- Title: TOGO: Robots from scrap - student invents and inspires
- Date: 10th June 2011
- Summary: VARIOUS OF KODO DOING RESEARCH ON COMPUTER
- Embargoed: 25th June 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Togo, Togo
- Country: Togo
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA3RKNVM9R0NOLHUG0SZE13VV3H
- Story Text: Meet Robert. He's the creation of 19 year old Sam Kodo, a student of literature at the University of Lome.
Kodo is so passionate about robotics he has been building them for as long as he can remember. Using recycled materials and anything he can get his hands on, this is how he passes most of his spare time with his friends in his workshop at his home in the Togolese capital.
"My wish is to make a completely independent robot, capable of interacting with his environment, capable for example to serve coffee, run up and down the stairs, do crazy things. Today we have Honda's robot, Asimo. It's an autonomous robot, I get my inspiration from him," Kodo said.
And he turns to the internet for help.
"First of all, I needed to do a lot of research in order to make this robot. The robot's frame is made of wood. So I needed to find plywood which I could cut around and I also used battery casings from toys. So that's how I managed to make this. In toys you can also find certain little elements like transistors or micro-controllers, so for this particular robot I took a micro-controller from a car which wasn't in use anymore, I re-programmed it, and that's how it works," Kodo said.
And he uses everything. Old radio or TV sets, car speakers, anything old thing he can recycle, held together by cardboard, plastic and plywood to create a robot that moves independently without any aid.
And he's a regular in this shop in Lome where he spends hours sometimes trying to find the right part.
"Nowadays everything is ran by electronics. So when I see someone interested in electronics I try to encourage them. I encourage him to continue, and I'm sure he'll get far," shopkeeper Komlan Guy Djassayo said.
Before Robert, Kodo built robots Sam 1 to 15. He doesn't have them anymore, as he destroys them and recycles some of their pieces.
Although he's still a student himself, Kodo has his own followers already. He teaches them the art of robotics and hopes this would encourage more and more young people to get an interest in technology and science.
"I like sharing with others. Holding everything for oneself is no good, you need to share, that's how knowledge spreads like this to wherever in Africa, so that one day Africa can come out of this under-developed stage," Kodo said.
Self-taught, he's an inspiration to his friends.
"What Sam is working on at the moment is really great.. That's why we'd also like to learn how to do this from him."
He applied for various scholarships and funds to study in Europe, the U.S. or Asia, but so far he's not been able to raise the funds to go.
Robert moves on a black line aided by sensors Kodo has built himself.
But he hopes his ultimate robot will be able to calculate distances, run independently and even help him out with his daily chores. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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