Today's Edition
SARA AL ZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Young Emirati innovators are determined to make a difference by leveraging the power of science and technology to address real-world challenges and develop smarter, more efficient solutions.
Young Emirati innovators are determined to make a difference by leveraging the power of science and technology to address real-world challenges and develop smarter, more efficient solutions.
Vehicle Safety
Two Emirati students from Applied Technology Schools, Nujoud Alketbi and Bushra Alketbi, developed a solution that could help prevent heat-related vehicle deaths.
They created a solar-powered vehicle safety device driven by Arduino, an open-source electronics platform. Equipped with motion, weight, and temperature sensors, the advanced system can detect danger inside locked cars, they explained.
“Once triggered, it alerts the driver and emergency services — and slightly rolls down windows to reduce heat buildup,” they said.
Practicality and accessibility were central to the design. “We wanted to build something that is not restricted to luxury vehicles but accessible to everyone.”
While challenges such as maintenance and compatibility remain, the students believe the benefits far outweigh the obstacles.
“The life-saving potential and accessibility of this technology make it worth pursuing,” they said.
Firefighting Support
|A number of participants are demonstrating innovations that can bolster firefighting capabilities with high-tech gadgets.
Jumana Al Rand and her team came up with a robot that can be operated remotely from a distance of up to 2km and spray water to an area. Called the “Fire Monitor Crawler”, the system is equipped with BLDC motors and a 48V battery.
“Our crawler was designed to provide a reliable robotic solution for firefighting in extreme conditions,” the team said.
With built-in GPS, thermal cameras, and toxic gas sensors, the system reduces risks for firefighters during the initial phase of response, which is considered the most dangerous, they added.
Grade 9 student Faris Alhadrami also aimed to support firefighters with his “Fire Rescue Drone”.
“It can drop a fire extinguisher ball to help control the blaze quickly, and it is made with fireproof materials so it won’t get damaged by heat. It also has a live camera to show what is happening to firefighters on the ground,” he said.
Alhadrami also introduced a notable feature: a speaker that can broadcast messages to help calm individuals trapped in fire-affected areas.
AI Tool for Airport Security
Young Emirati inventor Ali Al Loughani aimed to enhance airport security with his “motion magnification technology” project.
Powered by AI algorithms, the system measures subtle physiological signals to help identify individuals requiring additional checks at the airport.
“Here, we are using the AI camera that will detect the people around us. The magnification system will detect colours in the human face and through those colours, we are able to detect their movement, which also corresponds to their heart rate,” said Al Loughani, who is also a member of the Emirate Children’s Parliament and Emirate Science Club.
A VTOL Prototype
Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft are widely regarded as the future of urban mobility, with flying taxis expected to take to the skies in the UAE soon.
While many international tech firms are joining the VTOL race, students Hamdan Alameri, Rashed Aldhanhani, and Thani Alhumaidi demonstrated that the UAE youth are capable of developing such a technology.
After two years of research, the trio has produced a VTOL prototype featuring retractable fans and a variable exhaust nozzle to improve performance and balance during flight transitions.
“The main goal of this project is to design an Emirati VTOL aircraft that provides practical solutions to the challenges faced by previous designs,” the students said.
For the team, developing the prototype is more than just a tech project — but “a symbol of national pride”.
Super EV Car
Ever imagined racing in a compact electric car? A team of students showcased their engineering talent by building an EV kit for a Grand Prix.
“This project introduces students to the exciting challenge of assembling and optimising an electric vehicle (EV) kit car for participation in a Grand Prix-style competition,” Saeeda Al Qubaisi said.
Through the process, students were challenged to strike the right balance between endurance and speed by continuously refining their design.
“The competition environment provides a dynamic platform where theory is applied directly to practice, encouraging students to think critically about performance, safety, and sustainability,” Al Qubaisi said.
