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Robots, drones, UAVs. Science festival in Minsk to feature massive competitions
An archive photo
MINSK, 11 August (BelTA) – Massive technology competitions will take place at the Science Festival in Minsk on 5-6 September. Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vladimir Karanik mentioned it at a conference held to discuss preparations for the event, the NASB press service told BelTA.
The Central Botanical Garden of Belarus’ National Academy of Sciences will turn into a center of attraction for young engineers and high-tech enthusiasts. During the Science Festival an Intellectual Technologies platform bringing together five spectacular competitions will be organized for the first time. According to Vladimir Karanik, the NASB strives to make science as accessible and exciting as possible for all ages, this is why both children from six years old and adults can take part in the competitions, however, prior registration is required for participants.
“This year the Science Festival will become an open interactive platform. We want every guest not just to observe the process, but to become its active participant. Visitors will be able to feel like drone operators, try to navigate a robot along a complex track, or score a goal themselves with a robot football player,” Vladimir Karanik emphasized.
The competition program covers the most relevant areas of robotics. The first area is drone football (13-16 years old): pilots control quadcopters and try to hit the opponent’s ring-goals. An important feature: before the championship, participants undergo professional selection and training at the Belarusian State Aviation Academy. The second area is the RTC Cup obstacle course (from seven years old): a test for ground robots that will have to overcome a complex polygon and complete a number of practical tasks while demonstrating best time and accuracy.
Among other interesting activities is radio-controlled robot football (7-15 years old): team matches where young engineers control compact robot football players. The autonomous car racing Roborace (from six years old) lies ahead: high-speed races of autonomous vehicles, reminiscent of Formula 1 races. The RTC Cup Higher League: City Traffic (from 15 years old) will be held: a hackathon focusing on autonomous navigation. Participants will have to program a robot so that it completes an urban route, strictly observing traffic rules. The winners will receive the main prize – a trip to the finals of the competition at the Sirius Educational Center in Sochi, Russia.
“Our Intellectual Technologies platform is not just another tournament. We conceived it as a space for growth and new discoveries for young inventors and kids who are just taking their first but conscious steps in science and robotics. For them, this is a great opportunity to present themselves and take a new look at the capabilities of artificial intelligence and automated systems,” Vladimir Karanik said.
The Science Festival is the largest popular science event in Belarus. “This year a real kaleidoscope of impressions awaits Minsk residents and guests of the event: masterclasses and lectures from leading experts and renowned scientists, interactive zones, and exciting shows,” the Academy of Sciences promises.
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