Slauson 7th grader places 4th at Robofest World Championship

Dhev Kannan impresses a global audience with an autonomous library robot powered by AI and machine learning

Slauson Middle School student Dhev Kannan showcased his technological prowess on the world stage last weekend, earning an impressive 4th-place finish at the Robofest World Championship. The prestigious competition, held Saturday, May 17th at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, brought together top young innovators from across the globe.

Dhev, who qualified for the championship after taking 1st place in the USA video qualifier round, competed against 16 elite international teams in the Junior Exhibition Category. His entry, “Autonomous Library Bot using Raspberry Pi, Machine Learning, and Generative AI,” impressed judges with its innovative approach to solving real-world problems through emerging technologies.

“His achievement represents months of dedication, creative problem-solving, and technical skill development,” said his coach, Chitra Selvaraj, “and this project demonstrates how AI and machine learning can be applied to everyday challenges. His performance at the world championship highlights the exceptional STEM education opportunities available to Ann Arbor Public Schools students.”

Beyond robotics, Dhev participates in several academic and extracurricular interests. For the past two years, he has participated in the ACSL Junior Coding Contest, using Python to tackle complex computer science problems. He is also an active member of the Science Olympiad and Math Olympiad, and he competes in mathematics competitions, including AMC and Math Kangaroo, where he recently placed 17th nationally and 1st in Michigan for 2025.

Dhev also enjoys playing tennis and the viola.

“I truly appreciate the teachers from AAPS who have played a big role in my learning and personal growth,” he said, expressing gratitude for the mentors and educators who have supported his journey.

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