SKUDAI, Mar 28 — The International Student Society (ISS) Egypt at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has successfully concluded a month-long educational workshop on the Robot Operating System (ROS), attracting 94 enthusiastic students from diverse academic backgrounds. This workshop, organized with strong support from the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIRO) at UTM, aimed to enhance participants’ foundational knowledge in robotics and simulation.
Over the course of four weeks, the workshop was designed to be flexible and accessible. Each week, students received thoughtfully prepared online learning materials, including lecture videos and practical tasks. These resources allowed participants to gradually build their understanding of ROS architecture, communication protocols, node structures, and real-world applications. The online format enabled students to engage with the content at their own pace, making it easier to balance alongside their academic schedules.
A key highlight of the workshop was the practical component using Gazebo, a powerful robotics simulation platform. Participants worked on simulation tasks that mirrored real-world robotic behaviors, including movement, obstacle avoidance, and sensor integration. By the end of the program, students were not only familiar with theoretical concepts but also had gained hands-on experience in designing and simulating robotic systems.
To add an exciting real-world dimension to the event, a robot booth was set up during the final week of the event. The booth featured live demonstrations of physical robots operating with ROS (Robot Operating System), allowing participants and visitors to see the concepts they had studied brought to life. It served as an inspiring showcase of how software and hardware interact in modern robotics and sparked even greater interest among attendees.
The culmination of the workshop was a final competition where participants demonstrated projects they had developed throughout the month. From creative navigation simulations to impressive system integrations, students showcased the skills and knowledge they had acquired. Ten outstanding participants were awarded prizes for their exceptional projects, selected based on criteria such as innovation, technical execution, and presentation.
In his closing remarks, the President of ISS Egypt expressed deep pride in the students’ achievements, stating, “This workshop reflects the spirit of innovation and collaboration that UTM fosters. We are grateful to CAIRO UTM for their invaluable support, and we look forward to organizing even more advanced programs in the future.” CAIRO UTM contributed to this workshop by providing certificates signed by Prof. Hazlina Selamat, the Director of the Control and Mechatronics Engineering Division (CMED) in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE). Their collaboration added significant academic value to the program and provided participants with exposure to one of Malaysia’s leading robotics research groups.
The ROS workshop stands as a testament to ISS Egypt’s commitment to enriching student life at UTM through academic development, international collaboration, and practical training. Following the overwhelmingly positive feedback, plans are already underway for future editions, potentially expanding into more specialized areas such as ROS2, autonomous navigation, and machine learning for robotics.
Congratulations to all participants and winners, and special thanks to the organizing committee, instructors, CAIRO UTM, and everyone who contributed to making this event a remarkable success!