The milestone Season 15 of Qatar Foundation’s (QF) edutainment show, Stars of Science – which drives scientific innovation and entrepreneurship among Arab youth – came to an end as robotics engineer Mohammed Abbas Albumijdad, from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, won the title of the Top Arab Innovator.
The show’s longtime host, Khalid Al Jumaily, revealed that Albumijdad won first place with his invention of a crawler robot for vertical surfaces, securing him the winning share of the Grand Prize.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who believed in my project and voted for me. Your faith and support have made this achievement possible, and I will continue to combine my passion for robotics and engineering to create a safer and more sustainable future for construction projects across the world,” said Albumijdad.
The crawler robot for vertical surfaces was a culmination of two years of intense work by Albumijdad. Designed specifically to monitor large vertical spaces, it can be used for various purposes, including the inspection of dams and skyscrapers, as well as bridges for cracks, cleaning, and other purposes in hard-to-reach or hazardous areas. The robot has the potential to significantly reduce risk and enhance safety in the field of maintenance and fault detection.
Wrapping up yet another successful season of Stars of Science, Aljazi Al Henzab, Director of Media at Qatar Foundation, said: “We congratulate all the contestants of the milestone Season 15 for their remarkable contributions and extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mohammed Abbas Albumijdad. As the premier innovation show in the Arab world, Stars of Science has indeed come a long way in fostering a culture of innovation across the region. Together, we will continue to pave the way for a brighter, more innovative future in the Middle East and beyond.”
Egyptian mechatronics engineer, Aly Magdy Mohamed, placed second, securing a share of the Grand Prize with his smart marine drone that will expedite rescue at beaches. His drone integrates Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, cameras, Global Positioning System (GPS), Global System of Mobile (GSM) communication, Lidar for obstacle avoidance, and health monitoring devices, in order to provide an assistive option to human-powered rescue methods.
For those hoping to become Arab innovators and be part of this remarkable innovative journey, which has not only yielded numerous success stories but also a diverse range of innovative products in the market, you can apply to join Season 16 of Stars of Science until Friday, 1 December 2023.
