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Wits drone developers reach new heights for good

Wits drone developers reach new heights for good

22nd July 2021

     

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This article has been supplied as a media statement and is not written by Creamer Media. It may be available only for a limited time on this website.

21-year-old Wits mechanical engineering student, Xolani Radebe and his business partner, Tino Kurimwi founded an aviation company in 2019. Their aspiration to build airplane engines sparked mutual interest in drone development.

Designing something that could fly was a step closer to his aviation career, says Radebe who adds that he was not always a big dreamer. Growing up in a community where most young people are unemployed and were never afforded opportunities to study further, as a child, he never imagined pursuing a career as an aircraft engineer.

From runaway to runway of aviation dreams

He explains: “It is difficult to have a dream when people around you are not working or even studying further. There is no source of inspiration and this can be discouraging. You look at them and see yourself and wonder if you will turn out like them.”

Fortunately, a high school teacher ignited a flame of hope after Radebe nearly gave up on himself. He says that Mr Ngwenya, his teacher from Letare Secondary School in Soweto, helped unearth his latent potential as a conversation with Ngwenya on the topic of purpose, changed Radebe’s negative outlook.

“My high school teachers gave me a sense of purpose and gave meaning to my life. I had lost focus until Mr Ngwenya called me to order in Grade 11. Then I realised that I needed to change my ways and focus,” says Radebe. Empowered with a vision and purpose, the drone designer began making an effort to achieve academic success. His interest in aviation was piqued after he found out about the field at a career expo. 

“I developed a keen interest in aviation when I attended the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) show. I had the opportunity to meet with the chief of staff of the South African Air Force at this show and at the 100 defence countdown.”

After receiving advice from a lecturer at Wits University on whether to pursue mechanical or aeronautical engineering, he opted for the latter.

Engineering pandemic times for social good

Radebe and Kurimwi believe in advancing societal good and find solving problems using their engineering and business skills gratifying. Their motive in designing drones has always been to provide solutions that could aid with some of South Africa’s social challenges. For example, when Covid-19 hit, the drone aviators knew that they wanted to be part of the solution.

They developed a drone that, with a built-in thermal camera, can detect the body temperature of large groups of people in vast areas such as malls or other busy places. “High fever is said to be one of the symptoms of the virus. This drone is able to detect if anyone in a large gathering has an above-average temperature and can alert the drone operator,” explains Radebe.

While drone laws exist, the prototype was developed with an eye on the future and to secure fresh viewpoints and options for solving complex problems. The pandemic screening solution could save time for those who are screening large groups of people in busy areas. Instead of screening each and every person, the drone could be flown to read the temperature of everyone in that area.

Amped to reach altitude in aviation development

Drones, he says are solutions based and are able to serve multiple purposes. They can be used to search for missing people or for crime detection purposes and to reduce the costs of using airplanes for certain logistics requirements.

As someone who has benefited from development programmes, he has a great affinity towards them. He hopes to use his drones for a community development programme to help high school learners who are interested in aviation and engineering.

“Uplifting people in my community is important to me. I want to give others the same opportunities that I have been afforded in life. I would not be pursuing engineering had it not been for the exposure from the youth development programme,” says Radebe, who currently works out of the Transnet Matlafatso Centre at Wits University, where he is mentored and nurtured. 

Radebe, who refers to himself as ‘Gogo’s (granny’s) boy’ says that he has always wanted to make his grandmother proud who raised him from the age of 11 after his mother passed away. His co-founded company - Rita Sibanyoni (RS) Aviation - takes her name and he hopes that RS Aviation will be the biggest drone company in Africa in future.

It is wheels up for this company of future aviators from Wits, as there are new skies ahead for them, and ultimately no limits.

For more information about the Future at Wits please visit https://www.wits.ac.za/future/.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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