The 2024 World Robot Olympiad Türkiye International Finals brought children and young people passionate about science and robotics from all over the world to İzmir. The 3,500 competitors from 90 countries developed solutions to future challenges using robotic technologies. Young inventors emphasized that the future will be an era of innovation.
The excitement of the World Robot Olympiad (WRO), which hosted 3,500 children and young people from 90 countries at Fuar İzmir, continues. Organized in cooperation with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, İZFAŞ, and the Science Heroes Association, WRO started on November 28 and will conclude with a closing ceremony today.
Throughout the Olympics, young inventors expanded their knowledge of robotic technologies while meeting peers from different places and exchanging ideas. This year’s final, held under the theme "EARTH ALLIES," focused on the efficient and fair use of our planet’s limited resources. Participants also shared suggestions on how to benefit from robotic solutions before and after natural disasters. Young inventors expressed their belief that the future is a technological era.
The TLGCROBOTICSCATALYST team from the Philippines expressed great satisfaction with being in İzmir. Team leader Gabrielle Reselva stated that the future world will revolve around robots and innovation.
Juke Cake, a team from Palestine, participated with an autonomous robot. Inventor Mesk Abdalsalam said, "We come from a difficult environment in Palestine, yet we managed to complete this project. The future is not just about hardware but also about software and creative ideas. We’ve seen impressive projects and tools. I believe the future will be bright with tools, AI, and the creativity and thought processes of engineers."
Stefan Teodorescu from the Canadian team Les Patriotes explained, "We invented a robot that plants mangroves, which stabilize the shoreline. These plants thrive in wet and swampy areas, anchoring deeply into the soil to prevent erosion. One of the worst effects of climate change is rising sea levels. I see many interesting projects around. Everyone is very focused on changing the world and using their technical skills to do it. I’m happy to be part of this and to be in Türkiye."
Saleh Muradlı from the Zagatala Aze team of Azerbaijan described their fire-extinguishing robot: "This robot operates in two ways—it can work autonomously or be controlled by us. It has a camera, and we can activate the water pump. It has fire sensors and directs water to the fire. We control it via a phone. This technology could be a big deal in Türkiye. It’s very necessary for firefighting, as it saves lives. Our goal is to save people and reduce harm to plants. It’s a good idea for both Türkiyeand the world. Robots will be part of the future."
Bonnie Feng from the U.S.-based Gaia Guardians team stated that they were in İzmir for a project aimed at forest protection. Feng explained, "Our robots aim to prevent fires by detecting smoke signals from sensors attached to trees and extinguishing the flames. We are very happy to participate in such a large event in İzmir. The most memorable moment for us will be being here."
Many teams from Türkiye also participated in the Olympiad. One such team, Emergency Tem, designed software to minimize the damage a city suffers during disasters. İbrahem Aljrrah, a team member, emphasized the importance of a system that can immediately respond to disasters using sensors and cameras covering the entire city, as well as AI. "Our project aims to identify potential disaster risks in the city and reduce their possible effects," he said. Alihan Özermiş added, "Technology is everywhere in our lives, and we can’t live without the internet anymore. It will provide even more help to us in the future. Technology will be of great help to humanity."
İZFAŞ General Manager Tuğçe Cumalıoğlu expressed her excitement at bringing the world to İzmir: "As İZFAŞ, we are very accustomed to hosting participants and visitors from all over the world. This event is much more different and exciting. Fuar İzmir has never been this lively before. The excitement in the children’s eyes makes us very happy. We are eager to open this space not only for fairs but also for larger congresses, events, and sustainable projects that bring together science, technology, and innovation for children and young people. We will make this happen."
