The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

"Hello! Guests welcome, my name is IRobo," says an intellectual robot which can help man by carrying something from one place to another, cleaning floor and standing as a security guard and this humanoid robot was invented by a Bangladeshi young scientist

The inventor of the robot claimed the robot could do everything according to the human voice command.

Feroz Ahmed Siddique a Computer Science and Engineering graduate of International Islamic University Chitagong (IIUC), Dhaka Campus, invented the IRobo, which may compete with the world-class humanoid robots developed by the technologically rich countries.

Feroz Ahmed and Shafiqur Rahman, Secretary of IIUC, Dhaka Campus said this yesterday at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Shafiqur Rahman said if the project was finished in time it could compete with the world-class robots but for that Feroz, the inventor, needs proper funding. "I am confident that I can finish the work within one year, if the fund comes and it will be one of the best robots in the world," Feroz claimed.

He estimated about Tk two lakh will be required to complete about 10 per cent of mechanical works and 60 per cent of the intellectual works on the robot

Feroz started it as a research and development project after his invention of Autobot in 2005 and gave the robot a shape of human body in 2007.

The IRobo has a vision system with two cameras, neck joint, shoulder joint, elbow joint, two wrist joints, three fingers by which it can grasp all objects and automation system on three wheels.

The inventor of IRobo compared the robot with the world-class robot Asimo developed by the Japanese company Honda that could move four kilometers per hour on its feet but IRobo could move five kilometers per hour on its automation system.

"The IRobo can detect complex things, understand human voice, measure distances, identify obstacles and improve its intellectual level," Feroz claimed.

The IIUC had facilitated Feroz with a laboratory but only with the lab facility he could not finish his work, he needed financial aid, he said.

He sought government and private help to bring this project into completion.

The young scientist said he was discussing with an Australian software firm Tachhands for funding but the firm demanded the copyright of the invention in exchange of the fund.

Feroz Ahmed Siddique worked under the guidance of four advisers Prof Shamsul Alam, of IIUC Dhaka Campus Chief Adviser of the project, Prof Dr Chowdhury Mofizur Rahman, former professor and Head of the Department of CSE, BUET, Dr Haider Ali, Chairman and Associate Professor Department of CSE Dhaka University and Dr Nurul Islam Professor and Dean Faculty of Science and Director of IT Academy Northern University.