Drones for Good – Robohub https://robohub.org Connecting the robotics community to the world Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:51:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 UAE launches “Robotics for Good” competition on the heals of Drones for Good success https://robohub.org/uae-launches-robotics-for-good-competition-on-the-heals-of-drones-for-good-success/ Tue, 10 Feb 2015 21:39:31 +0000 http://robohub.org/uae-launches-robotics-for-good-competition-on-the-heals-of-drones-for-good-success/ UAE_Robotics_for_GoodToday the UAE’s new International Council on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (iCAIR) formally announced the AI & Robotics for Good award. The goal of the award is to encourage robotics innovation that benefits society, in particular in the areas of education, healthcare and social services, and both hardware and software solutions will be eligible. Two prizes will be given: a national prize worth 1M AED, and an international prize worth $1M USD. The Robotics for Good launch comes just days after the UAE’s Drones for Good competition held its awards ceremony in Dubai.

The competition is slated to be held annually and is open to students, individuals and institutions, and the winner is expected to be announced during the UAE Government Summit next year.

Judges for the new award include such notable figures as: David Peters (Chief Executive Officer, Universal Robotics), Kim Jong-Hwan (Chair Professor Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Matthew Grob (Executive Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer Qualcomm Incorporated), Corinna Lathan (Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer AnthroTronix), Bruno Maisonnier (Founder and Chief Executive Officer Aldebaran), Stuart Russel (Professor University of California, Berkeley), and Paolo Dario (Director, The BioRobotics Institute Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna Pisa). A complete list of judges can be found here.

iCAIR was formed by the UAE in partnership with the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and includes founding members from leading institutions in robotics and AI from around the world.

This has been a big week for robotics in the UAE; this month the Museum of Future Government Services also opened its doors for the first time. With a focus on robotics, drones and self-driving cars, the new museum hopes to give visitors a “glimpse into the future of services in the UAE through interactive designs and real prototypes” according to Gulf News.

Registration for the UAE’s Robotics for Good award is now open.  http://www.roboticsforgood.ae/en/register

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bkVq1lvKjo

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]]> Flyability wins $1M Drones for Good competition https://robohub.org/flyability-wins-1m-drones-for-good-competition/ Tue, 10 Feb 2015 16:57:07 +0000 http://robohub.org/flyability-wins-1m-drones-for-good-competition/

Flyability, a spin off company from LIS, EPFL and NCCR Robotics, has won the $1M inaugural UAE Drones for Good competition with Gimball, the world’s first crash resilient drone.

Flyabiliy_Gimball_Adrien_Briod

The award was initiated by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai with the aim of “transforming these exciting technologies into practical solutions for improving people’s lives today”.  Referred to by some as “the World Cup of Drones”, the competition involved the 39 semi finalists showcasing their technology in front of a panel of international judges. Flyability impressed observers with its ability to fly in disaster tight and cluttered disaster zones, outside a pilot’s direct line of sight. Also noted was the Gimball’s unique design, which actively invites collisions rather than trying to avoid them. Its rotating gimbal system and protective wire cage not only keep the drone safe from crashes, but also protect humans working in close proximity to the device. The team was awarded $1M USD in prize money.

Flyability SA is one year old and its founders, Adrien Briod and Patrick Thévoz, are working to bring the Gimball to market. Their first aim is to use it for industrial inspection and to locate victims after natural disasters, but they plan to tackle the security and entertainment markets at some point too.

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]]> Drones For Good Award announces semi-finalists https://robohub.org/drones-for-good-award-announces-semifinalists/ Tue, 21 Oct 2014 17:58:50 +0000 http://robohub.org/drones-for-good-award-announces-semifinalists/ drones_for_Good_UAE2The semi-finalists of the UAE Drones For Good award have been announced. Here is a highlight of the international contenders; you can find the full list of semi-finalists on the UAE Drones For Good website.

Delivery Catchment System

Sector: Logistics

Project Description: Integrating drone deliveries with a package catchment system.

Drones for saving lives at sea

Sector: Disaster Relief

Project Description: Use drones for detecting survivors, search and rescue on the coast.

The Friends Project

Sector: Disaster Relief

Project Description: The First Response Infrastructure Emergency Network of Drone Systems, or FRIENDS, will provide a solution to the communications and transport problems that follow a disaster.

http://youtu.be/sXRRlsLBiRY

Quantum – Transition UAV

Sector: Environment

Project Description: Transition UAV is a drone system developed for civil and agricultural use that enables detailed monitoring and evaluation of crop conditions.

AeroAtena

Sector: Public Health

Project Description: A waterproof drone used to detect interferences in protected areas, observation and communication with casualty.

Highly Maneuverable UAV for indoor/outdoor environment and urban rescue missions

Sector: Disaster Relief

Project Description: The main goal of this UAV is to locate and rescue persons from buildings on fire, collapsed building, mines, or other urban and industrial entrapments.

http://vimeo.com/107208812

Waterfly

Sector: Environment

Project Description: A drone designed to scan and probe lakes and rivers for emerging pollutants and threats with a goal to monitor, research and protect water quality.

http://vimeo.com/107679080

 

Landmines Detection

Sector: Humanitarian Aid

Project Description: Using drones for detecting underground mines through a smart integrated system.

Flyability

Sector: Disaster Relief

Project Description: A small, lightweight drone that has the unique ability to collide with obstacles without losing its stability, and which is safe to fly in close contact with humans.

http://youtu.be/7zWxnRplv8s

Fully autonomous cargo transportation helicopter system

Sector: Logistics

Project Description: A fully autonomous cargo transportation system.

Rapid Response Drone Mapping and Tracking

Sector: Disaster Relief

Project Description: Drones to improve disaster relief through mapping and detection of disaster areas.

Dronologista wishes all the semifinalists good luck!

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