LATEST NEWS

CPUT researchers based in the Adaptronic Advanced Manufacturing Technology Adaptronic (AMTL) are breaking new ground with the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

On 7 April 2009, the Guardian (PCM-AM/02A model) and the Guardian (PCM-AM/01A model), which was developed by CPUT researchers, took to the skies during a flight demonstration at the Helderberg Radio Flyer’s Club, near Macasser.

The UAVs demonstrated their various flight abilities, which include surveillance and reconnaissance activities and the use of ground control software to fly waypoints via GPS coordinates.
The flight demonstration, which was requested by the Department of Science and Technology, comes two years after Prof Oscar Philander, established the Adaptronics AMTL UAV Research Group.

Prof Philander, who is also the head of the Centre for Research in Applied Technology (CERATech), said researchers decided to develop a prototype UAV in order to test their Adaptronic Technology.
This technology integrates sensor and actuator functions into materials and components so that they may react to environmental stimuli, thus rendering them intelligent.

In 2007, the researchers based in the Adaptronic AMTL started work on a prototype UAV.
“We came up with five conceptual designs. We chose one and completed a preliminary design followed by a detailed design,” he said. On 18 November 2007, they conducted the first test flight.
Prof Oscar Philander said the entire process, from conceptualization to the first flight, took eight months.

“This in itself is a major achievement since the norm in South Africa is considerably longer,” he said.

Locally and internationally there are huge applications for UAVs.
This includes surveillance, marine mammal monitoring, forest fire surveillance, search and rescue, measurement of air quality and agriculture mapping.
The development of the UAV has had a number of positive spin offs for research and innovation at CPUT.

It has created an aeronautics knowledge base at CPUT and has taken research and innovation at the institution a step further.

Through the development of the UAV, researchers at the institution are now focusing on several areas in Adaptronic Technology.

“The Adaptronic AMTL UAV Research Group is currently involved in a variety of research projects related to the manufacturing of Prototype UAVs, the development of Aero-morphing Wings and the development of intelligent skins,” said Prof Philander.

He said their activities could also lead to a production model that could be commercialized.
DVC for Research, Technology Innovation and Partnership, Dr Chris Nhlapo said the institution is supporting researchers who are involved in research that can be commercialized.
He said by focusing on innovation, the institution is setting itself apart from all other Universities of Technology.

DVC Academic, Prof Anthony Staak said researchers at the Adaptronic AMTL are at the “forefront of innovation at CPUT.”
 

OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

The main focus of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (CPUT Adaptronics AMTL) lies in the development of Adaptronic Technologies for South African Industry sectors through research and development activities.

From a Technology and Innovation viewpoint, the aims of the CPUT Adaptronics AMTL will be to act as a national manufacturing, research and educational resource centre for Adaptronic Technologies, i.e. Strain Sensing Composites, Self-Healing Materials, Smart/Intelligent Materials & Devices and Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS). The state of the art materials, devices and structures developed by the CPUT Adaptronics AMTL will feed directly into a variety of local and national industry sectors ranging from Aerospace to Capital Goods. The technology transfer to our local and national industries will provide a vehicle for achieving and maintaining the competitive advantage that they require to become globally superior manufacturers and suppliers.

The CPUT Adaptronics AMTL will specialize in basic and applied research, conceptualization, design and manufacture for the above mentioned areas with special focus to Computational Mechanics, Engineering Composites, Smart Materials & Structures, Manufacturing, Digital Manufacturing, Micro-Manufacturing, Nanotechnology, Structural and Non-Structural Finite Element Methods and the Strength, Durability and Performance of Materials, Devices and Structures.
We specialize in technology that shortens time-to-market in the development of new products.

OUR CORE BUSINESS


Supervision of under-graduate and graduate research projects
Supervision of research projects of junior staff from different departments;
Running NRF and government funded strategic projects (AMTS);
Conducting Industrial contract research; and
Research and development, and commercialization.