Skapto 3 construction begins
Bringing the robot to lifePhotos by Vassil Bakalov
Rise of the Machines
By Kostadin Filev
November 12, 2004
A small ?Skynet? scrolls around AUBG
He is not tall, neither strong; he doesn?t look like a human at all; he cannot speak yet and he cannot kill people; and he definitely doesn?t look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Terminator. But he is the first and only robot on campus.
Three COS students, Sabri Tahiri, Vassil Bakalov, and Kastriot Fazliu, inspired by an Artificial Intelligence course with Professor Volin Karagiozov last year, came up with the idea to build and test robots as a part of the AUBG computer science program. Professor Karagiozov took the idea to heart, because he realized the lack of practical, real-life assignments in the computer science major.
This semester, Tahiri, Bakalov and Fazliu are taking Independent Study with Professor Karagiozov to build and test the robot.
?With the robot at hand, we have the hardware to test our software upon,? said Karagiozov.
?We finally can do something practical,? added Fazliu.
The great enthusiasm of the ?robot-builders?, made Karagiozov consider the idea of proposing COS courses in robotics for the 2005/2006 academic year.
?AUBG could purchase a set of robots, at a discount, for the students to work with them and use their imagination ? said Karagiozov.
The computer science department purchased the robot from UK. As soon as it arrived, Tahiri, Bakalov, and Fazliu started assembling and testing it. Only Fazliu had some experience in electronics, but they managed to put the robot together in a day.
The enthusiasts plan to do an extensive presentation and demonstration of the robot at the end of the semester.
?We?ll show AUBG community something practical, new and interesting,? Bakalov said.
Be sure not to miss it, otherwise they are sending ?T1?around Skaptopara to terminate the unbelievers.
