Although still far from its development in other parts of the world, little by little robotics is taking steps in Cuba.
Intermediate IT technician students in the province of Ciego de Ávila are entering this specialty, thanks to the inauguration of a laboratory with equipment donated by the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO).
This is the 24th facility of its kind on the island. With them, the Cuban educational authorities seek to promote interest in automation among young people, through the Young Computer and Electronics Club, according to official sources.
The idea, at least for now, is to start small, with the equipment and resources available.
“The project does not pursue the creation of sophisticated robots, something that would require much greater technology and investment of resources,” he assured the newspaper. Invader Ramón Carrazana, director of the Joven Club in Ciego de Ávila.
In fact, the official explained that the small robots, donated by UNESCO, are quite simple, even though they come from the first world.
“They walk, they go back, they avoid colliding with walls, they follow the route outlined by the programmer. The guys are still learning how to do it, but it turns out relatively easy,” he explained.
From school to production
According to Carrazana, the intention with this program is to connect students with robotics knowledge for its subsequent application with available technologies.
In this sense, it is planned to create a “knowledge network around robotics”, with the participation of Etecsa, the provincial Directorate of Agriculture, the Meteorological Center, the local University and the Union of Computer Scientists of Cuba.
By the way, the national director of the Joven Club, José Carlos Cruz, assured Granma that the intention is for the 24 existing robotics laboratories in the country to be linked to the so-called “productive poles.”
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However, for now, according to Duniesky Dorta, president of the Union of Computer Scientists of Cuba in Ciego de Ávila, it is only hoped that intermediate technical students understand the basics of programming and operation of robotics.
“Right now, obviously we do not intend to build robots in Ciego de Ávila, or get a large autonomous machine that harvests bananas in La Cuba. Nothing of that. But we do hope to ensure that the boys understand the bases of programming and operation of robotics, that they learn more about this branch of knowledge,” he noted.
Robots for agriculture?
Dorta regretted that the province currently has “very well qualified professionals in their sectors, but unable to see the enormous opportunities for automation and computerization that exist.”
Therefore, for the manager “it is important that students develop a broader vision about the usefulness of robotics and, once graduated, promote it in their workplaces.”
In this way, he said, the future development of the economy in Ciego de Ávila could benefit and, in particular, agriculture, the most important economic activity in the territory.
“It is the first step on the long path of productive development: from relatively simple issues, such as soil management, the interrelation of industries and the processing of climatic and hydraulic information, to other issues that today could seem extremely distant to us, such as smart agriculture and the use of drones,” he said.
Today the project only benefits intermediate technical students. However, it is planned to extend it to other stages of education such as primary or university.
According to the national director of the Joven Club, all provinces have a robotics and automation laboratory similar to the one in Ciego de Ávila. Even territories such as Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Villa Clara have more than one.
The results of this initiative will have their first measurement in December of this year, when the IV National Robotics Competition is held in Cuba, which is expected to be attended by teams from other countries.
