Monday, October 10, 2011

Laobotics! Lao robots off to Hong Kong

Lao Voices shared Phaisythong Chandara's article in the Vientiane Times about the continuing success of Lao students studying robotics with the assistance of Japanese robotics professors.

In Lao Robot Off to Hong Kong, students from Vientiane’s Soutsaka College of Management and Technology received the Panasonic Award at a robotics contest held in Bangkok, Thailand. It's not really one of the top three places, but it's still positive encouragement.

This is the 10th year of the ABU Robocon.

The Lao team received the Encouragment Award. Mr Southixay Langsavat, Mr Maksouvan Khothsouvanh, Mr Fanta Sinouth, Mr Souladeth Maomala and Mr Sakhine Keovilay make up the team and will attend the ABU (Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union) Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2012. They will focus on "designing the best robot in the hope of attaining further awards at the contest, which will take the theme ‘In pursuit of peace and prosperity’."

 According to the Vientiane Times, this year’s contest was inspired by Thailand’s Loy Kratong festival, so the robots were designed to float on water.

 It would be nice to see Lao women get involved and engaged in robotics in the future. This is a positive development for Lao in the sciences. Hopefully we will see more resources committed to the country across the board to encourage and build these and other technological skills.

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