The Mohammed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) will take place from 16-18 March 2017, at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

The inaugural robotics challenge boasts prize winnings of USD 5 million, and will test the skills of some of the best robotics designers and programers in the world.

The contest will inevitably take up a large area of the circuit since it will consist of three challenges and a triathlon type Grand Challenge.

Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Khalifa University’s executive vice-president said: “Khalifa University is proud to be the organisers of the first MBZIRC, and we look forward to seeing how it continues to grow in reputation and scope over the coming years.”

The 45 teams selected to take part in the inaugural challenge come from leading universities and international organisations such as the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, the National University of Singapore, Xi’an Jiaotong University and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Accelerated Dynamics from the UK, and NaviRobot LLC from Russia.

In addition to teams from the UAE, UK and USA, teams from Italy, Germany, KSA, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, South Korea, and Spain where chosen from over 316 teams from 45 countries, who expressed their interest in participating in the Challenge, which is scheduled to take place in March 2017.

The three challenges

> Challenge 1 will require teams to use an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to locate, track and land on a moving vehicle. This means that the UAV must be capable of locating the moving vehicle, navigating the path and speed of the vehicle and land on the target location while the vehicle is in motion.

> Challenge 2 requires an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to locate and reach a panel and physically operate a valve stem on it. It will require a UGV capable of navigating the path and locating the panel, identifying the valve, and choose the appropriate tool to close it.

> Challenge 3 requires a team of UAVs to work together in order to search, locate, track, pick up and place a set of still and moving objects.

The Grand Challenge will require a team of robots (UAVs and UGVs) to compete in an event that combines challenges 1, 2 and 3 simultaneously.