Abdel-Aal: Using Drones and Autonomous Vehicles for Delivery - Practical Insights from KAUST Living Lab

Overview

Abstract

KAUST presents a unique campus with unique opportunities. It's a "city" with limitless boundaries for experimentation and a culture that pushes the boundaries of innovation. "KAUST Smart" is the brand that represents this living lab and it's the enabler for testing and evaluation of emerging technologies. By applying an experience-focused design methodology, KAUST Smart is able to deliver rapid experimentations that engage the community, industry, and government in a reiterative approach. In this talk, we will look into the outcomes from two recent experiments that were conducted at KAUST for the delivery of packages and food utilizing drones and autonomous vehicles.

Biography

Mohamed Abdel-Aal is a founding member of KAUST where he joined the institution during its development and construction phase in 2008. In his role as Director of Digital Experience and Innovation, he oversees “KAUST Smart”, a living lab for KAUST with a primary focus on leveraging technologies, processes, and people to create a "smart" digital experience across the university and its sprawling campus. Mohamed had previously managed the University’s IT infrastructure and research computing including systems, servers, storage, data center facilities, HPC clusters, and an extensive network that spans the academic buildings and labs, and the community and its housing facilities. Mohamed also oversees strategic digital transformation plans and initiatives including partnerships and collaborations with leading industry players to utilize KAUST’s unique setting as a launch pad for pilots and innovative creative concepts and new ideas. Mohamed holds an MBA and a MS degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and a BS degree from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).