Mine sweepers, oil explorers and football-playing automatons were all on show at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre yesterday as the Bahrain heats of the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) drew to a close.

Hundreds of science buffs, from primary school-age pupils to university students, battled it out to create the best kit robots and complete tasks or challenges, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Some had to create robots that could dive for pearls while others had to master mountains or teach their creation to bowl.

The winning teams - 16 in total out of around 100 who took part - will now progress to the WRO finals in Qatar this November.

"We used to be able to send eight teams of three but this year since we have 100 teams taking part, we can send two teams in each category," said WRO Bahrain chairwoman and AMA International School director Marietta Sicat.

"It is another milestone that both Bahrain and the AMA have achieved." - TradeArabia News Service