Many of us have dreamt of roaming around space as children. While that might sound unimaginable for a majority, it certainly is not for those on the International Space Station (ISS).
On a related note, how would it feel to get recognised by astronauts floating 400 kilometres away from earth?
On October 24, a group of young innovators from Brac University did exactly that and created a new landmark in the field of robotics programming.
Their team 'Enigma Systems' set the record of becoming the first ever Bangladeshi team to upload a computer programme to ISS.
As part of the competition, they sent a message to space that said: "It is an honour to operate Astrobee (a robot) inside the International Space Station. A big milestone for Bangladesh in the space research area. This message is for Bangladesh: , . Mission complete, take care. Over."
Enigma Systems secured second position in the 'Kibo Robot Programming Challenge' organised by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa).
"We registered out of curiosity and expected to maybe learn something new. But we were surprised by the result when we passed the second round," recalled Md Hashibul Islam, the team leader.
Other members of the team are Suhail Haque Rafi, Razin Bin Issa, Tahsinul Haque Dhrubo, Mursalin Ahmed and S M Abrar Mustakim Taki.
Kibo Robot Programming Challenge, 2021
Kibo Robot Programming Challenge or Kibo-RPC is an educational programme where participants are required to solve problems by programming free-flying robots in the ISS.
This is the second time Jaxa organised the competition and 'Kibo' is ISS's Japanese experiment module.
In this competition, participants were required to operate Astrobee, a robot inside the module, as precisely as possible within the shortest time.
The competition which started in June was divided into three segments.
17 teams from Bangladesh participated in the preliminary round and Enigma Systems secured the top position among them.
"I did not believe Razin when he called and informed me that our team stood first among all the Bangladeshi teams. I had to check for myself to believe it!" said Hashibul.
Then the second round was held where Bangladesh competed with Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan and Indonesia.
In this round, Enigma Systems came in third along with the teams Indentation Error from Thailand and GeminiPYTW from Taiwan who stood first and second respectively.
The final round was held in October and by this time, Jaxa had already uploaded all the programmes to ISS and the Astrobee robot.
Finally, ISS Astronauts announced that Bangladesh had achieved the second position.
The whole event was broadcasted live on YouTube. (Link: https://youtu.be/eDXf1ISUBmA)
Best Crew Award
Enigma Systems was named the only team to receive the 'Best Crew Award'.
After completing the mission, Astrobee played pre-recorded voice messages sent by each team.
Based on the clearest message received, Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide announced the awards.
Reminiscing about that day, Hashibul said, "There was nothing to signify that the message was from Bangladesh. So we thought that we were going to send one of the most significant parts of Bangladesh's identity, our mother language."
This was the first time Bangla was heard in outer space.
The one behind it all
In the first Kibo-RPC, Enigma Systems was able to participate as an observer team and not in the actual competition.
It was Mizanul Chowdhury, a system administrator and architectforZeroRobotics, a collaborativeproject of NASA and MIT, who made it happen.
In an interview with The Business Standard, he said, "I tried to convince Jaxa to include Bangladesh this time. I was confident that I did not need to teach them from scratch, our students are very talented."
Mizanul is also creating an international platform named STEMX365 along with his wife Jesmine Chowdhury and daughter Saba Jamin.
The main purpose of this platform is to ensure Stem (Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics) education internationally.
Although this platform is still in the process, it has already started working with a number of innovative teams including Enigma Systems.
In order to participate in Kibo-RPC, the teams need to have a certain background and guidance.
STEMX365 recruited all the Bangladeshi teams, through which they were granted permission to participate.
When asked about the potential of Enigma Systems, Mizanul Chowdhury stated, "When I started working at MIT in 2013, I saw North American students attending such programmes. I thought if a person like me can work here in the space station, why not the Bangladeshi students?"
"I was waiting for a chance to bring Bangladesh to an international platform. If they wanted to participate through MIT, they needed to pay a hundred thousand dollars a year for competitions. So, the idea of creating STEMX365 came from that," he added.
The journey and the future of robotics
Enigma Systems built their first robot in 2017.
During Brac University's residential semester, Hashibul joined the robotics activity and learned to connect various sensors and write codes for them.
In that same semester, their team 'Abyss Watchers' was formed with their first ever robot, Unix_06.
Regarding his early interests, he said, "After HSC exams, one of my school friends and I started following Tamim Shahriar Subin's C programming books. My programming experience started from there."
Although their achievement made history in the technology and robotics sector of Bangladesh, there are miles to go.
While addressing some major obstacles in this sector, Hashibul said, "With the world's silicon supply shortages, the price of the components used in IOT, embedded systems and robotics have skyrocketed in Bangladesh."
Another member of the team, Tahsinul Haque Dhrubo, said, "If we want to catch up with developed countries, we have to increase research opportunities in the area of technology. In the future, the world will be automated and we need vast knowledge about robotics."
The team members also reflected on initiatives the government needs to take. "Embedded systems, IOT and robotics are the future. To have a skilled workforce, competitions and research must be funded," said Hashibul.
However, sounding hopeful, Razin Bin Issa said, "The achievements in recent years, like the two satellites, show that we do not need to wait for anyone to create the platform, we have already created it."
See the article here:
Enigma Systems: The robotics team who sent Amar Shonar Bangla to space - The Business Standard
- Robotics - Gizmag [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2016]
- Download Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 4 from ... [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- Robotics News & Articles - IEEE Spectrum [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- Robotics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- Robotics News & Articles - IEEE Spectrum [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- RIA - Robotics Online - Industrial Robot Automation [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- Three Laws of Robotics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2016]
- Robotics [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2016]
- Houston Robotics [Last Updated On: August 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 12th, 2016]
- Home - Illinois Tech Robotics [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2016]
- Robotics - Wikibooks, open books for an open world [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2016]
- JPL Robotics: Home Page [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2016]
- ABB Robotics [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2016]
- Softbank Robotics | Humanoid robotics & programmable robots [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2016]
- Robotics - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2016]
- STEM Robotics 101 NXT | STEMRobotics [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- Industrial Electronics and Robotics Technician [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- Future of Robotics|Robots of the Future|Robot Links [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- Industrial Robotics Training | School of Technology [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- Robotics | An Open Access Journal from MDPI [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- Robotics Technician & Automation Training - Online Course in ... [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- Rich Hooper, PhD, PE: Robotics Engineer [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- Robotics Toolbox - PeterCorke.com [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- ROBOTC | Robotics Academy [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- How have robots changed manufacturing? | HowStuffWorks [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- Professional Development | Robotics Academy [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- Robotics Academy [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2016]
- KUKA Robotics | KUKA AG [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2016]
- Robotics Engineer - Science Buddies [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2016]
- Robotics - reddit [Last Updated On: January 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2017]
- Preorder Snap Flying Camera | Vantage Robotics [Last Updated On: January 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 25th, 2017]
- Robotics - The Great Courses [Last Updated On: January 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 25th, 2017]
- Belding hosts largest robotics competition in history of event - Greenville Daily News [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Robohub Digest 01/17: New year, new perspectives and forecasts for the year ahead in AI, machine learning and ... - Robohub [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Robotics-focused ETFs see big gains, Trump could hasten trend - MarketWatch [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Robotics competition events help teens express creativity - Monroe Evening News [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- First Tech Challenge: High schools battle in robotics competition - The Journal News | LoHud.com [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Gemini school robotics team wins in 'FIRST' competition - Chicago Tribune [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- TMRIES to impart robotics education - The Hindu - The Hindu [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Meridian robotics team gears up for Idaho FRC Regional - KBOI-TV [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- South High wins Volvo's robotics tournament - Herald-Mail Media [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Local robotics students headed to World Championship tournament - KOLO [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Oxford Hills robotics club to compete in North American championship - Lewiston Sun Journal [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Panther engineering and robotics team paves pathways to innovation - Clay County Free Press.com (subscription) [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Shopping robots on the march in Ocado - BBC News [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- OHS robotics club dazzles McKinley students - Southernminn.com [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Toyota Industries Acquires Warehouse Robotics Developer - WSJ - Wall Street Journal [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Rehab robotics field promises to return control, mobility to aging population - Arizona State University [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Mount Paran Christian School Robotics Team has engineered their way to State Competition - MDJOnline.com [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- 33C3: Edible Soft Robotics - Hackaday [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Keller students Starstruck on robotics - Fort Worth Star Telegram [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- WPI Robotics Team Has a Mission with Mars | News | WPI - WPI News [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Rethink's Robots Get Massive Software Upgrade, Rodney Brooks So Excited - IEEE Spectrum [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Front Porch: Vision Charter robotics teams perform well at state - Idaho Press-Tribune [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Raspberry Pi-powered arm: This kit aims to make robotics simple ... - TechRepublic [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Roam Robotics' lightweight, inexpensive exoskeleton for the masses - New Atlas [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Rehab robotics field promises to return control, mobility to aging population - ScienceBlog.com (blog) [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Rethink Robotics rethinks its software | ZDNet - ZDNet [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Home-schooled students studying robotics - Valencia County News Bulletin [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Botetourt 4-H Phoenix Robotics team sets sights on success - Roanoke Times [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Hartland robotics teams take on the FIRST Tech challenge at state competition - Lake Country Now [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- iFuture Robotics cuts manpower needs of warehouses with its mobile robots - YourStory.com [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Crescent Valley robotics focused on developing freshmen - Corvallis Gazette Times [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- CyPhy, Mitsubishi, and Soft Robotics Join Robo Madness on March 28 - Xconomy [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Agility Robotics Introduces Cassie, a Dynamic and Talented Robot ... - IEEE Spectrum [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- FIRST Robotics Competition - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Raptor legs & human hips: Giant leap for walking robots - RT [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Patriot Robotics Alliance upsets Brentwood Academy Alliances - Clarksville Now [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- South Beach robotics squad advances to super regionals - The Daily World [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- How drones and robotics may shape the future of conflict under President Trump - PRI [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Personal robotics the next technological revolution: Dr Vivian Balakrishnan - Channel NewsAsia [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Ford Bets $1B on Startup Founded by Waymo, Uber Vets - ABC News [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Woodall robotics team competes in Broken Arrow - Muskogee Daily Phoenix [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Students Compete in LEGO Robotics Design Contest in Brooklyn - NY1 [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Essex County Freeholders Honor Livingston Robotics Club Teams - TAPinto.net [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Robotics event offers lesson in teamwork - Lewiston Morning Tribune (subscription) [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Face off: Marion students compete in robotics competition - The Exponent Telegram (press release) (registration) [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Freshman Caldwell team takes first place in Regional Robotics Tournament - Idaho Press-Tribune [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Ford Motor bets $1 billion on robotics startup - Toledo Blade [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Alice Shaw robotics team building invention to save wolves | Local ... - Lompoc Record [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]