Dubai ruler honours engineer Oussama Khatib

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, recognised the outstanding achievements of Syrian scientist Oussama Khatib, Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Robotics Laboratory, for his exceptional scientific contributions to the industry.

The ‘Great Arab Minds’ award, which was established last year, aims to recognise a person of Arab descent, appreciate him or her in society and family, and boost his or her confidence in his or her capabilities and abilities. Sheikh Mohammed made the announcement on his social media account X while announcing the winner of the Engineering and Technology category. The Dubai ruler also extended his congratulations to Syria and the city of Aleppo, emphasising that Arabs are capable of regaining their scientific leadership.

Professor Khatib, who has published more than 327 scientific papers, has become known for his research in the field of sensor technology, which has significantly advanced the development of robotics. His work has enabled robots to function effectively in a variety of environments, which is an important step forward in this rapidly evolving field.

One of Professor Khatib’s most significant achievements is the creation of OceanOne, a revolutionary humanoid robot for deep-sea exploration. OceanOne combines haptic feedback, stereo vision and bimanual manipulation, allowing it to replicate human movements with unrivalled accuracy. This project was a true breakthrough in underwater robotics and opened new horizons for exploration of the ocean depths.

The Great Arab Minds Award not only recognises the achievements of individual scientists, but also serves as an inspiration for future generations, showing that the Arab world can take its rightful place in the global scientific and technological arena.

Source: Khaleej Times