Robots will play a major role in this year's Esat BT Young Scientist of the Year exhibition, which gets under way next week at the RDS in Dublin. There will be flying robots, walking robots, fighting robots and Robotron, aka "David Wreckem". Dick Ahlstrom reports.
The 2003 exhibition has the largest student entry yet for the event, now in its 39th year. More than 1,000 students have prepared 480 projects in the pure sciences, biological and social sciences.
They will be competing for the title of Esat BT Young Scientist of the Year 2003. With this comes a cheque for €3,000, a Waterford Crystal trophy and a chance to represent Ireland at the EU young scientists' competition.
Clearly the organisers have decided that robots are the thing and this year's event features more of them in a variety of forms. At centre stage will be the "Robots of Destruction" arena showcasing some of the mechanical stars from television's Robot Wars. In action will be Diotoir, Panic Attack, Chaos 2 and Draven.
A collection of robotic torsos known as the Mechanoids will be on display, carrying out intricate tasks and competing in games, all hosted by Skeletron, the robot who opened the 2002 exhibition.
Scuttle, the eight-legged robot will be walking about the exhibition. At 2.8kg, it holds the Techno Games world record for the fastest lightweight robot anywhere. Robotron will also be on hand to add to the mix, along with Sony's Aibo the entertainment robot and Honda's Asimo, claimed to be the world's most lifelike robot.
Overhead will be the Flyborgs, autonomous flying airships. They are powered by propeller and covered with sonar sensors to prevent them flying into trouble. Thankfully, they don't come equipped with alimentary canals.
The W5 Discovery Centre from Belfast will run demonstrations during the week including "The Science Magic Show" and "The Really Cool Show", and Intel will host a stand showcasing the impact its technology has had.
Other exhibitors include Analog Devices; Xbox from Microsoft; Irish Universities Promoting Science; Steps; An Garda Síochána; Dublin City Council Traffic Department; Midas Ireland; Bristol Myers Squib; IBEC Magic of Science; Bank of Ireland and others.