The unique start-up focuses on empowering local partners in developing countries with drones and robotics technology to sustainably scale their social projects in humanitarian, development and environmental fields.
On the occasion, Saif Al Aleeli, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Museum of the Future Foundation and Coordinator General of the UAE Drones for Good Award and UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good, said the awards event has become a major platform for the launch of international solutions in the field of drones and robotics technology. As a regional and global leader in the field of innovation, the UAE encourages innovators and supports successful practices in the service humanity.”
Describing his start-up, Patrick Meier said: “We are building a global network of labs where people use robotics to alleviate suffering, improve the human condition and protect the environment. We do this together with our local partners – universities, non-profit groups, community organizations and local government – and with our tech partners – robotics manufacturers, associated technology companies and research institutes.”
WeRobotics identifies local humanitarian needs that can be addressed using robotics solutions, and transfers relevant skills and appropriate robotics technologies to its Flying Labs partners to offer relieve in humanitarian efforts, especially during natural disasters.
It also identifies local development needs that can be addressed using robotics solutions to help local partners map and monitor informal settlements, social infrastructure and waste management issues in more efficient and productive ways.
WeRobotics also uses aerial robots to help nature conservation group to more effectively communicate their cause, and transfer relevant skills and robotics technologies to its Flying Labs partners to better protect the planet.
Meier said the UAE Drones for Good Award offered the best platform to launch the start-up, stating that the award represents all the human values and innovation principles aspired by WeRobotics.
“There is no other more distinguished or higher profile international event that is better placed or more appropriate for the launch of WeRobotics. In many ways, WeRobotics was inspired by the 2015 UAE Drones for Good Award and the UAE's forward thinking vision to add UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good as part of the Awards in 2016,” Meier said.
He added: “These Awards are an international celebration of what we as humanity can do when we applying next generation technologies for social good.”
Meier said the UAE's decision to launch both the UAE Drones for Good Award and the UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good has completely changed the perceptions around the use of increasingly intelligent and autonomous solutions across the social good space.
“I have repeatedly pointed to the UAE's forward thinking Awards in the Gulf during my meetings with senior officials at the United Nations Secretariat in New York, the International Committee to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Headquarters (ICRC) in Geneva and at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC. Being able to point to the tremendous innovation displayed at these events – supported and made possible by the UAE – makes it significantly easier to convince the world that the opportunity is HERE, and the time is NOW,” he added.
Patrick Meier will be a speaker at the UAE Drones for Good Award and UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good ceremony. Over the past 12 years, Patrick has worked in the Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Liberia, India, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Morocco, Western Sahara, Haiti, Vanuatu and Northern Ireland on a wide range of humanitarian projects with multiple international organizations including the United Nations and the World Bank.
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