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'We Can Bridge Digital Divide': Zimbabwe's Robotics Coordinator on Local Machine R&D
'We Can Bridge Digital Divide': Zimbabwe's Robotics Coordinator on Local Machine R&D
Sputnik Africa
Robots have long been part of our lives: they are actively used in industry, medicine, education, transportation, and many other areas. Every year, they become... 19.01.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-01-19T19:06+0100
2024-01-19T19:06+0100
2024-01-20T10:12+0100
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Sputnik Africa sat down with Charles Matanga, a Zimbabwean computer science teacher and a robotics mentor who is also the national coordinator for robotics in the southern African country, to discuss the development of robotics in Zimbabwe, the difficulties that stand in its way and ways to overcome obstacles.Matanga expressed his belief that the whole point of developing robots is to make our lives easier, though they probably won't replace humans completely. Matanga's team research focused on two areas, one of which was robots that could remove landmines.Destroyed robots can be replaced, though the team installed special sensors on the robots so they could be more accurate in detecting the presence of a landmine.Another area of interest is development of automatic combine harvester, because Zimbabwe is an agricultural economy that requires agricultural mechanization.In addition, such charging of robots will reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which makes them eco-friendly.Moreover, the landmine-removing robots can also be used in farming, as they can pick up any fruit without damaging it.A third application for robots can be found in home gardening.This type of robot, as others, can be multipurpose: people can use it for cleaning of floors and picking litter.The next step, as Matanga pointed out, is the actual manufacturing of such robots, which should certainly be done in Zimbabwe.The Development Process and Difficulties Along The WayMatanga shared with Sputnik Africa some details regarding the process of designing the robots, as well as some of the difficulties his team encountered.Thus, the teacher reckoned that it is crucial to ask students open-ended questions: this way, the children are given the opportunity to find out on their own where robotics stands today.The process of robot development, as it can be expected, is not easy. Everything starts with a research, then moves to understanding of what materials and resources are available, then the team develops a computer design, and finally tries to implement a prototype.However, any difficulties can be overcome with proper inspiration. Thus, students from Tynwald High school in Zimbabwe were given the opportunity to visit the US and visit the factories of such corporations as Amazon, Tesla, where robots are actively used, and also visit the NASA space station.Furthermore, the teacher shared that he and his team are looking forward to starting local production of robotics kits, which are currently imported from abroad. However, the country has every opportunity to produce, for example, lithium batteries, because Zimbabwe is rich in lithium. Matanga and his team took matters into their own hands and approached the Ministry of ICT for assistance. They also hope that with the help of other ministries, they will be able to manufacture these batteries in Zimbabwe.Matanga also expressed hope for the spread of robotics in schools and higher institutions.Another way how the government can support the project is through policy implementation, the teacher argued.The government can also help with buying pricey kits for robotics and other hardware needed for robot development. Moreover, the expert suggested that robotics competitions in schools should be encouraged.In conclusion, Sputnik Africa asked Matanga to convey an inspiring message to young people. The expert assured that you don't need to have a scientific background to be involved in robotics, as all kinds of skills are needed in this sphere: some people conduct research, the other deal with P&R, someone should take care of documentation and so on.The researcher underlined that STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics — should be embraced in Zimbabwe.In his message to readers, the expert urged young people to invest their time and knowledge first and foremost in their local communities and to pay attention to the pressing issues in their neighborhoods.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231231/sub-saharan-african-countries-most-open-to-artificial-intelligence-1064394001.html
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'We Can Bridge Digital Divide': Zimbabwe's Robotics Coordinator on Local Machine R&D
19:06 19.01.2024 (Updated: 10:12 20.01.2024) Longread
Robots have long been part of our lives: they are actively used in industry, medicine, education, transportation, and many other areas. Every year, they become more and more "smart" and increasingly more applicable to our everyday lives.
Sputnik Africa sat down with Charles Matanga, a Zimbabwean computer science teacher and a robotics mentor who is also the national coordinator for robotics in the southern African country, to discuss the development of robotics in Zimbabwe, the difficulties that stand in its way and ways to overcome obstacles.
Matanga expressed his belief that the whole point of developing robots is to make our lives easier, though they probably won't replace humans completely. Matanga's team research focused on two areas, one of which was robots that could
remove landmines.
"In our case, the landmine-removal, the motivation came from one of the students who comes from an area where landmines were planted during some wars in Zimbabwe. The whole idea was to avoid human beings' suffering from those landmines [...]," the researcher explained.
Destroyed robots can be replaced, though the team installed special sensors on the robots so they could be more accurate in detecting the presence of a landmine.
Another area of interest is development of
automatic combine harvester, because
Zimbabwe is an agricultural economy that requires agricultural mechanization.
"We noticed that we can have driverless planters, driverless tractors, driverless combine harvesters which can be controlled remotely, and they can work 24/7. As such, we have a [...] prototype, which can be developed to real application machines that can be solar-powered," Matanga told Sputnik Africa.
In addition, such charging of robots will reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which makes them eco-friendly.
Moreover, the landmine-removing robots can also be used in
farming, as they can pick up any fruit without damaging it.
A third application for robots can be found in home gardening.
"Why not design a robot, attach a blade driven by a motor, which can be programmed to mow [...]. And the blades are controlled remotely, but you can easily cut the grass wherever you are," the engineer said.
This type of robot, as others, can be multipurpose: people can use it for cleaning of floors and picking litter.
The
next step, as Matanga pointed out, is the actual
manufacturing of such robots, which should certainly be done
in Zimbabwe.
"The young ones are looking forward to [the time] that this can be patented and being implemented at a higher level where we have actual machines being manufactured. And these have to be all made in Zimbabwe. As for the whole idea, we don't want to import innovation, but we want machines that are designed right away from Zimbabwe," the speaker emphasized.
The Development Process and Difficulties Along The Way
Matanga shared with Sputnik Africa some details regarding the process of designing the robots, as well as some of the difficulties his team encountered.
Thus, the teacher reckoned that it is crucial to ask students open-ended questions: this way, the children are given the opportunity to find out on their own where
robotics stands today.
The process of robot development, as it can be expected, is not easy. Everything starts with a research, then moves to understanding of what materials and resources are available, then the team develops a computer design, and finally tries to implement a prototype.
"But the implementation part of the prototype, it does not come at ease. You have to build, then you destroy your build, then you destroy... But at every stage you'll be refining and making some changes, you should be prepared to adjust. There were times [when you realize that] the initial idea [cannot be] implemented as it is," Matanga revealed.
However, any difficulties can be overcome with proper inspiration. Thus, students from Tynwald High school in Zimbabwe were given the opportunity to visit the US and visit the factories of such corporations as Amazon,
Tesla, where robots are actively used, and also visit the NASA space station.
"[Students] felt that, why not go back home and come up with tangible projects that can help, that are relevant in our community. When we came back [...] some students actually started working on those prototypes. Since August 2023 up to now, they have been working on those prototypes. Even during the festive season, they could not get tired, they were really inspired [...]," the expert noted.
Furthermore, the teacher shared that he and his team are looking forward to starting local production of robotics kits, which are currently imported from abroad. However, the country has every opportunity to produce, for example, lithium batteries, because Zimbabwe is rich in lithium. Matanga and his team took matters into their own hands and approached the Ministry of ICT for assistance. They also hope that with the help of other ministries, they will be able to manufacture these batteries in Zimbabwe.
Matanga also expressed hope for the spread of robotics in
schools and higher institutions.
"Definitely, we are driven by the passion to see every Zimbabwean child being taught robotics and coding. And it is my wish to see even in the rural areas robotics being introduced. [...] We really would love to see robotics being taught as an academic subject," the inventor said.
Matanga opined that with the spread of robotics as a subject in schools, the nation will be able to "bridge the digital divide."
Another way how the government can support the project is through policy implementation, the teacher argued.
"We have teacher training programs. Those who are being trained to teach computer science can have a module added that is specifically for robotics so that when they go out there, they will be able to implement it," Matanga reckoned.
The government can also help with buying pricey kits for robotics and other hardware needed for robot development. Moreover, the expert suggested that robotics competitions in schools should be encouraged.
"So if we add to having robotics competitions being done at school level, district then province level, definitely, we can start to witness a lot of innovation projects coming up from all corners of the country," the teacher explained.
In conclusion, Sputnik Africa asked Matanga to convey an inspiring message to young people. The expert assured that you don't need to have a scientific background to be involved in robotics, as all kinds of skills are needed in this sphere: some people conduct research, the other deal with P&R, someone should take care of documentation and so on.
The researcher underlined that
STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics — should be embraced in Zimbabwe.
"It's high time we should embrace STEAM. We need to make use of our time, make use of resources that are readily available to our benefit on an individual level, to that benefit of the community and to the nation at large. [...] And if used properly, this technology could be our slave. But if we use them wrongly, we become slaves of technology," Matanga said.
In his message to readers, the expert urged young people to invest their time and knowledge first and foremost in their local communities and to pay attention to the pressing issues in their neighborhoods.
"So I would like to encourage the youth in Zimbabwe to invest and to come up with solutions that are relevant to the communities where they are coming from. You don't come up with a solution which is immersive," he stressed. "Of course, you would like to assist others coming from different regions. But to start with the solutions by looking at areas which are surrounding you. Pressing issues, those are the ones that we should attack first. I would like to encourage those who would like to learn robotics to get in touch. We can work together for the betterment of the country."
