A student team from Moscow has won second place at the Microsoft-sponsored computer science and engineering competition Imagine Cup. Their project was a semi-automatic robot meant to entertain and educate children.

“Robonanny” is mounted on a wheeled platform, can move its hands and has a built-in camera for feedback. It can communicate with the operator remotely via Wi-Fi and has a dozen scenarios, like performing morning fitness exercises with children.

The only team to beat the Russians was from Taiwan. The young Taiwanese engineers had developed a system for monitoring power consumption by home appliances. Third place was awarded to a French-designed smart floor, which can detect when a body falls and subsequently call ambulance services.

In addition to embedded development, where the Russian team succeeded, participants also competed for prizes in software design, game design, digital media and IT challenge programs. More than a hundred teams worldwide submitted their projects and several dozen went on to the finals in Warsaw.