A Tanzania Student Has Build Solar-Powered Robot That Can Walk, Talk

A Tanzanian student from Ilboru High School has built a robot that is powered by solar energy. He self-funded the device and it cost him 200,000 Shillings (local currency), which is around $89.

Gracious Ephraim is a form six student in the Arusha city. He built the solar-powered robot using local materials like tin containers, aluminium box, wires, metal pieces and memory chip as well that serves as brain of the device.

Talking to a local newspaper, Daily News, Ephraim said the memory chip contains some recorded voice that the robot uses in replying to questions and singing songs.

Ephraim added that he wants to innovate such things that can solve problems as for several years the science students of the country didn’t invent anything and were always more focused in getting jobs for themselves after completing studies.

The young student continued that being a scientist is about devising and inventing new things.

The country is currently aiming at industrialization and this mean production houses will be working all day and all height, but humans have limitations and cannot work 24 hours and so robots are to be built to work at night, said Ephraim.

Korean organization E3-Empower Africa has taken initiative and started a robotics program in the country this year to help the students benefit from it in their learning process.