MUSCAT, Feb 6 - The Unmanned Vehicle System (UVS) represents one of the main fast-developing streams of technology that the world is witnessing today. It is the key pillar of the fourth industrial revolution (IR). “The design, production, use and requirements of unmanned vehicles, whether in water, land or air, is one of the main priorities of Sultan Qaboos University and the College of Engineering,” said Prof Amer al Rawas, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Community Service. According to him, this approach of the university, which has a great deal of the world’s attention, will contribute to the preparation of graduate students in different stages.
“This will equip them with the required analytical aptitude and latest technologies and their application in various industrial, cultural, educational and other fields, the Deputy Vice Chancellor said. Al Rawas was speaking at the inaugural session of the first International Conference — UVS Oman 2019 — organised by the College of Engineering at Sultan Qaboos University under the auspices of Shaikh Salim bin Mustahail al Mashani, Adviser at the Diwan of Royal Court.
This three-day event brings together leading academicians, researchers, engineers, industrials and regulators to increase awareness, share views and exchange ideas and field experiences on numerous aspects of Unmanned Vehicle Systems.
Prof Hadj Bourdoucen, Dean, College of Engineering, General Conference Chairman, said the engineering sector that is related to the design, production and use the unmanned vehicle systems is considered one of the important sectors of education, research and technical development nowadays.
“From its belief in the importance of keeping up with the scientific development in all aspects of engineering, and the attention to establish the foundation for education research geared towards modern investment in technology, the college has organised the first unmanned vehicle systems conference in Oman and the region,” he said.
This is part of the college’s future vision and strategic planning that is in line with SQU and the Sultanate’s plans, he added.
Prof Hadj observed that due to the intense industrial advancement, which focuses on virtual world and integrated technical aspects, a lot of boundaries between different specialisations have diminished, and opened the field for the emergence of new interdisciplinary specializations among different humanities and medical sciences as well as others.
During the opening ceremony, John Kedar, Director of International Engagement, Ordnance Survey, UK, spoke about ‘Unmanned Vehicle Systems: Opportunities and Threats.’
The first-of-its-kind conference in the country, UVS Oman 2019 is an opportunity to network researchers, practitioners, students and hobbyists to enrich interdisciplinary UVS and related platforms.
This also presents the most recent innovations, trials, future trends, applications, concerns as well as challenges and solutions developed and applied in the various fields of applications. A number of workshops, students’ project competitions and an exhibition on UVS are being held during the event.
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