Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH – Saudi Arabia ranked seventh in the World Robot Olympiad (WRO), held in Hungary from Nov. 7-10. A total of 423 teams representing 74 countries took part in the competition, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology prepared eight teams in a preparatory camp for this global competition in partnership with the Ministries of Education and Energy and Industry, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Digital Transformation Unit, Saudi Federation for Cyber Security, Programming and Drones, Saudi Wireless and Remote Control Sports Federation and Charity Committee for Orphans Care (Ensan).

The teams competed in four major categories. The first category focused on developing the programming skills of students. The second was related to football (soccer) and it enabled contestants to compete with robots equipped with infrared sensors to detect the ball in front of them. The third category was an “open” joint challenge in quality fields.

The fourth category was designed for advanced robots to test the engineering and programming skills of advanced and more experienced students to the utmost via the “Tetras tack” challenge in the field of “Smart Cities”.

The overall field (notion) of “Smart Cities” focuses on new concepts, new ideas, and new technologies that will help build the cities of the future and will change existing forms of everyday life. Well-designed technological tools can benefit government agencies, the environment, and the residents. These developments like green energy and innovative concepts will help save energy, make traffic safer, and improve public transport systems.