Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, National University of Science and Technology organized 2 nd Symposium on “Challenges in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)” on 6th March 2024 at College of Engineering (Caledonian Campus) Al Hail, Muscat. The ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) focuses on cyber-physical and biological systems, including the technologies of Machine learning, Deep learning, Robotics, the Internet of Things, Virtual Reality, etc. Artificial Intelligence is essential in industry and domestic applications in this digital era.
The symposium focused mainly on the challenges and requirements for implementing 4IR in the industries of the Sultanate of Oman.
The impact of 4IR on education is also more, which is changing the curriculum, learning and teaching, assessment methodologies, etc., compared to the previous generation’s industrial revolution. College of Engineering invited three eminent experts from industry and one from academia who presented a high-level technical talk on evolving fourth industrial technologies, their applications and challenges. The main
The event aims to understand local industries’ challenges in implementing modern technologies and motivate the NU students, staff and external participants to upgrade their technical knowledge in alignment with 4IR.
Prof. Ahmed Al Belushi, Dean of the National University of Science and Technology College of Engineering, inaugurated the symposium and welcomed the guest of honour, keynote speakers and participants. Prof. Ahmed Al Bulushi, in his opening address
gave an insight into industrial revolutions and highlighted the importance of the symposium and the significance of taking the technologies to the student and staff level.
The guest of honour of the day, Dr Ayman Al Fudhaili, CEO of Industrial Innovation Academy, Muscat, delivered an expert talk on “Challenges in implementing AI-based systems in Oman”. Dr Ayman addressed the innovations using AI technologies and the challenges Oman-based industries face that need to be adopted for 4IR.
Dr Amur Al Yehmedi, Associate Professor of Sultan Qaboos University, delivered a keynote address on “Exploring Robotics in Oman: A Promising Future with Challenges” by giving more importance to the implementation of robots in various research for fisheries, agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas sector. The third expert, Engr. Omar Al Jabri, Lead of Technology and Innovation Oman Broadband, delivered an
expert talk on “4IR technologies and Innovation in Oman”, in which he emphasized the importance of broadband, networking and 5G techniques in the innovations using 4IR technologies.
The last session was on “Integration of AI in 4IR technologies”, addressed by Dr.Senthilkumar Muthusamy from UTAS, Al Musanna, focusing on using AI in different 4IR technologies. He also addressed the digital transformation in various industrial applications related to artificial intelligence. In the closing ceremony, Dr.Sudhir, C.V, HoD, and the Department of MIE thanked the participants, organizers, and management. Prof. Syed Md, Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies and Research of the College of Engineering, NU, distributed the participant certificates.
The event was attended by over 75 participants, mainly students and staff from various institutions in Oman. The event was convened by Dr. R. Amuthakkannan and Dr. Dinesh Keloth Kaithari from the MIE Department of NU. Overall, the MIE Department is very proud to have organized such an excellent symposium to enable students/staff to understand the challenges in implementing the fourth industrial revolution techniques by woman-based industries. The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering acknowledges all participants. It extends sincere thanks to the keynote speakers for agreeing to deliver a talk in this symposium to benefit the staff and student community. Also, the department would like to thank the college and university management team for their encouragement and continuous support in organizing the symposium.