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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