MINSK, 17 October (BelTA) – During a tour of the Minsk City Technical Creativity Center for Children and Youth Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko talked to students of this institution and appreciated the products they presented, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko welcomed the kids by saying: “Good day, Kulibins! [Ivan Kulibin was a famous Russian inventor] Does anyone of you know who Kulibin was and what he did? This is a homework assignment for you. Report the results to the Minsk mayor. He will pass them on to me.”
The president encouraged students of the Minsk City Technical Creativity Center for Children and Youth to further develop their abilities. In turn, the state will enable the necessary conditions for it. “Guys, thank you very much. Make something useful, something strong for the country. May success attend you. If you have any problems, speak up. But keep in mind that you will still have to deal with tasks and problems. We will enable conditions for you to handle them like you do it here. It is a good building [where the technical creativity center is located] for you to make initial attempts,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko was made familiar with the educational and physical infrastructure of the center in detail. He went on a tour of the labs specializing in various areas of innovative technical creativity. He talked to pedagogues and their pupils and examined the R&D products on display.
An all-terrain robot was demonstrated to the president in the robot technology lab. The young developer goes by the name Yevgeny. He explained what his robot is fitted with and what potential it has. The high-volume manufacturing of the product is supposed to begin in the future.
“You can begin high-volume manufacturing only if, for instance, a manufacturer gets interested in it. As you understand, it is not a new idea. Such robots exist. But you have to create a better robot. There is fierce competition. This is why I wish for you to beat this competition,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He also advised to pick up a smart team because it is difficult to do everything single-handedly.
The head of state also examined a track for robot technology complexes. The track is used to teach robots how to overcome various barriers. The pedagogue Dmitry Zhuk talked about it.
Aleksandr Lukashenko asked quite a topical question, to which many cannot find a definite answer: “Are you inclined to believe that no robots will replace humans in the near future and in the distant future?”
“Someone still has to write programs for them all the same. Neural networks are available now but humans still have to tune then. Humans are irreplaceable,” the answer was.
The president agreed with that and offered gratitude for the work. “Thank you for selecting the kids, for guiding them how to do these complicated engineering professions. We need it very much. [This area] is in great demand and the demand will only grow higher. While we will try to organize things in a way as to discourage them to flee the country. Neither to America nor to Germany. They should invent something here and should work in Belarus,” the president said.
“All the conditions are available,” Dmitry Zhuk noted.
“Not only here. We will think up something else later on,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
A design lab was located in another room. It is fitted with computers, an interactive board, 3D printers, and other kinds of equipment. By working in the lab, the students acquire engineering skills. It helps them plan their steps in order to achieve the desired results.
One of the lab’s students named Vladislav presented his project: a prototype of a Belarusian robotic vacuum cleaner. The device has been assembled using inexpensive readily available components but one should take into account that it is a product created by a kid and it is still a prototype. The young man demonstrated the robotic vacuum cleaner in action and explained that he had written the software for the robot himself.
The president took the R&D product very seriously. Moreover, Vladislav asked the president to support the idea of producing such robotic vacuum cleaners in Belarus.
“Well, if they are ready,” the president said. “I think if we make something of our own, then you will gift the first one to me.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko asked enterprises like Integral and Horizont to pay attention to this matter. “They should be told about it. They should look at it,” he said.
Another project from a young developer is an autonomous source of energy, which design incorporates solar cells. The device can be used to power up a light bulb or a TV set. The production of solar cells in Belarus was mentioned. The president did not rule out the possibility that it can be a promising project.
“I can tell you that as a matter of principle, we have enough light [for solar cells to operate efficiently]. I’ve tried it at my home in the village where I lived. We bought solar cells. And I wanted to avoid using a lot of electricity. It turned out to be very respectable. It still works,” the Belarusian leader shared his personal experience.
He suggested that the young man should be sent to real enterprises in Belarus where he could get familiar with manufacturing processes in practice, where he could talk to adults, who create various kinds of electronic equipment.
With great interest Aleksandr Lukashenko also examined the work of the motor vehicles lab. A racing kart simulator is available in one of the lab’s room and a 12-year-old Mikhail was behind the wheel. He has been going in for kart racing for seven years. “My father introduced me to motor racing. My father also went in for motor racing. And I will continue my father’s line of work,” the young racer explained.
The president wished him success but advised him not to speed along public roads: “I wish for you to get your driver’s license as soon as possible. But no speeding. I tell you that as a driver. We sometimes drive at a crazy speed but we gain only 3-4 minutes. Is it worth the risk? It is not. This is why don’t be hasty in your life.”
The head of state also positively evaluated the fact that the kids are taught how the vehicles are designed, what parts the engine is made of, and things like that. “Well done. It is very important. Because at present more than half of the drivers know only how to turn [the wheel]. And when they are asked basic things, they don’t know them,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “I still remember my teacher at a DOSAAF driving school. Our training was rigorous back then. I remember them all. I remember what they taught me about the design of the automobile. I still remember it. A great thing and very useful in life. Young people these days don’t know that.”
The kids study how automobiles and motorcycles are made not only theoretically but also in practice. An entire workshop is located in an adjacent room. MotoVeloZavod Company has supplied motorcycles. Some of the teachers are former students with technical university degrees.
“These are our treasure. They studied, graduated, came back. They work and they teach kids. Well, the key thing is for them to keep growing. We need people like that. We need smart people,” the head of state stressed.
One of the girl students named Sonya was introduced to the head of state. She is an athlete and participates in motorcycle racing. She was even described as MotoVeloZavod Company’s key critic, who can give tips about improving the company’s designs.
“It is very correct. You help very much because I was in favor of preserving the production of motorcycles and bicycles in the country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “I am a motorcyclist myself. I can drive a Harley-Davidson and I have an electric motorcycle. Unfortunately, one assembled by MotoVeloZavod Company for now. It uses different components. Not only ours. But it is a good product. Electric motorcycles, cars are our future.”
“Well done. When I was a kid, I was always eager to disassemble and assemble things. I didn’t succeed all the time. I didn’t have these conditions,” the president added.
In a location adjacent to the Minsk City Technical Creativity Center for Children and Youth the president saw a training race of radio-controlled model cars and practical classes on flying unmanned aerial vehicles. The site for RC models meets all the international standards and requirements. This is why it is a fitting location for honing one’s skills and improving techniques in the course of preparations for competitions.
Model cars are practically miniature versions of real vehicles. They are fitted with internal combustion engines, gearboxes, and an efficient independent suspension. One can say they are made the adult way.
The president was informed that most of the kids, who become students at the center at the age of six, go to several hobby groups, thus studying a broad range of modern technologies.
In conclusion of the tour Aleksandr Lukashenko was gifted a robot figurine made specifically for him. The robot has been painted in colors of national symbols. The president gave instructions to place the robot in the Palace of Independence.
By the way, the robot’s author Yevgeny told the head of state that he would like to study in the technopark and would like to realize his idea of creating special artificial limbs for people, who have been wounded or who have congenital pathologies. “I’d love to take care of that in our country,” the young man said.
“It is a good endeavor,” the head of state backed the idea.
Aleksandr Lukashenko had a picture taken with all the kids as a token of remembrance of the visit.
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