Humanoid robot serving as research platform launched at Stellenbosch University
SU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering lecturer Dr William Duckitt
The Stellenbosch University (SU) Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering has launched a humanoid robotics research platform to showcase advanced robotics technology.
The humanoid robot currently stands at full height, featuring a functional torso and a fully operable right arm and hand, while its left arm is nearing completion.
To enhance its human-like capabilities, the robot features a webcam for vision tracking, paired with advanced software that enables the robot to analyse and mimic human movements in real-time.
“Our system can perform inverse kinematics, enabling it to accurately follow the motions of a human operator,” says SU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering lecturer Dr William Duckitt.
“The platform can be theoretically teleoperated from anywhere in the world, highlighting its potential for remote operation.”
The next stage of research will concentrate on developing actuators for the robot’s legs, with the goal of achieving bipedal walking. This advancement represents a critical step toward a fully mobile humanoid robot capable of realistic human movement and interaction.
Owing to the future potential of humanoid robotics, the department is actively involving students in innovative projects.
Several undergraduate final-year projects are underway, focused on the design and development of custom actuators, advanced robotic hands, and humanoid arms with pincer grips, providing students with hands-on experience.
“We aim to cultivate a new generation of researchers who will transition to master’s programmes and deepen their contributions to this field,” Duckitt notes.
Additionally, a master’s student is currently working on virtual robotics simulations using the computer chip maker Nvidia IsaacSim platform.
This research is focused on achieving sim-to-real transfer, which is a technique that will initially apply simulation results to the robot arm prototype and, ultimately, help refine the functionality of the entire humanoid platform.
The platform, built using the EtherCAT communication protocol, supports both synchronous and asynchronous processes.
“This design allows us to tackle complex tasks with ease, leveraging technology I have used in particle accelerator control systems,” says Duckitt.
“Our journey in humanoid robotics combines our engineering expertise with an academic ambition to push the boundaries of what’s possible,” he adds.
Comments
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation