The winners of the second UAE Drones for Good Award and the first UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good, the world’s biggest awards in civilian applications of drones and robotics technology, were announced in Dubai in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and international dignitaries and experts as well a large gathering of visitors at the conclusion of a three-day competition event at Dubai Internet City.

Loon Copte’s multi-rotor drone from United States won the US$ 1 million prize in the International Competition of the UAE Drones for Good Award while UC Berkeley & SuitX, also from the United States, was the winner of US$ 1 million prize in the UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good.

On the occasion, Sheikh Mohammed stated that the UAE has become a leading international centre of innovation to stimulate investment in human capabilities and encourage innovations in new applications to make life better for every human being.

“The world is witnessing rapid changes and new challenges every day which requires us to unify our efforts to employ modern technology to serve humanity. Innovative initiatives will enable us to create the best solutions to overcome hurdles across the path to progress and help achieve our aspirations,” he added.

Both awards also featured competitions at the national level, with each winner getting to take home AED 1 million. Buildrone’s construction and repair aerial robot drone won the National Competition of the UAE Drones for Good Award while the Smart Guidance System for the Blind won the UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good.

During the three-day event, 40 semi-finalists in both the International and National competitions presented live demonstrations of their projects in front of an expert panel of international judges. The UAE Drones for Good Award and the UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good received more than 1,600 projects from 165 countries.