JICA FOLLOW-UP COOPERATION PROGRAM  

 

  1. Background

 

Artificial Intelligence was recognized, as one of the very important technologies needed in the near future. In response to this, the Artificial Intelligence System Development Laboratory or AISDEL was established at SIRIM Berhad as a joint collaboration project between the governments of Malaysia and Japan in Nov 1995. The project was successfully concluded in Feb 2000 where more than 20 SIRIM engineers were trained as AI system developers. To this end, continuous efforts have been made by SIRIM to promote AI applications in industry but without much success. One reason was that the Malaysian industry was still in the process of equipping itself with IT technology. Therefore the introduction of AI technology was rather too premature.  

 

 

  1. The Project

 

We believe greater awareness of any advanced technologies such as AI can be created through competition. This is particularly true since in competition, there is minimum risk involved compared to similar application in industry, For the past two years, SIRIM Berhad supported by the Ministry of Science Technology and the Environment has been organizing an Annual Robot Games Festival called Robofest. The main objective of this event is to create and stimulate interest in Robotic and AI technologies. The activities of the festival include robot contests, exhibition, robot clinics and seminar.  These are targeted at school and university students as well as members of the public. The main different between Junior and Senior category is that the junior contestants are allowed to use standard robot kits while the seniors have to design and build their own robot

 


Fig. 1 Robocup Jr. Soccer League: the most popular robot contest in Robofest 2001/2

 

 


The junior robot contest offers three events. Drawing contest is open to all primary school children. Robocup Jr. Soccer league and Robodance on the other hand, are open to secondary school students. In addition robot clinics are held to teach students the basic robotic technology.


 

 


            Fig. 2. Robot Clinic conducted to teach student how to assemble and program robotic.

Senior category offers  FIVE international standard events: Robocon, RoboClimb, RoboDance, Combat Robot and Soccer simulation league.

 

In Robot seminar, experts in robotics from inside and outside Malaysia are invited to give a talk on the latest robotic technology           


 


            Fig 3. Prof. Nakano from Tohoku university, Japan presenting his paper on Personal Robot.

 

 


  1. Details of request.

 

 


Fig. 4. Soccer Robot Constructed from Standard robot kit

 

 

3.1. Procurement of robot sets for Robocup Jr. Soccer league

Like in the previous years for the Robocup Jr. soccer league, at least 30 new participating schools in Robofest 2003 will also be provided by the organizer with a set of soccer robot set each.  But this is limited to schools in the peninsula Malaysia. If we were to invite schools from east Malaysia, at least another 20 sets of soccer robot are required.

 

 

3.2 Invited Speaker for Robot Seminar

We plan to invite at least two foreign speakers for Robotic Seminar in 2003. The expenses for bringing one of these speakers are expected to be borne by the organizer and the other is subject to the availability of sponsor.

 

  1. Estimated costs.

 

4.1.           Soccer robot.

20 sets of soccer robot @ RM2,000 per set = RM 40,000

Spare parts (sensor board)                              = RM   6,000

 

4.2.           Invited speaker for Robot seminar.

 

Return Air ticket  to Malaysia         =              RM 6,000

Hotel & food allowance for 3 days   =            RM 3,000

 

            Total budget requested   :                                    RM55,000

 

 

  1. Expected outcome.

 

It is hoped that the following will be achieved in Robofest 2003

 

  1. Number of school participated in Robocup Jr.  Soccer league  would increase from 38 this year to 80 in 2003.
  2. Awareness of Robotics and AI among school students and members of the public is enhanced. This can be shown by  an increased robotic activities in secondary schools.
  3. A Team or individual to represent Malaysia in the international robot games can be identified.
  4. Cooperation between Government agencies and private sectors is also improved.

 

 

  1. Others.

 

While the main expenses for organizing Robofest 2003 will be borne by the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (MOSTE), other such as prizes and publicity are expected to be sponsored by industry.  This special request from JICA is for the two events in Robofest 2003 i.e. Robocup Jr. soccer League and Seminar.

 

 

Name of Applicant: Ahmad Zakaria (Chairman of Robofest 2003)

JICA Alumni membership number : B0496

Organization : SIRIM Berhad

Tel /Fax : 603-55445879 / 603-55445999

Email : azakaria@sirim.my