Two Technical University of Mombasa students have innovated a bomb detector robot that can be used in insecurity prone areas like Lamu.

The innovation is such that the robot car, which can be remotely controlled, can be used as a lead car in a patrol or convoy to detect any explosive devices. It uses special rays to detect explosives and, for security, it can be used as a sacrificial car, where it runs over the IED and explodes in case it fails to detect the explosive. e robot car does not have a human driver in it.

The innovators are Bramwel Ongori, 21, a fourth year electrical and electronics engineering student, and his partner Bahati Mabonga, a fourth year electrical engineering student.

They said they were inspired by the loss of lives that were witnessed in Lamu when KDF soldiers were killed while on duty after running over improvised explosive devices (IEDs). They showcased their innovation during the Pwani Innovation Week at SwahiliPot Hub in Mombasa last week.

“The robot has different censors that can detect explosive devices along its path and send alarms to the troops coming behind it. e robot can be remotely controlled,” Ongori said.

The fourth year student said the robot can also be used in high security areas like presidential events. It has a frequency detection mechanism, which can detect explosives and explosive devices or anything that emits smoke.

“We have coded the robot in such a way that any detection of any potential explosive, smoke or explosive device, triggers signals which are sent to a remote location from where the main frame is controlled,” Ongori said.

The buzzing signals alert the controller that there is a potential explosive device in the vicinity. And the closer the robot moves to the potentially harmful device, the louder the buzz from the detectors.

The robot operates with a GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) module. A GSM module is a device that allows electronic devices to communicate with each other over the GSM network. GSM is a standard for digital cellular communications, which means that it provides a platform for mobile devices to communicate with each other wirelessly.

The robot is fitted with security cameras that help the controller see everything. However, Ongori said the assembly of the robot needs massive funds, which they do not have.

“Assembly of the robot could cost anything above Sh1 million.

That is why the target audience is not the common mwananchi. It is the big security companies and government,” he said. Ongori and Mabonga said they cannot implement the innovation on their own. “What we can do is work with the companies or government and give them my knowhow on how the different censors can integrate to detect explosive devices,” Ongori said.

There are ultrasound censors, which can detect proximity, meaning the distance between the explosive device and the censor. Line followers are also integrated into the system to ensure the back and fourth communication is not intercepted.

“This helps the robot manoeuvre and stay off obstacles in the path in areas where there are many obstacles like in forests,” Ongori said. Mabonga said, “Madam Bibiye is the one who pushed us to come up with something that can help Kenya’s security at a time when there were so many explosions in Lamu.”

She said when the prototype they came up with worked, she felt like she has helped save many lives. “We would like our government and government agencies to come see our innovation and try to make the innovation a reality,” Mabonga said. “As innovators, we are still young and we don’t have finances. We can do the prototypes but cannot implement them due to lack of finances,” she said.