'Robistas' to firefighters: meet the five robots of the future

The robista - a robot coffee maker that can serve a flat white in minutes - is only one of five eye-catching technologies on display at Abu Dhabi's unmanned system conference

From a "robista" to a robotic force that can attack an enemy, Abu Dhabi’s Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (Umex) has showcased some of the world's most cutting-edge technology.

Here are five of the most eye-catching robots on display at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre:

The robista

A state-of-the-art robot that can prepare every kind of coffee, from a simple espresso to an ice latte in about three minutes, was star of the show.

The robista has a pricetag of Dh350,000 and promises to completely change the way coffee is prepared.

“This fills a need,” said Eisa Al Khoor of BeyondX for Artificial Intelligence Technologies, which designed the robot. “You can’t make a person work 24/7 but you can make a robot work 24/7.”

Robista, a robotic coffee maker made by BeyondX for Artificial Intelligence Technologies. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The robista can make coffee in minutes. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

It can brew up many coffees from lattes to flat whites. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The robista has a price tag of Dh350,000. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Marathon Target created robotic targets for live-fire training. Victor Besa / The National

Khalifa University's stand featured a six-legged yellow robot that can carry a hefty 1,000 kilograms through challenging terrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The RS3 firefighting robot. It is used by Abu Dhabi's Civil Defence as well as the US Army. Victor Besa / The National

The ZenaDrone 1000 is two metres wide and two metres long and can be used for security, logistics and surveillance. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The six-legged heavy-lifter

In the centre of the conference hall was one of the largest robots in the world: a six-legged yellow behemoth that can carry a hefty 1,000 kilograms over challenging terrain.

Dr Hamad Karki, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Khalifa University, spent about half a million dirhams and countless hours to create the “hexapod”.

“It can go to places that humans cannot go to,” he said.

“I need around a year to get all the legs working and then I will start working on making it smarter.”

Robot fireman

Another piece of defence technology on display was a robotic fireman. The RS3 is used by both Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and the US Army.

Its nozzle shoots out about 9,400 litres of water per minute and can reach a distance of 50 kilometres.

It is one of the most powerful and durable pieces of equipment used to fight fires. It has a large fan to combat flames and absorb smoke and can be controlled by a controller from up to a kilometre away.

“This does not replace the human resources but it can go to areas that are difficult for us to reach,” said fireman Ali Al Hussaisai of Abu Dhabi Civil Defence.

The device can withstand temperatures of more than 200°C and a front shovel can remove large obstacles.

“The next step would be sending them to fires on their own but currently it still needs a controller,” he said.

Robot targets from Marathon Target Australia. Victor Besa / The National

Robot targets for the military

Australian company Marathon Target has created robotic targets for live-fire training.

“This isn’t just a target, it is a smart,” said general manager Stuart Norman.

“These robots communicate, so if you shoot one, the other ones realise that their friend has been shot and can … attack. So, actually, we have created a robotic force.”

The company has also supplied a number of these robots to the UAE's military.

The ZenaDrone

The ZenaDrone 1000 is two metres wide and two metres long and can be used for security, logistics and surveillance.

“We are working with a certain government to supply them with a 100 of these for their airports,” said Sajjad Asif, vice president at ZenaDrone.

The drone can also automatically charge itself.

Umex conference — in pictures

The Scorpio-B can be equipped with remote weapon systems, twin 40mm grenade launchers, pan-tilt-zoom cameras and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sensors with the possibility to mount various payloads of up to 200kg. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

The VooDoo-M Multi-Mission Thermal Sight by Pixels.

The UKRSPEC Systems drone.

Robotic Targets by Marathon Target Australia.

Abu Dhabi Police smart Police Car.

AUH Police Smart Police Car.

AM Industries stall.

Mahgoub Omer attaches the foam mixer of the RS3 firefighting robot by Thermite.

The Abu Dhabi Police VR Rowing Machine.

Cristanini CBRN decontamination system.

Schiebel Camcopter S-100.

The Kaman Kargo drone. Victor Besa / The National

Emirati aeronautical engineers test the Interdata system at UMEX.

The Skeldar V-150.

The PE-04 by Etimad.

DOK-ING presented Komodo, an innovative remote-controlled robotic system for operations in extreme nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) conditions at its headquarters in Zagreb. It is a unique machine that can operate in conditions of an open fire, explosion, collapse, high concentrations of explosive and toxic substances, as well as in terrorist threats.

Edge's Shadow series drone is displayed on the opening day of Umex at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

A Hunter 2-S drone, which can be used in 'swarming' air-to-ground attacks.

The Edge stand at Umex.

The Garmoosha by Edge is displayed on the opening day of Umex.

The QX-6, another Edge product.

An unmanned Amed Robotic Vehicle.

The 71S by Edge.

The QX-3 by Edge.

The Scorpio-B by Edge.

The Edge Shadow series.