Student-built rescue robot highlights Qatar’s drive to turn research into real-world solutions

Résumé détaillé

A student-built search-and-rescue robot is highlighting how Qatar is turning university research into practical technologies, as the Qatar Mobility Innovations ...

A student-built search-and-rescue robot is highlighting how Qatar is turning university research into practical technologies, as the Qatar Mobility Innovations Centre (QMIC) showcases new systems and expands partnerships at Mobile World Congress (MWC26) in Doha.

Developed by Qatar University (QU) students, the prototype uses virtual reality (VR), a 360-degree camera and artificial intelligence (AI) to help locate people in search-and-rescue scenarios, offering a glimpse into how locally developed technology could support emergency response operations.

The project is among the innovations being underlined by QMIC where the centre is demonstrating how research and development can be translated into solutions for industry and national partners.

Explaining the system, student developer Marcus Wein Monteiro said the robot could be controlled remotely through a VR headset, allowing its operator to navigate towards a detected person.

“We use a VR and a 360 camera with AI assistance in finding the victims,” he said, demonstrating how the system responded when he moved the headset towards a hand used to illustrate its detection capabilities.

The robot is currently deployed at QU’s H07 building for demonstration and remote-control testing.

Monteiro, who is working on the project with Syed Mohammed Hamza and Mohd Muhtasim Bashar, said the initial idea came from their thesis supervisor, Dr Osama Halabi.

The team spent about a year developing the prototype before dedicating the following four months to refining it.

“Qatar University basically provided us with a room, a lab to work on,” Monteiro said, adding that their supervisors also helped provide the equipment needed for development.

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