Electricity + Control August 2015

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LIGHT + CURRENT
Africa-wide affordable
robotics challenge
If teaching a young child how to do some-
thing is challenging, teaching a robot to
‘think’ for itself to navigate through a maze
can be even more so.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ)
would like to draw ‘bright sparks’ into
its engineering education and training
programme, says Willie Viljoen, manager
at the Technolab, UJ. “We aim to create
a pipeline of future engineering students
for our university,” he says. “Technolab
makes robotics accessible and affordable
to learners in Johannesburg through vari-
ous programmes, aimed at boosting STEM:
Science,Technology, Engineering andMath-
ematics education.”
In July, TechnoLab entered into a part-
nership with the South African Institute of
Electrical Engineers (SAIEE), which further
extends its services to disadvantaged learn-
ers and also makes possible a continent-
wide robotics challenge.
“The partnership with SAIEE makes it
possible to for us to take our weekly robotics
classes to schools in Soweto, Alexandra and
the Johannesburg inner city.
We are in talks with various schools about
extending our programme,” says Michael
Ettershank, manager of the Robot Science
project at UJTechnoLab.
The SAIEE partnership makes possible
the first UJ-hosted AfrikaBot robotics com-
petition, says Ettershank.
Learners from schools across Africa, and
even developed countries like the USA and
Europe, are all invited to enter theAfrikaBot
competition.The initiative will be launched
on 3 October 2015, with the first continent-
wide competition in October 2016. AfrikaBot
is billed as ‘the world’s most affordable
robotics competition’.
“Learners from all schools, colleges and
universities have a whole year to build and
customise their robots for AfrikaBot 2016,”
continues Ettershank. “They can learn by
watching videos on their cellphones on
how to build their robots on our website at
and our YouTube
channel.
This way they can start preparing right
away for a career in electrical or electronic
engineering. With the SAIEE partnership
we will be sponsoring and training disad-
vantaged learners to enter AfrikaBot 2016.”
Enquiries:Therese vanWyk.
Tel. 011 559-6332 or
email
Wise investments ensure long-term
efficiency and cost savings
According to Aerzen Airgas marketing coordinator Andreas Stubel, the company offers
highly-efficient equipment that can assist operations in considerably reducing energy
bills. He admits that the initial purchasing cost is a dominant factor in the decision mak-
ing process.
“This makes the introduction of more expensive but efficient equipment challenging.
Understandably, buying equipment at the lowest price makes financial sense, but the
misconception lies in the fact that cost saving decisions are based primarily on short-
term financial goals,” he says.
Stubel points out that purchasing standard or cheaper equipment does not save
money, and may in fact cost more in energy consumption and maintenance in the
long-run. “Bearing this in mind, Aerzen Airgas offers the local market the Aerzen Delta
Hybrid rotary lobe compressor, an oil-free air conveying alternative to standard roots
blowers,” he continues.
The Delta Hybrid is designed to be an optimised combination between a blower and
screw compressor, and makes use of a patented twisted rotor profile. It is designed for
a variety of applications where air and neutral gases must be conveyed oil-free. These
include; wastewater treatment plants, the chemical industry, power plant technology and
for the pneumatic transport of powder and granulate goods.
The Delta Hybrid is available in four models: L, S, H and E. The L model has been
designed for pressure ranges up to 800 mBar. The S model for 1 000 mBar and the H
model for pressures up to 1 500 mBar at sea level. The E model is a vacuum machine
with a maximum negative pressure of -700 mBar. The Delta Hybrid is effectively an
in-between solution, as it crosses the pressure range between roots blowers and low
pressure screw compressors.
Enquiries: Aerzen Airgas Andreas Stubel.Tel. 011 474 2193 or email
New energy app puts ‘power’ into the hands of
utilities and their customers
Screaming Power, a company focused on bringing mobility and data connectivity to the
energy industry, is introducing branded apps to small / large utilities and energy provid-
ers alike.This template solution set provides a premiummobile experience for customer
communications, while driving cost savings and efficiencies for utilities.
Why keep struggling with the old technologies? Websites are not viable for direct
communications with customers and mail, email and phone connectivity is expensive to
manage. Now imagine an energy ecosystem we can build together. Screaming Power's
apps provide automated delivery and payment of electronic bills plus much more to
reduce operational overhead, merge multiple systems and eliminate special processes
by providing real-time communications directly to customers with quantifiable savings.
The platform enables 2-way communications to provide a gateway for innovation.
Information, advice, key messages, education, operations / outage management and
conservation management can be provided in one simple tool. Save time and money by
communicating directly with all customer segments and "enable" them to securely share
information with you and others to promote a "smart grid" and a "smart community".
"With our template mobile solution, we can mobilise an energy provider in weeks with
minimal footprint on the existing IT infrastructure," says Gary Michor, chief executive
officer of Screaming Power. "We have created an efficient, cost-effective solution for both
large and small utilities. Out of the box the solution already handles electricity, water and
natural gas information." Using standardised layouts and leading edgemobile technology,
it provides a solution to help modernise the energy industry without burdening energy
providers with escalating costs to communicate with customers.
Download our free end-user app to see a small sample of the capabilities your branded
app could have. Search for 'Screaming Energy' on BlackBerry, iOS and Android. Or
request a demo.
Enquiries: Gary Michor or visit
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