TelONE Robotics training workshop

zchpc — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 11:59:40 +0000

As a continuation of the program to introduce Robotics to polytechnic colleges. The Zimbabwe Centre for Higher Performance Computing (ZCHPC) experts in robotics, went on a two-day robotics training workshop at the TelOne Learning Centre.
On the first day, the facilitators started off with a brief introduction of HPC. It gave the students an appreciation of what ZCHPC is all about as well as how it’s linked with robotics.

The importance of robotics was outlined clearly and the reasons to have robotics in developing countries were also outlined. The equipment and electronic components were placed on a working desk and students were guided on how to design a unique robot.
On the second day the students were assigned to do the design and assemble the robotics components with the help of distributed fascinators’ help on student formulated groups. Each group was focusing on a module of the whole robot and the modules were meant to be combined for form one complete and functional robot that can carry items from one point to the other. Facilitators helped students on challenges and questions pertaining the design of individual parts and the assembling of sub-modules to form one robot. For instance, facilitators helped to troubleshoot the problem with the controlling device.

Students were continuously reminded about teamwork and how it will contribute to their success as a group. During the workshop the students showed growing interest as they learnt more about Robotics and their abilities. Towards the end of the workshop the General Manager and other lecturers came and witnessed what their students were learning. The General Manager after hearing from the students just how much they learnt, was more than willing to sponsor the students with Robotics kits so that they can continue to improve their skills.

In conclusion, robotics training at TelOne went well and the students managed to produce a functional robot that could carry light items from point A to point B. Students and the General Manager were impressed with the knowledge shared with them and they felt that there is need for additional days where advanced robotics trainings should be done.

Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing – ZCHPC National Students Cluster building Competitions 2022

zchpc — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 11:21:20 +0000

The curtain came down on the inaugural National Student Cluster Building Competition on the 26^th of January 2021. This pilot program saw eight national universities compete namely Africa University, Bindura University of Science Education, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Harare Institute of Technology, Great Zimbabwe University, National University of Science and Technology, Midlands State University and University of Zimbabwe. The training on cluster building started in June 2019 and was supposed to span a single academic year but due to the Covid-19 pandemic stretched longer than expected. The actual competition took place on the 25^th of January 2021 and the participants were assessed on; Operating System Initial Configurations and set up, Network Setup, HPC Cluster Services and Authentication Setup, Resource Manager Configurations, Monitoring System Configurations and Parallel programming. Speaking at the award ceremony, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Prof. Dr. Amon Murwira, who was also the Guest of Honor, said Zimbabwe is determined to become an upper middle income economy and more by 2030 as prescribed by His Excellency President Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa. He also said this competition was another deliberate step in increasing national capability and work towards that goal. The winner of the pilot competition was team University of Zimbabwe, followed closely by team Midlands State University in second and team National University of Science and Technology in third place. Prof. Dr. Murwira also announced that all the participating students had won a scholarship up to the end of their tertiary education.

Visualize the events in a video available at https://youtu.be/EPhJ6sT2xy0

Workshops Archives • Zimbabwe Centre for High Perfomance Computing

TelONE Robotics training workshop

Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing – ZCHPC National Students Cluster building Competitions 2022