robotics," said Imtiaz.

Placing second was the team of Mehdi Farran, Abdulrahman Yasser and Malek Mousa from Sharjah American International School, who took home a 600 AED prize.

The third-place team, which received a prize of 300 AED, consisted of Akram Thariq and Ria Kakadia from The Westminster School.

The Sumo Robot Competition was a great success, providing high school students with an opportunity to develop their skills and passion for robotics while also fostering essential skills for their future education and career paths.

The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at AUS provides students with broad knowledge spanning all areas in the field, including electronics, communications, signal processing, robotics, autonomous systems, AI, power and renewable energy, satellite communications, biomedical applications and much more. In project-based courses, students acquire the soft skills that enable them to become lifelong learners, independent critical thinkers, entrepreneurs and key team members. 

AUS is ranked among the top two (tied) in the UAE and the top ​300 universities globally for ​electrical ​and electronic ​engineering, according to QS World University Subject Rankings (202​2​). 

For more information on the Department of Electrical Engineering, visit www.aus.edu/cen/department-of-electrical-engineering.