She confirmed that she adheres to her dream and continues the path of innovations

Latifa Al Hammadi: My story with the “smart robot” started from scratch

• Latifa Al Hammadi considers her innovation a success to be reckoned with for Emirati women.

  Photography: Eric Arrasas

picture

The experience of the Emirati Latifa Al Hammadi, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in “Network Security” and a Master’s in “Information Technology”, does not seem at all normal, as she succeeded, with pure individual efforts, in achieving her dream of learning and inventing a robot that uses artificial intelligence to facilitate people’s lives and smart assistance to institutions, which she put forward three years later. From work, sticking to her dream of promoting and developing her project.

A unique attachment story, which linked Latifa Al Hammadi from childhood to the worlds of computers and technology, as she describes it, saying: "I have always had the idea of ​​discovering electronic devices and their intertwined details, to the point that I had at an early stage of preparatory school, a computer that I completely dismantled to discover its secrets," adding to "Emirates Today". With the passage of time, and my progress in studies, I continued to improve my knowledge in research and aspiration to reach the university stage, in which I was able to raise my level in computing sciences, given that I specialized at the time in network security close to it, until the opportunity arose for a job and teaching design and technology, at that time. I had a greater opportunity not only to work with students on simple robotics projects related to school competitions, which prompted me to stick to the field and dive deeper.”

The innovator, Latifa Al Hammadi, seems happy with the experience she gained in this field, up to the programming stage, which she confirmed that it would not require her to take much time considering her knowledge of it, describing this step as a milestone in her life: “The idea of ​​making a robot that uses artificial intelligence in the beginning constituted some of the biggest My ambitions, and by the term artificial intelligence I mean here systems or devices that simulate human intelligence, and are characterized by their ability to perform highly human-like, and which can improve themselves based on the information they collect from the surrounding environment or from people who are recognized and respond to them effectively.

Artificial intelligence is manifested in a number of applied uses, such as using robots to understand customer problems faster, provide more efficient answers, analyze important information, perform various public services and intelligent assistance to people, and other forms of uses that improve the lives of individuals.”

Challenges

Regarding the details of the difficult path that she chose to take alone in the learning approach, and its biggest challenges, the teacher, who has been teaching “design and technology” for years to fourth graders in the Al Dhafra region in Abu Dhabi, indicates: “When I set out in the field of making robots, I had no knowledge of the matter and no tools. Not even a background in using a 3D printer, so I resorted to learning and researching online resources.

After completing the extensive research process, and to assess my ability to complete this experiment, I started printing small parts of the robot using the school printer, and with time, I was able to acquire a special printer to facilitate my work on the project from home.

However, I was surprised at the time that some of the tools needed to make the robot were not available, which forced me to order it on foreign sites and wait for the delivery process, which took long days, which disrupts the workflow.”

Latifa continues: “I discovered because of my lack of experience, after finishing making the upper parts of the robot (the head, hands and chest), the filling of the printing of these parts weakened, so I had to blow up all the work, and start again in printing all the completed parts, as it was not easy for me. Installing the internal hardware drives of the robot, which amount to 28 motors for the hands, head and shoulders, as well as eye cameras, amplifiers, and a set of sensors that enable the machine to recognize people and measure the environment around it. All the mistakes of the beginning and the lack of regret, because I clinged to continuing the journey and overcoming all challenges until my efforts were crowned after three years with success, and the completion of my project once and for all.”

message

The Emirati innovator expressed her pride in the achievement she has made for Emirati women, despite her assertion that she is still in the process of learning and experimenting, and her emphasis on the value of diligence and work to achieve goals.

She adds, "There is no way to achieve the ambition except by starting to implement it, and working hard to learn and develop knowledge," pointing out that she was not familiar with, before engaging in this experience, the field of engineering or electricity, and her quick success in overcoming the obstacles of the road, which, according to her opinion, inspires all Whoever has the talent, to launch immediately on the path of achievement.

Latifa Al Hammadi:

• “When I started making robots, I had no knowledge of it, no tools, not even a background in 3D printing.”

• “There is no way to achieve ambition except by starting to implement the project, and diligent work on learning and developing knowledge, especially for those who have talent.”

Responsibility and ambition

• Latifa Al Hammadi took care of all the expenses of manufacturing the new robot based on her monthly salary that she receives from her work as a teacher, provided that it is programmed and put to the attention of institutions and companies interested in adopting and implementing the project in the UAE, to help facilitate its various public services and bring it closer to others by introducing them and directing them in a way that ensures effectiveness and outstanding performance, expressing her hope that the project will receive the attention it deserves, and that it will enjoy the support and development of experts and specialists in the country, pointing to its ambition to professionalize the field to serve its country, the UAE.

She stated that she will complete her PhD in robotics and artificial intelligence at Khalifa University.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news