WICE 2024: Young innovators of Team Calibrator-Z conquer with cutting-edge robotics

"Calibration is the process of fine-tuning a robot's sensors, actuators, and software to ensure accurate and consistent performance, and the people who operate it are Calibrators. On the other hand, all the members of our team are Gen-Z. For those reasons, we named our team Calibrator-Z," says Atik Shahriyar from Team Calibrator-Z, which won the Gold Medal at the World Invention Competition and Exhibition (WICE) 2024 under the "IT and Robotics-University" category.

Four Bangladeshi teams secured gold medals at the 2024 World Invention Competition and Exhibition (WICE), an international science competition spanning various categories. Team Atlas, Team Code Black, and Calibrator-Z each won gold in the 'IT & Robotics - University' category, while Team Dreams of Bangladesh claimed gold in the 'IT & Robotics - Senior High School' category. Organised by Indonesian Young Scientist Association and collaborated with Mysa (Malaysian Young Scientist Association), the competition was held in Malaysia from September 21 to 25, and more than 300 teams from 15+ countries participated in this competition.

Team Calibrator-Z, a team of high-school graduates and soon-to-be university freshmen, joined the competition under the university category. They were all part of the HSC-2023 batch. Atik Shahariyar Hasan from Dawood Public School & College, Abdullah Ibnah Hasan from Dhaka College, Md Maruf Miah from Nirjhor Cantonment Public School & College, Jarif Ahmed from Mohammadpur Government College, Siam Hasan from Tangail Polytechnic Institute, and Samir Ahmed from Mahmudul Hasan College were the team members. Three of them went to Malaysia to participate in the competition, and the other three of them helped the team from Bangladesh.

In a conversation, Team Calibrator-Z shared their views, information about the project, and an overall experience of the competition with the writer. They describe their project, saying, "The project "IRONCLAD" was about creating an AI-powered autonomous rover capable of navigating hazardous environments for military and civilian applications, using solar power, real-time surveillance, and advanced robotics."

Team Calibrator-Z wanted to create a platform to assist in military operations, disaster relief, and remote industrial tasks while ensuring human safety. The integration of AI, renewable energy, and advanced robotics aimed to provide an adaptable, sustainable, and efficient tool that reduces human risk and improves accessibility in various high-risk scenarios in their project. Here, Atik Shahriyar worked in autonomous navigation and the artificial intelligence part like object detection, pathfinding and rover programming, Ibnah Hasan and Jarif Ahmed worked in hardware, Maruf Miah and Samir Ahmed worked in mechanical parts, and Siam Hasan worked in software.

As a team of 18-year-olds, Team Calibrator-Z becomes an inspiration for many others. In response to how it feels to achieve a gold medal for the country, Abdullah Ibnah Hasan says, "Achieving a gold medal for Bangladesh on an international stage feels incredibly rewarding and fills me with immense pride. It's not just a personal accomplishment but a testament to our entire team's hard work, dedication, and talent. Representing my country and showcasing our capabilities on a global platform was a dream come true, and this victory proves that with determination and passion, we can compete with the best in the world."

According to the members who went to Malaysia to participate in the competition, the trip to WICE in Malaysia was an exciting and enriching experience. They got to showcase their robotics project on an international stage, competing with teams from various countries. They said, "We explored innovative ideas in robotics, learned about cutting-edge technologies, and networked with like-minded enthusiasts and professionals. The event offered a chance to see diverse projects, gain inspiration, and broaden our understanding of the global landscape in robotics and technology. It was an incredible opportunity to grow, share knowledge, and celebrate achievements in the field."

"We learned a great deal about the diversity of robotics solutions and problem-solving approaches from other teams. Many teams introduced unique applications of AI, advanced sensors, and autonomous systems, which broadened our perspective on robotics innovation," Team Calibrator-Z further added about the trip in Malaysia. They gained insights into different design philosophies, how different teams tackled real-world challenges very differently, and the various ways technology can be adapted for specific environments.

If it was the '90s, the team couldn't do much with the members of Bangladesh; however, luckily, it wasn't. On account of how they communicated properly during the competition, the members who participated from Bangladesh said, "We maintained strong communication and cooperation via online platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and WhatsApp. Regular virtual meetings allowed us to discuss project updates, delegate tasks, and troubleshoot issues."

"Establishing clear roles and responsibilities helped streamline the workflow, while consistent communication kept us aligned, regardless of time zones or distances, ensuring smooth collaboration throughout the project," they further added. They used cloud-based tools such as Google Drive and GitHub to share files, code, and documentation, ensuring everyone had access to the latest versions.

However, ensuring stable communication between various modules using ESPNow posed difficulties in maintaining secure and low-latency data transfer for the team. They said, "We had to fine-tune parameters, debug complex logic errors, and adapt our code to work seamlessly with the hardware components, which was particularly challenging when transitioning from simulations to real-world testing."

Also, Team Calibrator-Z had to face another challenge in Malaysia, as they said, "Two of our actuators unexpectedly broke down after arriving in Malaysia. To overcome this, we managed to create handmade actuators ourselves to restore the rover's elevating capability." In the end, the team did overcome all the challenges they faced and won the Gold Medal at WICE.

This team, filled with energetic youths, is already planning for an upcoming project, as they are very passionate about IT and robotics. Jarif Ahmed says about his passion, reminiscing about childhood, "My passion for robotics and IT began in childhood when I used to take apart my toys, curious about how they worked. As I grew older, I started exploring computers and became fascinated with how coding could bring ideas to life. Building my first simple robot in a school project fueled my excitement, combining both hardware and software elements."

One of their main focuses is to develop an advanced autonomous drone for aerial surveillance and disaster management. They are also looking into creating an AI-powered medical robot that can assist in rural healthcare by providing remote diagnosis and treatment support. As we are a developing country, students generally get much access to robotics and AI research. So, Team Calibrator-Z's current plan is to contribute to robotics and cutting-edge AI research labs and serve the country.

The team shares further about their plan: "We can contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals like 'SDG3: Good Health and Well-being' through AI-powered medical robots and autonomous drones for emergency responses; 'SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure' by developing advanced robotics and AI technologies; 'SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities' by enhancing disaster management and urban infrastructure; and 'SDG 13: Climate Action' by using eco-friendly, sustainable technology solutions in our projects."

Their vision does not end here, as Atik Shahriyar says about his five-year plan: "In five years, I see myself as a leading innovator in the field of robotics and IT, contributing to projects that blend AI, robotics, and automation to solve real-world challenges. I aspire to work on cutting-edge technologies that make a positive impact on industries like healthcare, disaster management, and sustainable development. Additionally, I aim to mentor others in this field, sharing knowledge and experiences to inspire the next generation of tech enthusiasts."

For a newer and better Bangladesh, we hope these achievements inspire the youth more and encourage the authorities to provide more adequate facilities.

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