UNICEF Malawi and Virginia Tech conduct Drone making workshop in Lilongwe 2018
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, invited a Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering Professor, Kevin Kochersberger, and his team to equip local Engineers with skills to design, maintain and operate drones during a workshop that took place in Lilongwe.
The workshop attracted three members from the Faculty of Engineering at the Polytechnic who participated in the Drone making.
Alinafe Kaliwo who is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering participated in the drone-making workshop.
“The project really helped us to know how inexpensive drones can be made and the technology behind using cheap materials like card-boards, hot glue and 3-d printed parts.” Said Kaliwo.
Kaliwo further said that the Design studio at Poly has ever sponsored or mentored students on designing and building of drones and the experience learnt at this workshop will facilitate design decision making on what students should improve on such drones.
On the other hand, Kaliwo appreciated UNICEF for the drone-making workshop they carried in Lilongwe. He wished if UNICEF could organize another workshop for students interested in drones.
Kevin Kochersberger, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, is an advisor to senior design project teams working with hospitals and communities in Malawi. Kochersberger was the one training local Engineers how to design, maintain and operate an Eco Soar drone, a drone designed and built by his Unmanned Systems Laboratory.
The workshop attracted 12 participants from the Polytechnic, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Alinafe Kaliwo who is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering participated in the drone-making workshop.
“The project really helped us to know how inexpensive drones can be made and the technology behind using cheap materials like card-boards, hot glue and 3-d printed parts.” Said Kaliwo.
Kaliwo further said that the Design studio at Poly has ever sponsored or mentored students on designing and building of drones and the experience learnt at this workshop will facilitate design decision making on what students should improve on such drones.
On the other hand, Kaliwo appreciated UNICEF for the drone-making workshop they carried in Lilongwe. He wished if UNICEF could organize another workshop for students interested in drones.
Kevin Kochersberger, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, is an advisor to senior design project teams working with hospitals and communities in Malawi. Kochersberger was the one training local Engineers how to design, maintain and operate an Eco Soar drone, a drone designed and built by his Unmanned Systems Laboratory.
The workshop attracted 12 participants from the Polytechnic, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.