Russian Student Builds “Ilya Muromets,” a Robot That Knows the Strength and Composition of Russian Soil
Projects developed by students in pre-professional school programs may get a chance for real-world implementation.
Students from Moscow’s pre-professional school programs have unveiled several promising projects, including an AI-powered robot librarian, an agricultural robot for soil analysis, and an electrosonar device for people with visual impairments, according to the press service of TASS.
Knows Every Student by Face
According to city officials, students in Moscow’s pre-professional classes regularly present their best projects at annual scientific and practical conferences. After receiving feedback from experts at leading universities and research centers, many continue to develop their ideas. Some projects attract investors and move toward real-world deployment. Participants can also earn bonus points toward Russia’s Unified State Exam when applying to partner universities.
One such bonus could go to a student from IT Class at School No. 1474, who has developed an AI-powered robot librarian for younger students. The robot can locate specific books on library shelves and recommend new reading based on a student’s interests. To do this, it asks about favorite films, games, and hobbies. An AI-based program analyzes the answers and determines which genres or titles are most likely to appeal to the student. The system also uses facial recognition to identify users and track which books they have already borrowed.
The young developer is now considering how to teach the robot to find books that have been misplaced.
A “Bogatyr” to Help Farmers
Meanwhile, a team of graduates from the engineering class at School No. 2089 has created a prototype of a mobile robot called Ilya Muromets, named after the legendary epic hero. This modern-day bogatyr is capable of basic soil analysis and fertilizer application, a combination that could significantly ease the workload for farmers.
A student from the medical class at School No. 1535 has developed a prototype wristband with an RFID tag designed for constant wear. The device continuously collects health data and can share it with the wearer’s physician, who sees key vital indicators in a dedicated app.
Students from the engineering class at School No. 138 have built a working prototype of an electrosonar device for blind and visually impaired users. Designed to improve spatial orientation, the device resembles a sensor worn on the chest and scans the space ahead. When it detects an obstacle at torso or head level, it alerts the user through vibration signals.
Students from grades 7 through 11 across Russia can take part in Moscow’s annual scientific and practical conferences. Projects are evaluated by experts from leading universities and research centers, and the academic potential of these institutions gives student innovations a real chance to attract investment.
Earlier, we reported that a Russian school student had presented an AI system for researchers at a summit in Kazakhstan.
