Robot invasion: Young talents unleash machines

An army of robots invaded Moscow, as the best robotics students from 40 Russian regions showed off their latest creations at Moscow's annual Robofest.

­Robofest unites the finest robotic minds from schools and universities across Russia. Over 500 robots are showcased there – as different in their appearance as they are in their ability.

“Our robot is designed to ease the work of a nurse,” student Aleksandr Yuriev told RT. “For instance, having to sort the exact amount of tablets for a patient requires precision. It’s a job that should be done by a robot. This way the nurse will be able to spend more time caring for the patient.”

Apart from the health service, there is a wide range of industries set to benefit from these machines. Winners of last year’s Robofest, for instance, went on to construct a robot-explorer for Russia’s emergencies ministry.

“These are not prototypes yet, these robots are projects to learn from and gain practical skills,” Robofest organizer Maksim Petrov told RT. “There are plenty of unusual constructions. And some of them may seem ordinary; it only takes one tiny element to start a technological revolution.”

The festival is a real playground for robot enthusiasts, regardless of age.  There are plenty of bright ideas to ignite interest in science and technology.

“Robots can really help humans,” student Mikhail Nikitin told RT. “I’m working on an autopilot that will be used in the forest industry. It’s a very dangerous job and my robot will make it easier for people while raising productivity.”

In a forest business that carries serious risks of injury, any improvement would be warmly received by the workers. But Mikhail is not stopping there: he is already masterminding plans for a flying car. And it is concepts like these that Russian students hope will shape our future.