[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” pix_particles_check=”” css=”.vc_custom_1648218350020{padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”] Four students of the Computer Science, Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering Departments of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) have been crowned as the best in this year’s 6th Innovation and Career Fair Competition.
The students came first ahead of other competitors in a fierce competition held on the University of Mines and Technology campus last Friday.
The event forms part of the year-long activities to commemorate the 70th Institutional Anniversary celebration, which allows students to showcase their talents through a presentation of their own-made innovations.
The Competition was held in two phases; the preliminary stage, which hosted thirteen competing teams, whereas the final stage involved 5 shortlisted teams. The five finalists, Team Orasave, Team UMaT Pro App, Team Multi-Purpose Home Automation System, Team Lux Drive, and Team Sankofa Smart Bin, competed for their innovations through a presentation and a demonstration of how their innovations work.
The winning team, Team Orasave, dazzled participants and the audience with an innovative project on a multi-purpose emergency detection technology that detects and alarms gas leakages, fire, and smoke and alerts users via text messages.
Some of the functions of their innovative projects displayed on the day had a feature that aids the visually impaired in using it successfully. The system has an embedded camera that detects false alarms before the intervention of the Fire Service. It also generates the location of the user’s leakages, fire, or smoke. The team took home a cash prize of GHc 5,000.00.
The first runner-up, Team UMaT Pro, developed the UMaT Pro App to improve virtual teaching and learning at the University. The app allows for advertisements of products and services from various industries. UMaT Pro was invented to expand information and communication technology in the University and enhance UMaT students’ visibility. The team was awarded a sum of GHC 4,000.00.
The second runner-up, Team Multi-Purpose Home Automation System, was awarded a sum of GHC3,500.00. They demonstrated a wireless system that controls all electrical gadgets without human interference. The technology consists of 8 independent functions integrated into a single unit, including lighting, water, security, and other home appliances. The system also has a feature that can detect smoke, quench the fire, and invade wired walls. This system is intended to make the use of household appliances simple and to enhance home security.
The third runner-up, Team Lux Drive, developed a system that detects and alarms drivers of drowsiness, distraction, and alcohol on drivers’ breath. The system has two functions: the drowsiness detection system and the alcohol detection system. When the system detects alcohol on a driver’s breath, it locks the engine to prevent the vehicle from moving. This innovation also has a feature for culpable video drivers, generates fines with the date and time of the offense, and sends them to a remote database at monitoring stations. This innovation is intended to minimize drunk driving and other bad driving practices.
The fourth runner-up, Team Sankofa Smart Bin, presented a 2-in-1 smart bin comprising two compartments segregating waste products with an inbuilt camera’s support. It has a GSM mode that automatically sends messages to alert users when compartments are full. This innovation will help to monitor waste production and consumption in companies, laboratories, and homes.
The third and fourth runners-up were awarded GHC 2,500.00 and GHC 1,500.00, respectively.
Speaking at the event, The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Richard K. Amankwah, in his opening address, stated that UMaT offers some of the best engineering programs and consultancy services in Africa and, therefore, produces unique engineering products for the Mining and Allied Industries. Prof Amankwah also mentioned that UMaT’s innovations had contributed immensely to the industry, including waste plastics to fuel technology, novel production of activated carbon, brake pads manufactured from palm kennel, and the ‘Sikabukyia’.
Prof Amankwah further noted that the University would roll out four (4) Executive Certificate Programmes in Mining Engineering, Gold Extraction Technology, Resource Value Chain Management, and Mining and Minerals Policy for the 2022/2023 academic year. “This,” he said,” is another way of increasing knowledge in mining and engineering technology”.
Source: digitaltimes.africa