Presentation showcasing - Dubai Research Development Innovation (RDI), and CogWaters
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Presentation showcasing - Dubai Research Development Innovation (RDI), and CogWaters
Tue, 02/12/2025 - 11:00 to 12:00
Location:
Speaker:
Claudio Zito and Rahaf Abu Hara
Affiliation:
HWU Dubai
Synopsis:
In this presentation, we will introduce the Dubai Research Development Innovation (RDI) grant initiative, which aims to drive projects focused on cognitive cities and healthcare applications utilizing disruptive technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
We will provide an overview of a recent proposal to establish a research center in Dubai that is inspired by the UK's National Robotarium. This center is designed to promote collaboration and innovation in robotics and AI research with a focus on cognitive cities. Additionally, we will discuss the recently established Centre for Doctoral Training in AI and Robotics Innovation (CDT-AIRI), which is funded through RDI research grants and industrial partnerships.
Furthermore, we will highlight the latest achievements of our RDI-funded project, CogWaters, developed in collaboration with the Ocean Systems Lab and the UK National Robotarium. This project aims to create a cognitive architecture for an autonomous unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed for water debris collection in waterways. Currently in a two-week testing and integration phase at the Edinburgh campus, where we are conducting experiments to evaluate our transformer-based cognitive architecture.
Biography:
Dr. Claudio Zito is an Assistant Professor at the School of Mathematical and Computer Science at Heriot-Watt University Dubai (HWUD), a position he has held since 2023. He serves as the Director of the Heriot-Watt Lab of AI and Robotics Research (LAIRR) and is the academic lead for the UAE Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in AI and Robotics. Additionally, he is the Dubai representative for the Heriot-Watt Robotics and AI Global Research Institute (GRI).
Ms. Rahaf Abu Hara is a Robotics Engineer specializing in autonomous systems, SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) localization, computer vision, deep learning, and sensor integration. She is currently a PhD student in our Centre for Doctoral Training in AI and Robotics Innovation (CDT-AIRI). Her research project, CogWaters, is funded by the Dubai RDI grant initiative and focuses on developing the cognitive architecture for an autonomous unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed for water debris collection.