Ain Shams University and the Center of Excellence for Energy will host the 2021 ROBOCON IDC August 9, 2019- Egyptian university students won Silver and Bronze Medals at the final competition of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Robocon International Design Contest. Winning teams included students participating on behalf of the Center of Excellence for Energy at Ain Shams University. At the closing ceremony, it was announced that the Center of Excellence for Energy will host the competition in 2021. The 2019 Robocon International Design Contest hosted by MIT included undergraduate engineering students from ten countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States. The Center of Excellence for Energy supported fifteen students and four junior faculty members representing Ain Shams, Aswan, and Mansoura universities to participate in the competition and a Conceive-Design-Implement- Operate curriculum enhancement workshop. Participants were informed of the rules and overall challenge on July 29. The teams were divided into multicultural teams consisting of a student from each country. The teams had twelve days to design and build their robots using the material provided in the design kit. Each team received an identical kit containing approximately 60 parts. With their creativity and engineering knowledge, each team worked cooperatively to overcome the challenges proposed by this year's Robocon design theme: to design and create a robot capable of moving, climbing an obstacle to place a flag on a mountain, collect rocks, and shift gears. Each accomplishment reached is allocated points based on the level of difficulty. The robot needs to be able to move up and down the ramp for the design to be successful. The participant teams proudly presented their Robotic creations after 2 weeks of non-stop design and production. The blue team represented by one Egyptian student from Menoufia University won the gold medal. Silver and Bronze Medallists included Center of Excellence for Energy students; Yehya Helmy from Mansoura University and Shaza Mansour, a Ain Shams University Energy Engineering student. An exciting announcement was made at MIT on August 5, 2019: Egypt's Center of Excellence for Energy at Ain Shams University was awarded the rights to host the 2021 International Robocon Engineering Design Contest. The Center of Excellence for Energy was established by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Through this Center, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Ain Shams University are partnering to produce high quality applied research in energy; deliver world-class training in engineering; and create a dynamic energy innovation ecosystem focused on meeting local challenges and contributing to economic growth. The Center of Excellence for Energy supports research that is vital to Egypt's economic growth and job creation, creates scholarship opportunities for students to pursue studies in energy-related fields, and develops energy engineering curricula that includes new courses and degree programs that address challenges identified by private sector partners and Egypt's 2030 vision.
