Mechanical Engineering student Simon Longela plans to restore lost hope to Africa’s amputees, with the development of a high-tech artificial hand.

The artificial hand, unlike conventional prosthetic limbs, will share a number of properties of a human hand.

The exploration into artificial limbs is the focus of the Congolese’s Mtech study and is close to his heart.

“From where I come from, there are a lot of people who lost limbs during the civil war. They either lost hand or legs. When coming up with an idea for my study, I thought of how I could solve problems back home” said Simon.

Working under the guidance of Prof Oscar Philander, head of the Adaptronic Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (AMTL), the first phase of the project is nearing completion.

“The first step of the project is to show that it is possible to recreate an artificial human hand. Using adaptronic technology, I reached the point to where the hand has motions similar to that of a human hand,” he said.

The hand currently has the ability to grasp and the fingers have a range of motions.

Simon explained that the next stage of development will focus on converting human heat into power, which will allow the hand to function without gears or motors.

Prof Philander said the project is progressing well and is positive that on completion it will benefit the lives of amputees.

Simon plans to enrol for his doctorate at CPUT and will continue to focus on the development of the high-tech hand.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT researchers based in the Adaptronic Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (AMTL) have taken aeronautics research to a new level with the development of intelligent Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

On 7 April 2009 the Guardian (PCM-AM/02A model) and the Guardian (PCM-AM/01A model), which were developed by CPUT researchers, took to the skies during a flight demonstration at the Helderberg Radio Flyer’s Club, near Macasser.

The UAVs demonstrated their various flight abilities, which include surveillance and reconnaissance activities and the use of ground control software to fly waypoints via GPS coordinates.

The flight demonstration, which was requested by the South African Department of Science and Technology, comes two years after CPUT researcher Prof Oscar Philander, established the Adaptronics AMTL UAV Research Group.

Prof Philander, who is also the head of the Centre for Research in Applied Technology (CERATech), said researchers decided to develop a prototype UAV in order to test their Adaptronic Technology.

This technology integrates sensor and actuator functions into materials and components so that they may react to environmental stimuli, thus rendering them intelligent.

In 2007, the researchers based in the Adaptronic AMTL started work on a prototype UAV.

“We came up with five conceptual designs. We chose one and completed a preliminary design followed by a detailed design,” he said. On 18 November 2007 they conducted the first test flight.

Prof Oscar Philander said the entire process, from conceptualisation to the first flight, took eight months.

“This in itself is a major achievement since the norm in South Africa is considerably longer,” he said.

Locally and internationally there are huge applications for UAVs. These include surveillance, marine mammal monitoring, forest fire surveillance, search and rescue, measurement of air quality and agriculture mapping.

The development of the UAV has had a number of positive spin-offs for research and innovation at CPUT.

It has created an aeronautics knowledge base at CPUT and has taken research and innovation at the institution a step further.

Through the development of the UAV, researchers at the institution are now focusing on several areas in Adaptronic Technology.

“The Adaptronic AMTL UAV Research Group is currently involved in a variety of research projects related to the manufacturing of Prototype UAVs, the development of Aero-morphing Wings and the development of intelligent skins,” said Prof Philander.

He said their activities could also lead to a production model that could be commercialised.

DVC for Research, Technology Innovation and Partnership, Dr Chris Nhlapo said the institution is supporting researchers who are involved in research that can be commercialised.

He said by focusing on innovation, the institution is setting itself apart from all other Universities of Technology.

DVC Academic, Prof Anthony Staak said researchers at the Adaptronic AMTL are at the “forefront of innovation at CPUT.”

By Candes Keating

Photo: Prof Oscar Philander of the Adaptronics AMTL UAV Research Group proudly presents the Guardian (PCM-AM/01A) model and the Guardian (PCM-AM/02A model).

Written by CPUT News
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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.

A group of Mechanical Engineering students are ready to jet off to the United Kingdom to compete in the 2012 Formula Student competition.

The event is the most prestigious educational motorsport competition, which sees students battle it out on the racing track, in single-seat racing cars they designed and built.

This is the first time CPUT will compete in the competition and is the only South African university to secure a place in this year’s competition.

ENGINEERING: Mechanical Engineering student Kerwyn Lategaan shows off the CPUT formula racing car

Run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the competition aims to inspire and develop innovative young engineers by providing students with a real-life exercise in design, manufacture and the business elements of automotive engineering.

Prof Oscar Philander, head of the Adaptronic Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory, under which the project falls, says this is a huge achievement for the students as well as for the institution.

“We are incredibly proud of our students and their achievement to make it this far in the competition,” he says.

Student group leader, Kerwyn Lategaan says the team is well prepared for the event that will take place during July in Silverstone.

Lategaan says the group of 15 students will compete in several track and off-track events, where processes such as costing and design will also be judged.

Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Dr Chris Nhlapo says CPUT fully supports this project.

“By focusing on innovation, the institution is setting itself apart from other universities of technology and by participating in Formula Student we afford our students the opportunity to be part of the testing ground for the next generation of world-class engineers,” he says.

By Candes Keating

Photographs by Mpho Ndou

Written by CPUT News
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It’s official – a group of Mechanical Engineering students are set to jet off to the United Kingdom, where they will compete in the 2012 Formula Student competition.

The event is the most prestigious educational motorsport competition, which sees students battle it out on the racing track, in single-seat racing cars they designed and built.

This is the first time CPUT will compete in the competition, and to top it all off, CPUT is the only South African university to secure a place in this year’s competition.

The news of the selection brought shouts of joy from the team of 12 Mechanical Engineering students, who for the past year have been working around the clock on the car.

Morne Riddles, who is supervising the project, said this is a huge feat for CPUT.

Run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the competition aims to inspire and develop innovative young engineers by providing students with a real-life exercise in design, manufacture and the business elements of automotive engineering.

Student group leader, Kerwyn Lategan, said the organizers gave universities a 130-page rule guide and brief, which they had to follow from the design to the manufacturing process.

He said they stepped up to the challenge and are now in the final stages of putting the vehicle together.

The group will compete in several track and off-track events, where processes such as costing and design will also being judged.

Student Michelle Minnaar said the group is looking forward to the event, which takes place in July.

“We are all both excited and a bit nervous,” she said.

Prof Oscar Philander, head of theAdaptronic Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory, under which the project falls, said he is proud of the students.

However, he said the project would not have been such a success if it had not been for the help of CPUT support departments and individuals such as Christo Arnoldus, Sharon de Vos and Sarah Sacco.

“A large number of people made this project a success,” said Philander.

HARD WORK: Rushdia Benjamin cuts out foam, which is used to shape the shell of the racing car.

FINAL CHECK: Mechanical Engineering students do a final check on a foam replica of the car’s body. The foam structure is used to construct the shell of the car.

BEGINNINGS: A prototype of the racing car was unveiled by the students in late 2010. Work on the car began soon after the unveiling.  

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Following a diagnosis of chronic stress towards the end of August 2016, Uchenna Okwuosa was advised to find a job with his bachelor’s degree instead of pursuing his academic dreams.

The Nigerian-born Okwuosa, who graduated with his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering on June 29, says after six years outside the academic environment, he came to CPUT in January 2016 with high hopes of finishing his Masters’ degree within two years. He was hoping to enrol for his doctorate immediately after. Everything started on a high note with “What I will call the first personal draft of my research proposal ready within three months”. With that, he was so optimistic that he would meet his target of completing in record time.

However, his high hopes began to take a U-turn in July 2016 when his health began to deteriorate amidst serious financial challenges. “This threw me into chronic stress coupled with the academic stress and the stress of trying to adapt to the new environment,” he recalls. All of these took a toll on his health and on 4 August 2016 he was “forced” to the hospital by Sharon Du Plessis, a Postgraduate Residence Coordinator, and his friends.

Okwuosa was discharged a month later with medication to keep him going. After his occupational therapist advised him that he couldn’t cope with academics, he left the consultation room.  He took out the piece of paper on which the occupational therapist had written the nature of his illness and lifted it up against the rising sun and sought divine intervention: “God, this is what the medical world calls it, but I do not believe in what they call it but what you, my God calls it? I will go by what you call it, and I will continue my studies without interruption.” Okwuosa continues.

“I insisted that I must complete the purpose which brought me to South Africa. Due to that, I was kept longer in the hospital for further monitoring and numerous nurses, came to convince me to quit studies while some put me to (the) test to ascertain if they can put me on special medication.” His studies suffered for that period because he could not study after 8 pm and after taking the medication because it made him weak, dizzy, and sleepy.

“Thanks to the South African health system, my residence mums, supervisor, Prof Oscar Philander and friends who assisted and supported me through the period, I became stable to continue with my Master’s studies in full force again. Okwuosa continued with his medication and studies and “here I am graduating on the graduation list for the second edition of CPUT SMART graduation and have registered for my doctorate”.

Okwuosa is currently the administrator and mentor for the ongoing CPUT-UCT merSETA project which is focused on developing medical products (devices) to support the health system in the war against Covid-19 and other life-threatening diseases. He was part of the team that formed and pioneered the currently existing Ubuntu Postgraduate forum, and he is currently the chairperson of the forum.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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