Students invent anti-Covid device
DUT Ninjas shine at robotics fair
Six KwaZulu-Natal students have invented a wearable device to help curb the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace.
The students, who are studying towards an information and communications technology (ICT) qualification at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), are called DUT Ninjas after building a prototype with ultrasonic sensors that measure the distance between two objects. If a person is less than one metre away from another, the device beeps.
It will also have a unique number, assigned to the employee wearing it and will record every other device it connects to. This will ensure efficient contact tracing.
The DUT Ninjas are Andile Chonco, Mpendulo Xulu, Nkosinathi Mkhonto, Mbali Nongalo, Sanele Doyisa and Fanie Ndlovu.
This device was built in less than 12 hours at a recent Makerthon held at the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone Techno Hub.
The Makerthon, an innovation challenge, provided innovators, marketers and developers with an opportunity to identify open source, low-tech and inexpensive hardware to produce up-to-date technologies. It was organised by the department of communications and digital technologies, AlgoAtWork Robotics and the National ICT Youth Council.
The DUT Ninjas demonstrated their product to government representatives and judges.
Group leader Ndlovu said they wanted to solve Covid-19 problems in the workplace.
“The device will also be equipped with a pulse and temperature sensor, which will check an employee’s heart rate and temperature in real time. It will also be used beyond Covid-19, to monitor other diseases.” –