Mohammed bin Rashid congratulates Syrian professor Osama Khatib for winning “Geniuses of the Arabs 2024”

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, congratulated Professor Osama Khatib for winning the “Arab Geniuses 2024” award in the engineering and technology category.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, in a post on his Highness’s account on the “X” platform: “Brothers and sisters… we celebrate scholars, thinkers and innovators every year through the Arab Geniuses Award… and after receiving thousands of nominations… today we announce the winner of the Arab Geniuses Award for This year’s engineering and technology category.

His Highness added: “From Syria, the land of civilizations, and from Aleppo, the city of history and science, today we celebrate the brilliance of one of its sons… the director of the Robotics Laboratory at Stanford University, Professor Osama Khatib, who made exceptional scientific contributions in the field of robotics engineering and science, and published more than 327 research papers. Scientifically, he created advanced robots capable of exploring the depths of the oceans and providing innovative solutions that serve humanity.”

His Highness added: “His career began from Al-Ma’moun School in Aleppo, and reached the international level, becoming an honorable model for the genius of Arab scholars. We congratulate Professor Osama Khatib on his victory, and we congratulate Syria and the city of Aleppo for its pride, and we affirm that the Arabs are able to regain their scientific leadership and resume their civilization in the hands of their children.” ».

Professor Khatib’s victory culminates decades of linking technological prowess and engineering robotic tasks integrated with human intelligence, and his achievement of many important innovations and scientific research.

The Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Committee of the “Geniuses of the Arabs” initiative, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Gergawi, made a video call with Professor Osama Khatib, congratulating him on winning the “Geniuses of the Arabs 2024” award in the engineering and technology category, stressing that innovators inspire Arab generations. It wants to make its clear mark on the region’s resumption of its contributions to human civilization.

He said that the “Geniuses of the Arabs” launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, celebrates the distinguished Arab minds who have become beacons for their creativity to guide Arab youth, calling on Arab talents and competencies to be inspired by the path of researchers and pioneers. To design their future, achieve the aspirations of Arab societies and enrich the process of human knowledge.

Professor Osama Khatib, from the Syrian city of Aleppo, heads the International Organization for Robotic Research (IFRR), and is considered one of the global pioneers in the field of robotics and engineering research. His research focuses on robotic systems and controlling the movement of robots and their interaction by touch.

Professor Khatib’s research established an early foundation for the current advanced designs of human-like robots, as his doctoral thesis, which he prepared at the National Higher College of Aeronautics and Space Sciences in France, focused on automatic control engineering, after obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the French University of Montpellier.

Khatib is responsible for managing the Robotic Systems Laboratory. He is a professor of computer science at Stanford University and a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He developed theories, algorithms and technologies that control complex robotic systems by modeling their mechanical movement, so that they are able to interact with their surroundings in real time.

Khatib developed the concept of interactive control of human-like robots, which relies on monitoring the operational environment to facilitate the movement of their entire structure and control their capabilities and interaction.

Professor Osama Khatib created the human-like “Ocean 1” robot to explore the depths of the oceans, taking advantage of innovations in touch sensors and underwater work, enhancing human-robot interaction, and combining marine sciences with underwater engineering activities.

Al-Khatib also led the “Ocean One Kay” mission, which included the latest generation of human-like underwater robots, designed to explore the depths of the sea with bilateral manual control, stereoscopic vision, and tactile interaction capabilities between humans and robots.

His innovations have contributed to enhancing the capabilities of autonomous robots to perform tasks in operational space exploration, underwater robotics, and human-robot collaboration.

Khatib currently holds the position of Director of the Robotics Laboratory at Stanford University, and is President of the International Foundation for Robotics Research. His research in the field of robotics focuses on new control structures, algorithms, sensing, and programming of service robots.

Professor Osama Khatib published many research papers in the field of robotics, the number of which exceeded 327, and he accomplished a number of pioneering innovations related to the motor behavior of robots and linking them to the movement of the human body, and software to control robots using advanced technologies.

Professor Osama Khatib’s research is a reliable reference for robotics researchers, those working in robotics-related disciplines, and those interested in this technological sector.

The Arab Geniuses Award, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, places the brightest minds in the Arab world in the spotlight, and celebrates them and their positive impact on the path of humanity.

The award reflects the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for innovation and scientific, cognitive, cultural and intellectual progress in the Arab world.

The Minister of Education, Sarah bint Youssef Al Amiri, chairs the committee concerned with the engineering and technology category of the “Geniuses of the Arabs” initiative, and its membership includes: Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, the Dean of the Dubai Future Academy, Dr. Muhammad Qasim, and the Director of Al Hussein Technical University, Professor Ismail Al Hanati, And the Regional Director of the International Telecommunication Union, Adel Darwish.

The “Arab Geniuses” initiative highlights the inspiring achievements of exceptional Arab minds, publicizing their impact on the process of development and human civilization to expand it, and motivating more Arab youth and emerging Arab talents to follow the example of the distinguished Arab geniuses.

For the second year in a row, the largest award of its kind in the Arab world continued to record a qualitative turnout and a large volume of nomination requests, from individuals and institutions, for scientific, cognitive and creative figures who have become role models for young Arab cadres of perseverance and dedication in order to enhance the Arab role in the cultural and human knowledge heritage.

Mohammed bin Rashid:

. We congratulate Professor Osama Khatib on his victory, and we congratulate Syria, the land of civilizations, and Aleppo, the city of history and science.

. We affirm that the Arabs are capable of regaining their scientific leadership and resuming their civilization in the hands of their children.

. Professor Osama Khatib’s career began at Al-Ma’moun School in Aleppo, and reached the international level to become an honorable model for the genius of Arab scholars.

. Professor Osama Khatib created robots capable of exploring the depths of the oceans, and published more than 327 scientific papers.