Volume 1, Issue 3
June 2017
University of Technology, Jamaica
U
Tech, Ja. engineering students who are
part of the Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Student Branch,
Jamaica Chapter, recently showcased their
robotic innovations created for competition at the
IEEE Region 3 SoutheastCon 2017 held March
30 – April 2, 2017 in Charlotte/Concord, North
Carolina, USA.
SoutheastCon is the annual IEEE Region 3
Technical, Professional, and Student Conference.
It brings together Computer Scientists, Electrical,
and Computer Engineering professionals, faculty
and students to share the latest information
through technical sessions, tutorials, and
exhibits. It is the most influential conference
in Region 3 for promoting awareness of the
technical contributions made by the profession to
the advancement of engineering science and to
the community.
Each year the Faculty of Engineering and
Computing participates in SoutheastCon with
students competing in various aspects including
robotics, software, engineering ethics, technical
paper and website design segments. Eleven
students participated in the 2017 competition.
Although the Hardware and Software team
was unsuccessful in the Hardware (Robotics)
segment of the competition, they were thrilled to
have made a robot that traverses a course while
undergoing four different stages. Third year
School of Computing and Information Technology
(SCIT) student and member of the IEEE Student
Branch, Mr Agyei Masters explained that the
robot “can defeat faults in circuits as well as in
an electromagnetic pulse (EMP).”
The student group also created a drone with
built-in fail-safe sails which controls the drone in
the event that the person flying it loses control.
The sails would ensure that the drone returns on
its own while landing safely.
The UTech,Jamaica students
also participated in the
Software (“Hackathon”)
challenge where they
displayed their skills
in computer security
penetration testing, a
software
competition
and the Engineering
Ethics competition where
students came together
to debate ethical issues
facing the ICT industry.
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, (left) looks attentively at the drone as SCIT Diploma student
Richard Clarke (3
rd
left) explains the attributes of the innovation. The drone was created by student members of
the IEEE Student Branch, UTech, Jamaica for use in surveillance activities. Looking on are Dr. the Hon. Andrew
Wheatley (2
nd
left), Minister of Science, Energy and Technology and Raffique Muir (right), diploma student, SCIT
/President, IEEE Student Branch, UTech, Jamaica. Below, Hon. Audley Shaw, MP (centre) Minister of Finance
and the Public Service interacts with the drone.
UTech, Jamaica Students Showcase Robotics Innovations
Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica
Cont’d on page 3