12 young Tanzanians from diverse educational backgrounds have developed a robot photographer to address the challenges faced by videographers, who often have to stand for long hours under the sun while filming events.
The robot, equipped with built-in lights, operates both during the day and at night.
Its creation involved experts in electronics, metalworking, aluminum, and woodworking.
It has also been endorsed by Prof. Baraka Maiseli, Head of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at the University of Dar es Salaam’s College of Information and Communication Technologies.
One of the innovators, Brighton Katabazi, the director of KBTIT video recording studio in Dodoma, revealed that the idea emerged last year.
His studio’s employees, who frequently had to stand for extended periods during weddings and other social events, inspired the project.
“Sometimes our staff must stand in the sun, while those being filmed remain in the shade.
If the speaker moves while the camera is unattended, the operator must manually adjust it,” Katabazi explained.
“These challenges motivated us to design a robot capable of holding a camera and capturing high-quality images without the need for a human to move it.”
Currently, the robot can be moved virtually anywhere using a remote control. The developers aim to enhance its capabilities through artificial intelligence, allowing it to function independently.
So far, 45% of the project has been completed with a Sh3.5 million investment. The team estimates the total cost will reach Sh15 million upon completion.
However, Katabazi highlighted some major obstacles, such as the lack of a dedicated workspace and limited time to focus on the project due to the need to take on other jobs to support themselves.
“It’s not ideal to work from home. We have a small studio, so we have to prevent clients from using other services while we’re working on the robot,” he said.
Dodoma District Commissioner Mr. Jabir Shekimweri officiated the robot’s launch and praised the team’s creativity.
He encouraged them to improve the robot’s design to make it more marketable.
“Appearance matters, but so does functionality. Even if the product works well, it might deter potential buyers if it doesn’t look good,” Shekimweri advised.
He also suggested that the developers apply for a ten percent council loan designated for women, youth, and people with disabilities to fund further upgrades.
Additionally, he proposed that the robot could be adapted for use in other sectors, such as industry and agriculture.
Prof. Maiseli acknowledged the challenges the team faces, including the need for faster internet and better infrastructure to ensure the robots operate efficiently.
He also stressed the importance of high-performance computing devices, such as GPUs, which are still scarce in developing countries. Despite these difficulties, Prof. Maiseli expressed confidence in the young innovators, praising their passion and dedication to robotics.
He called on the government and other stakeholders to invest in infrastructure to foster innovation.
“It’s incredible how motivated young people are in this field. With the right guidance and support, they can achieve remarkable things,” he said