The Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (AMTL) is a leading research unit at CPUT and their innovative activities have now paid-off.

The institution has recently been given the go-ahead by the Technology Innovation Agency to convert the research unit into a fully operational technology station.

GO GETTERS: Staff and students at the Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory were responsible for developing CPUT’s first Formula One student race car.

This is a huge feat for the institution which already houses the Agrifood Technology Station and the Technology Station in Clothing and Textiles.

An initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, these facilities are mandated to assist small and medium enterprises to become more competitive through technology and skill transfer projects.

The new technology station will provide support for the engineering sector and will focus on five key areas - adaptronics research and development, unmanned platforms, ocean engineering, automotive technologies and universal design.

Prof Oscar Philander, who will head up the new facility along with the support of Operations Manager, Eugene Erfort and Technical Manager Mornay Riddles, says their services will include engineering consulting, training programmes and technical support.

“We will also place a strong emphasis on research and technology work and on providing internship opportunities to students,” he says.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Dr Chris Nhlapo says they are excited about the addition of a third technology station, which will play a key role in developing the skills base needed to grow the engineering sector.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

On 2 April 2009, CPUT hosted a high profile delegation of Vice-Chancellors, Presidents and Registrars from a group of 19 leading German institutions including universities, technical colleges and universities of technology.

The visit was organised by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and co-funded by the “Stifterverband” (the business community’s innovation agency for the German science system) and the participating German universities.

The purpose of the event, which took place at CPUT’s Bellville Campus, was to share crucial information on the African higher education and academic landscape and showcase the institution’s most notable achievements.

The German group met their counterparts at the institution, represented by members of the Executive Management, Faculty Deans and Heads of Departments/ Research Units.

The morning began with a formal welcome and introduction from CPUT Vice-Chancellor Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga, who then went on to present an address on ‘CPUT as a University of Technology (UOT) in Transformation in SA’.

Prof Mazwi-Tanga described the pre-1993 academic landscape in South Africa, detailing the challenges of the previous binary system of education at was offered on a tertiary level.

She then highlighted the positive changes that were implemented with the advent of the 2002 amendment to the Higher Education Act, resulting in the present-day unitary system.

Although there was always room for improvement, Prof Mazwi-Tanga expressed that, “As an institution offering quality tertiary and higher education, CPUT focused strongly on career education to prepare graduates for the proper application of skills in the workplace”.

In terms of addressing the issue of transformation, she added that CPUT deliberately creates opportunities for female students, especially in the non-traditional fields of science and technology, through offering scholarships and bursaries based on academic performance.

Policies, structures and models of university management, curriculum development, research profiles, exchange programmes and strategies of internationalisation were reflected upon during the addresses by Prof Anthony Staak, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC): Academic and Dr Chris Nhlapo, DVC: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships respectively.

One representative from the RWTH Aachen University, Germany Mr. Manfred Nettekoven also delivered an interesting presentation on the structure and output figures from their institution.

The visitors were treated to a tour of the one of CPUT’s finest achievements in the form of the Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (AMTL). The laboratory is located within the Centre for Research and Applied Technology (CERATech) under the institution’s Faculty of Engineering. It conducts research into a technology that integrates sensor and actuator functions into materials and components in order for the materials to react to environmental stimuli thus rendering them intelligent.

The visit gave the German guests an insight into the South African academic system, with an emphasis on the process of transformation it has undergone since the historical turning point of democracy, as well as on present and future challenges.

By providing a platform for networking, it is hoped that the visit will encourage new exchange and cooperation projects between academic institutions in the two countries.

During their week-long visit to the country, the DAAD group also met their counterparts at the University of Pretoria, Wits University (Johannesburg), as well as the Universities of Cape Town, Stellenbosch and the Western Cape.

Every second year, DAAD selects one country for an information visit by German university leaders and the trip to South Africa this year was met with a resoundingly positive response.

By: Thami Nkwanyane and Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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Members of the executive management are conducting spot checks of campuses this week as the university gears up for the gradual return of staff and students.

Facilities on the Bellville and Wellington campuses were assessed on Monday, with visits to District Six, Mowbray and Granger Bay campuses scheduled for later in the week.

The team visited screening facilities, campus health, a joint project by the food technology and chemical engineering departments to produce hand sanitiser for the CPUT community as well as the Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory where initiatives to produce face shields and masks for ventilators are underway.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said he was impressed with the progress that had been made thus far.“I'm imploring on all colleagues to support the maintenance staff as well as protection services in ensuring that campus is ready to welcome our students back.”

The protocols that are being put in place include:

• All staff and students currently on any of CPUT’s campuses will be screened for Covid-19
• All facilities will undergo comprehensive (deep) cleaning
• Preparing campuses for social distancing using the principles of one-directional flow of the movement of people. Lecture theatres are also being prepared.
• Screening tents that will be visible from the entrance of each campus. Inside this facility, persons will first be screened for Covid-19 and may only enter the premises if no signs of infection are found.

Prof Mellet Moll, who is responsible for overseeing all Business Continuity Management Covid-19 related activities, said the visits form part of the activities of the BCM Covid Command Centre.

“We are taking it seriously to put lives first. We are observing health and safety at the highest possible standard.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown paid a visit to CPUT yesterday to explore a number of research innovations and how they can address some of South Africa’s urgent needs.

The event was a prime opportunity for some of the university’s researchers to engage directly with Brown and her top officials from State Owned Enterprises (SOE) like Transnet and Eskom about the technologies being developed at CPUT. The mammoth four-hour engagement was facilitated by the Advancement Department and saw everything from bursary and training opportunities to some of the challenges faced when dealing with SOE’s unpacked and explored.

Brown and her delegation also got a hands-on understanding of the CPUT innovations at a mini showcase featuring the Agrifood Technology Station, French South African Institute of Technology Station in Clothing and Textiles and the Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory. 

Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo says CPUT was ready and willing to fill any gap that SOE’s had identified and was primed to take the country forward with Brown’s ministry.
“CPUT already has signed agreements with many SOE’s and the question we have here is how we continue to grow these partnerships,” he says.

Brown was candid about a number of pressing challenges hampering greater economic growth including renewable energy, port efficiency and less reliance on international companies to do work that locals could be trained for.
“If you don’t have skilled labour, you don’t have an economy that grows. That is when you see the easy option being taken, which is bringing in an international company to do the work,” she says.

Written by Lauren Kansley
Tel: +27 21 953 8646
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

Four simple elements - cables, screws, thermoplastic and a 3D printer is set to change the lives of many people living without hands or fingers.

Robohand is a Johannesburg-based organisation that creates 3D-printed prosthetic hands at a fraction of the cost of standard prosthesis and local teacher Ian Pells, together with CPUT’s Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (AMTL), hopes to grow the project in the Western Cape.

Robohand was invented by Richard van As after he lost four fingers in an accident in May 2011. Realising the cost of traditional prosthetics, van As together with American Designer Ivan Owen, developed the devices.

ROBOHAND: A 3D-printed prosthetic hand

Van As says a glove-like covering is fitted in thermoplastic, and then fingers are created on the 3D printer by melting and stacking plastic to make Lego-like digits that are then connected to the glove with cables and screws.

NEW BEGINNINGS: One of the first parts made that will be fitted to the 3D-printed prosthetic hand

Earlier this month van As met with Pells and CPUT staff to demonstrate the making of these devices, which saw one of Pells’ learners receive a robohand.

SAVIOUR: Ian Pells takes a closer look at one of the robohands constructed by Richard van As

The meeting comes just months after Pells, a teacher at the Frank Joubert Art Centre in Newlands, came across the concept and realized it could benefit some of his students that were living with disabilities

“Our vision is to set up a 3D printing facility in Cape Town to make Robohand available,” he says.

AMTL’s Gerhard Coetzee says they are currently exploring how they can take the project further.

For more information on the project see http://www.designchanginglives.com/

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

CPUT is further entrenching its position of being a ‘globally excellent, locally relevant’ university by supporting robotic initiatives and strengthening science, technology and innovation in South Africa.

The university’s Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (AMTL) established a robotics programme towards the end of 2018, and since then CPUT students have placed in the top three of the Advanced Robotics Championship, held both regionally and nationally.

This month, the Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Units held a robotics stakeholder engagement workshop which included the Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo, DVC Research, Technology and Innovation Prof David Phaho, Calvin Maseko, CPUT Alumnus Tshitso Mosolodi from Snake Nation, along with CPUT students and lecturers.

Prof Nhlapo told the gathering that technology-centeredness is in the DNA of CPUT.
“We need to let the technology be the vehicle to improve our efficiencies and that is why my office is supporting this project. Smart teaching at CPUT needs to be unique to us,” he says.

The development of robotics at CPUT is already supported in a multi-disciplinary way at CPUT through a number of community engagement projects which aim to strengthen science and technology throughput from schools to university and ultimately in the world of work.

Manager in CPUT’s Centre for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning Jacqui Scheepers says that although the traditional home of robotics is in Engineering, it can permeate across all disciplines through community engagement, which her units are driving.

“STEM is the language of the future and we must move with the requirements of industry and society. It is our responsibility as a higher education institution to make sure that no one is left behind,” she says.

“STEM students have an advantage to access more dynamic professions and more diverse career opportunities.”

The workshop ended with a brainstorming session led by Dr Faiq Waghid where stakeholders discussed ways of strengthening the Robotics Community Engagement Committee at CPUT and inculcating robotics across the university.

Written by Lauren Kansley

Tel: +27 21 953 8646
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.