Building something? A 'robot engineer' will soon help you out

Dubai - The robot was first conceptualised in 2017, meant to be an expert consultant engineer.

Engineering and building is a complex task. How about a robot - powered by AI for good measure - to help smoothen things out?
That's exactly what the UAE's Ministry of Infrastructure Development is up to - an actual robot that will help engineers in their duties.

"Most talk about cost reduction and others. what we're talking about here is real-value engineering," Eng Anwaar Alshimmari, chief innovation officer at the UAE Ministry of Infrastructure Development, said. "We are considering this as a milestone."

The robot was first conceptualised in 2017, meant to be an 'expert consultant engineer' using AI predictive models and other innovations in four main stages: project planning; design; execution and closing; and operation and maintenance.

It is intended to complement the ministry's building information modelling and roads modelling, "calculating complex models with powerful elements and a comprehensive collection of design to help engineers and contractors achieve results in smoother and collaborative ways". It is also capable of generating reports, such as cost and risk assessment, project duration and preferred locations, among many others.

The presentation was part of the third Huawei Middle East Innovation Day on Monday, in which industry leaders converged to discuss the latest in the technology space.

"Gitex is an event that allows us to not only talk about what we're doing, but to also show what we're doing," Safder Nazir, Middle East vice-president for digital industries strategy at Huawei, told Khaleej Times at the event.

"When people are able to come and see solutions and talk to experts, plus engage and understand what other people have done, they will have the confidence to execute on their plans as well - or see a better way of doing it, perhaps."

Bocar B.A., CEO of the Samena Telecommunications Council, opened the event.

"5G is highly important for the region's digital economy and will carry tremendous ramifications for socioeconomic progress in the region, for fostering improved understanding and collaboration among the stakeholders, and for enabling the fulfillment of the global sustainable agenda," he said.

During the event, Huawei organised live trials of 5G use cases, including drone taxis, a virtual room showroom and tele-operated driving.

The Chinese technology giant also signed memoranda of understanding with key partners to strengthen the 5G ecosystem.

"An open, collaborative and sustainable ecosystem will enable and accelerate digital transformation for all industries in the Middle East," An Jian, president of Huawei Middle East's carrier network business group, said.

"We work together with ecosystem partners on open innovation projects to speed up the development of customised solutions, helping the governments of the Middle East to consolidate their strengths in digital transformation and succeed in their national target pursuits."

Huawei also unveiled a new research paper conducted in partnership with Analysys Mason. The 'Unlocking Digital Opportunities with 5G' white paper revealed that 5G could generate almost $270 billion for the regional ICT sector in the next decade.

It added that in the GCC alone, 5G will provide a cumulative new revenue opportunity over 10 years totalling $269 billion, with about 50 per cent of this addressable by operators and the rest by other ICT players.

- alvin@khaleejtimes.com