The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) is adding another golden colour to its cap come December 17 with the official launch of a Mail Dispatch Mobile Robot recently invented by a lecturer of the institution’s Department of Mechatronics Engineering.
According to a statement co-signed by the university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Foluso Ogunmodede and Special Adviser on Media Matters to the VC, Wole Balogun, the robot is a product of the PhD programme of Dr Oluwaseun Martins under the supervision of Associate Professor Adefemi Adekunle and the late Prof. Temitope Adejuyigbe.
Describing the functionality and mode of operation of the robot, Martins said, “This Mail Dispatch Mobile Robot provides smart mail delivery within a particular environment. Its users are assigned to a particular environment where the robot is designed to operate and such environment corresponds to the notes on the robot’s database. This aides it in delivery to its location and destination.”
“To initiate the delivery process, the user makes a request by logging into the web application. Upon logging in, the user views the databoard which can be used to examine the state of the robot and other vital information.
“The user then heads to the request button and makes his request by clicking on the new request button and proceeds to fill in the subject of the request. He then confirms it. Once confirmed, the request will appear on the table of the request page and if it is not at the required mode or it is in a request mode, it will first finish up its request and then heads to the note of the new request in order to be able to pick up. Once it is at the request mode, the user can click into the dispatch button to be able to give instructions to the to it and provide the necessary item to be delivered.
“On the dispatch page, the user first unlock the door to put in the mail, then fills in the destination and reference number and clicks on the confirm button. Once this is done, then it begins to move from its current location to the new destination given to it.
“The robot uses a computer vision, using a camera to recognize colours of its localization method. Then it is able to recognize the colours of its path and uses that to know where to move to.”
The statement added that the landmark achievement would showcase FUOYE as an enviable Ivory Tower boasting of many resourceful academics in all fields of human endeavours.
The exhibition would be supervised by Dr Adefemi Adekunle, an Associate Professor of Mechatronics Engineering and Director of FUOYE’s Directorate of
Pre-Degree Programmes.
The historic event is part of the planned 5th and 6th Combined Convocation ceremony for the graduands of the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 academic sessions scheduled for December 13 to 19, 2021.