The largest technology event in Malta is being held this weekend at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali. This year, the Malta Robotics Olympiad (MRO) is taking place on two days and will feature hands-on workshops for all ages, over 50 confirmed exhibitors and six major events under one roof.

Among the activities going on will be the Design and Technology Expo. Organised by the Design & Technology Learning Centre and the Department of Education, the expo is joining forces with MRO to bring together students from local schools studying design and technology, their innovative product design projects, electronics, graphics, projects with bespoke materials, and a number of hands on designs.

D&T Expo brings a ‘maker’ aspect to the MRO where the public is also invited to try out interactive practical activities along with demos and use of hi-tech CNC equipment like laser cutters and 3D printers.

A national product design competition will see teams from schools compete for the best innovative concepts and prototype. The D&T Expo will feature for students only tomorrow morning, including the D&T challenges, and for the public thereafter.

Another event is the EDx Conference in which local and foreign speakers will be explaining and simplifying cutting-edge technologies to the public. These include Alexiei Dingli, professor of intelligence within the Faculty of ICT at the University of Malta and the head of the AI Department; and Matthew Montebello, an associate professor and head at the Department of Intelligent Computer Systems at the Faculty of ICT, University of Malta. There will also be a live link from the Large Hadron Collider at Cern, the European organisation for nuclear research.

There will also be a number of competitions and challenges including the national drone racing championships, a Lego Sumo International competition and the MRO Big Challenge, where teams compete to build an autonomous robot to go through an obstacle course.

■ The Malta Robotics Olympiad is being held on Friday and Saturday at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali between 4pm and 10.30pm. Entrance is free. For more info, visit www.mromalta.com or visit the Malta Robotics Olympiad Facebook page.

The Olympiad is organised by the Ministry for Education and Employment in partnership with Go.

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