The Faculty of Engineering under the University of Balamand proudly hosted the eighth edition of the Mobile Autonomous Robotics Competition (MARCAB) on May 16, 2025. Organized under the supervision of Lab Instructor Ms. Katia Karam and in collaboration with the IEEE UOB Student Chapter, this year’s competition served as the final project for the Microcontrollers Laboratory course CPEN 305.

Twenty-two students from the Electrical and Computer Engineering departments participated in this year competition. They formed 10 teams and worked intensively over the course of one month to design, build, and program autonomous robots. Participating students were required to complete their designs using PIC microcontrollers, which presented a more advanced and challenging platform compared to previous editions that relied on Arduino. This shift aimed to deepen students’ understanding of embedded systems and low-level programming.

The competition required each robot to autonomously navigate a series of obstacle stages, showcasing the students’ ability to apply course concepts into practical engineering solutions. Teams presented their projects in front of a panel of faculty judges including Dr. Rafic Ayoubi, Dr. Rodrigue Imad, Dr. Jihad Daba, Mr. Abdulmunim Alameddine, and Ms. Katia Karam. They evaluated the robots based on technical accuracy, design, and overall performance. The judges praised the students for their commitment, teamwork, and innovative problem-solving approaches. All participating teams were recognized for their hard work and high-quality projects, with awards presented to the top three teams.

Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Rami Abboud commended the students’ innovative designs and acknowledged the efforts of Ms. Karam and the IEEE Student Branch in revitalizing MARCAB. He underscored the significance of project-based learning in equipping students with the skills needed for the engineering profession. He believes that the return of MARCAB highlights the faculty’s commitment to practical learning and its support for student-led academic initiatives and specifically design.









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