Abu Dhabi students’ robots put to the test at Sumo challenge

The robot’s name was Marshmallow, but when it came time to battle, it was anything but a softie.

Built and operated by Glenelg School eighth-graders Ibrahim Nayfeh and Saif Al Nuwaimi, Marshmallow easily crushed the competition to take first place at the Sumo Robot Challenge held at New York University Abu Dhabi’s IDEA Lab.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Ibrahim, a 13-year-old American. “I was so surprised because during practice our robot kept falling apart. Basically, we added one or three pieces, and it started working and we started winning.”

Fourteen eighth-graders from Glenelg School took part in the competition, the final project of an eight-week pilot robotics programme offered by the university to engage schoolchildren in science, technology and the opportunities available in higher education. Details