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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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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