Arab News, Dubai

Team Japan is grateful for the opportunity to indulge in their passion and keep their minds occupied during a global robotics and artificial intelligence competition being held in Dubai.

This will be a welcome relief from a tumultuous three weeks for their country in the aftermath of Typhoon Hagibis.

Organized by the Dubai Future Foundation, FIRST Global Challenge 2019 is running from Oct. 24 to 27 and has brought together over 1,500 youth participants from 191 countries in a battle against ocean pollution. The theme of the competition is “Ocean Opportunities: United by land, connected by oceans.”

“Considering everything that is happening in my country at present, the importance of robotics in our future fight against natural disasters is clearer to me now than ever before,” said Rufoto Kobo, 16, who is the team’s engineer.

With the death toll from the heavy floods, landslides and torrential rain of the last three weeks climbing to 82, some of the team’s friends’ homes have been affected by the disaster. However, Team Japan continues to remain optimistic about the future. 

“I believe that our skill in building new robots and integrating artificial intelligence in our processes will provide the necessary damage control in ways that have never been imagined before, and prove critical in our ability to deal with future hurricanes and natural disasters,” said Rufoto.

Team Japan has lost its opening two games, yet they remain extremely upbeat about the event’s prospects.

“Participating in a global event of this magnitude is such an immense learning opportunity. And even if all teams have designed a similar robot in terms of purpose, it is incredible to observe the different iterations each team makes to their creations,” Rufoto said.

Being part of a team that has produced a robot on wheels – designed to help pick up litter and dispose waste conveniently – Rufoto never thought his passion for robotics would bring him to a global event in Dubai. 

“My parents have been incredibly supportive of my dreams and them being here with me is an amazing moment,” he said.

Rufoto plans to one day build bionic arms and legs for amputees, especially those who have suffered from natural disasters that have afflicted Japan in the past several years.