Robot cuts ribbon at Abu Dhabi Science Expo

A robot built by female Khalifa University students cut the ribbon for Expo Science International, as Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs, watched on. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The NationalShow less

Abu Dhabi // It is not often a Deputy Prime Minister watches on as someone else cuts the opening ribbon.

But Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed seemed happy to stand back as a scissor-wielding robot did the job at Expo Sciences International on Monday.

The robot was built by a team of three female engineering students from Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University.

They had the nerve-racking task of guiding their mechanical cutter towards the ribbon, which it deftly cut with one remote-controlled stroke.

The team comprises Randa Al Madhoun, a Palestinian senior in computer engineering, and Emiratis Maha Al Ajmi and Nada Al Hashmi, who are studying communications and electronic engineering respectively.

“We heard about the exhibition so we decided to open it in a different way, and especially since this was a science exhibition we got to work designing a robot,” said Ms Al Hashmi.

“We didn’t get to try it out on a real ribbon on the day so we were a bit nervous before it happened.”

The trio plan to take part in the World Robot Olympiad 2013 in Jakarta this year, using some parts from their ribbon-cutting robot.