UTech, Jamaica Receives Donation of State of the Art IOT Robot and Smart Devices from Innovate10x

L-R: Professor Sean Thorpe, Head, School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT), Professor Nilza Aples, Dean, Faculty of Computing and Engineering and Mr Sheldon Powe, Founder and CEO of Innovate10X pose with the Cruzr Robot gifted to the University by Powe’s company at a handing over presentation on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at SCIT, UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus.

The School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT) in the Faculty of Engineering and Computing at the University of Technology, Jamaica, has moved a step closer to establishing a state of the art Internet of Things (IOT) lab to enhance teaching and learning, thanks to the donation of a SMART robot and a suite of cutting edge technology devices donated by digital transformation products and services company, Innovate10x.

The donation was formerly presented by Sheldon Powe, Founder and CEO, Innovate 10x to Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Professor Nilza Aples along with Head, SCIT, Professor Sean Thorpe, joined by Programme Director and lectures in the School at the University’s Papine Campus on Thursday, September 9, 2021. 

Noting that there is a high demand for competent graduates in ICT, Powe expressed that he was happy to be making the donation of the Cruzr robot and accompanying enabling devices at the start of the new academic year to expose students to learning through programming, testing and innovating software solutions particularly in such high demand areas as energy conservation and security.  “The whole idea is for students to create solutions that can be commercialized and create jobs for themselves and others,” he noted.

The Cruzr robot is a new business robot offering multiple customer service-oriented features and a wide range of functionalities useful in various industries, such as retail, banking, tourism, hospitality, transportation and healthcare.  These include such capabilities as finger print and facial recognition biometrics and RFID systems.

Prof. Thorpe in expressing gratitude to Innovate10X for the generous donation of the cutting edge technology estimated to be valued at over $5million, said that the robot and devices will be put to immediate use for advancing teaching and learning of the capabilities of IOT technologies and systems.  He noted that “as we try to put them to use case testing in various locations at the University, this proof of technology/concept will demonstrate that they work and are beneficial for reinforcement learning, research and enhanced customer service delivery.” 

Professor Thorpe said that the technology gift from Innovate10x will support the start of a full IOT lab within the School and will offer boundless opportunities for undergraduate, graduate student and faculty research projects, adding that through such “proof of concept usage” in action at UTech, Jamaica, he anticipates that manufactures of new technologies as part of their corporate social responsibility will offer more donations and research grants for the benefit of staff and students.

 

Third year School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT) student, Kemar Knight (3rd left) and technician, Innovate 10X displays a sample of one of the digital door lock systems which was among the smart devices donated by Innovate10X along with the cruzr robot to the University of Technology, Jamaica at a handing over presentation on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at the Papine Campus. Looking on l-r are Professor Sean Thorpe, Head, School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT), Professor Nilza Aples, Dean, Faculty of Computing and Engineering and Mr Sheldon Powe, Founder and CEO of Innovate10X.

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Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 876 970-5299 
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm