TUT tops AI game with humanoid robot

Marking a ground-breaking milestone for education in Pretoria, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has unveiled a humanoid robot, adding to its growing collection of AI platforms.

This first-of-its-kind innovation in a public university is designed to elevate the institution’s AI capabilities as well as bolster teaching, research, and learning.

It was developed by TUT staff and students.

The university spokesperson, Phaphama Tshisikhawe, said the humanoid adds to the institution’s mix of AI platforms for teaching and learning that comprise the universal robot platform and the quadruped robot dog.

“Guided by the philosophy of AI that helps humans perform better, this trio of platforms allows the university to test, research and look at suitable applications,” Tshisikhawe said.

She said TUT is also home to one of four AI hubs of the AI Institute of South Africa.

Professor Anish Kurien, acting director of the TUT AI Hub, said the university’s latest addition demonstrates how technology is evolving in terms of machines that can mimic human movement and capabilities.

Kurien added that as the costs of humanoid robots come down, their insertion in everyday life will become more prevalent.

“In addition to being a training platform for students to get exposure to new AI technology, the university is studying how biped robots can benefit the manufacturing sectors,” said Prof Kurien.

“Our primary interest within the AI Hub is the application of such devices in the manufacturing sector, one of the catalytic projects assigned to TUT by the national department of communication and digital technologies.”

He said they were looking at environment-monitoring applications. “For example, in the livestock industry, how do such machines come alongside those industries to assist farmers?

“We have a keen interest in the medical industry and how such devices could provide an assistive role in those environments,” Kurien continued.

He said the humanoid robot platform is like any other sensor-based technology.

“The devices are embedded with visual and proximity sensors, allowing the device to react to externally sensed information,” he said.

Kurien said the universal robot was a purely research-orientated platform, adding that it is already used widely in industry for human-machine interaction because of its size.

According to Kurien, the second platform, the quadruped robot dog serves as a test platform and could be inserted in hazardous environments.

He said the potential applications included environments that pose a risk to a human, for example, in mining.

“If you have environments or areas within the mine where it is risky to send a human to inspect, a quadruped robot dog should be suitable because it is less susceptible to hazards faced in such environments,” he concluded.

Hey TUT Fam!
In a first-of-its-kind at a public university in South Africa, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has added a humanoid robot to its mix of AI platforms to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) training, research and learning.https://t.co/r09dgbtAm0… pic.twitter.com/5bhZ6Tb5W9

— Official TUT (@Official_TUT) February 11, 2025

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