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Lezima Gomes
Doha
The Qatar Robotics Club (QRC) was born in 2016, in an attempt to educate young minds and create an understanding of robotics and other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics)-based education programmes
Founded by Assim Hussain, the project is sponsored by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), Qatar Foundation, and is handled by Qatar University. It is handled by working professionals working in robotics and related fields who also enjoy robotics as a hobby.
Hussain, who is currently working at Kahramaa, where he is helping design an underwater tank inspection robot for large reservoirs, said,"Robotics-related activities are very few in Qatar, but the government has recently started promoting it in research projects and incubation programmes. Qatar has been the venue for the Robotics Olympiad and many such events will be held here soon. Robotics is also going to be a major job sector soon and the future will require people who have robotics-related skills.
"Robotics projects and related activities are getting popularity around the world. Schools too, are now actively taking part in such events and are preparing their students for it."
QRC is currently conducting a hands-on robotics workshop for students to help them learn real robotics and automation. The workshop is designed by engineers and its duration is two weeks. Until September, till the time when schools re-open, there will be multiple batches that will be held.
The workshop is divided into two groups: one for children in the age group of 6 to 9 years, who can avail of the junior robotics workshop, and the other for children aged 9 and above in the advanced robotics workshop.
The workshop curriculum is very unique because it gives training to students to use electronic hardware and devices which are used in actual robotics projects. Hussain said,"Through the workshop, we use the same hardware that we use in our real robotics projects. We train children to use such hardware, how to use sensors, how to make connections, basic electrical and electronics and how to programme it."
"For junior students, we have simple, age-suitable robotics lessons, including easy programming like colour coding (robots responding to colours), so students use colour pencils and ipad/tablet applications to programme those robots. There will be experiments in motion, lights, sounds, machine building, mechanics etc to help them learn about simple machines and robots.
"For age 9 and above, the curriculum is based on electronic robotics designing. Students will be trained in robotics, programming, basic electronics, microcontrollers, sensors, automation experiments etc. The electronics platform we use is a popular electronics development kit used world wide and it's the same hardware we use in our real robotics projects. So after completing the workshop, students will be able to make their own robotics and electronics projects outside the course curriculum," Hussain added.
He said,"The workshops give students experience in real robotics designing and making. Robotics requires a mix of multiple skills like mechanical, electronics, computer programming, logic development, etc and the workshops help students learn those skills and develop additional skills like design skills, logic development, problem solving etc."
QRC aims to bring more robotics projects to Qatar. It is partnering with local companies and working towards more interesting robotics projects for the community."We will be bringing more automation and robotics projects to Qatar. We are currently working on interesting robotics projects like, Robot Barista and Restaurant Automation, and we are looking for suitable investment partners for such projects.
"Such projects are very popular in several developed countries and we are trying to bring it to Qatar. We also experimenting with virtual reality entertainment projects for children and adults, which would be suitable for public places like malls and parks, with the support of local Qatari partners. We hope to work with centres like Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) to get more support and funding," said Hussain.
QRC also aims to release some kits in the near future to help children and families learn real robotics, electronics and programming."We receive several enquiries from people, including adults, if we have a programme for them to learn robotics. The robotics and electronics kits we plan to release are not just for students. It will be a learning kit for anybody including adults to learn robotics.
"We also plan to give free lessons and release online resources and sessions to get them started with the kits," he said.
"It's been said that jobs in the future will be what robots can't do. Automation and robotics is getting everywhere and people are getting replaced by robots and artificial intelligence. Robots can take care of menial or repetitive jobs, freeing humans to get on with other things," Hussain said, talking about the importance of robotics in today's world.
"We will also have more courses based on robotics soon. The programming package we use, known as SCRATCH, is developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) media lab to help children learn programming. This is an easy-to-learn graphical programming language and it's been very popular recently. It has been included in the curriculum by several schools including schools in Qatar. Many of our students are already familiar using SCRATCH and find robotics programming with SCRATCH very easy," he said.
So far, the course has received a good response. Currently, their 8th batch of students attending the workshop has 70 students attending the vacation workshop.
Those interested in joining Qatar Robotics Club workshop programme can contact the club at 7099 0022, Email: [email protected]
