IIT-M session on AI, robotics for kids of army personnel

Titled ‘Sanjog’, the programme currently in its third edition was inaugurated on Friday. It featured experts on Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics interacting with children of Subedars, Havildars, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO), war widows and retired servicemen.

As Artificial Intelligence has gained a lot of importance, a session titled ‘SpeedoBotix - Introduction to Intelligent Robotics’ has been planned. Students will be taught to build, in less than three hours, a robot that can follow a path and detect obstacles, organisers said.

The programme features lectures on mathematics, problem solving using computers, games for a stress-free life without digital gadgets and information security awareness.

Speaking about the programme Professor V Kamakoti, Department of Computer Science and programme coordinator, said that the total number of participants has been restricted to 30 so that individual attention could be paid to each of them. The students enrolled for this programme are between Class XI and final year of their under-graduation courses.

The programme also focuses on enhancing their lateral thinking, especially in mathematics, creating awareness about opportunities in science and engineering, life skills such as communication and analytics and will also feature lectures by experts in engineering topics of huge interest such as data sciences and chemical engineering, organisers said.

Further, sessions will also be held on advanced subjects such as information security. With innovation a buzzword, students are set to be taken to the Centre for Innovation at IIT Madras.