Free demo – Dancing robots at work and play

The free public demo will be led by Mark Mueller - a former graduate of the University of Pretoria and now a doctoral candidate with the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ). Their focus is on research, rather than commercialization, and Mueller's key interest is to show learners how exciting some of the career options are that are open to engineers.

During their demonstration, up to six quadrocopters will fly together to perform astonishing maneuvers and feats. Mueller says: "Quadrocopters are mechanically simple machines, so we build our own from 'off the shelf' components. Their acrobatic feats are, however, due to the sophisticated operating environment that we have developed. We are doctoral candidates from various backgrounds, including mechanical and electrical engineering. Much of our time is taken up by creating the algorithms that instruct the quadrocopters where to be, and what to do. Further to the quadrocopters, our system includes laptop computers, two-way radios and a set of overhead cameras to create something like an indoor GPS."

Once Mueller and his team start a particular program, their system runs autonomously and the quadrocopters perform their acrobatic routines without human intervention. "This, together with the fact that the robots can work in pairs and teams, is what makes our work so exceptional," Mueller adds. The radio commands that instruct the high-speed machines are transmitted at 50 times per second, while the quadrocopters can accelerate upwards at 15 meters per second squared, and flip 2000 degrees per second, yet also balance objects and hover with millimeter precision. During their demonstration, up to six machines will fly at any one time - each about 50cm from tip-to-tip, and weighing 500g.

See the amazing flying robots at the CTICC on Friday, 29 August 2014 at 16h15. Register for your free ticket at www.eventbrite.com and search 'quadrocopter'.

Date: 29 August 2014
Time: 16:15 - 17:00
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town
Cost: Free of Charge