THE future looks bright for UKZN’s latest graduate who has attributed his interest and fascination with mechanical engineering to the robots and rockets created by his father.
Master’s graduate, Tyrone Bright, spent his childhood surrounded by his father’s creations and developed an interest for the field while walking through UKZN’s Mechanical Engineering building mesmerised by all the inventions and innovations around him.
Bright’s father, Professor Glen Bright, is now the Dean and Head of the Engineering School at UKZN.
“UKZN has always been my home. I would dream about how I would one day be able to create something that had the potential to change the world around me,” he said.
He attended Glenwood Prep, Glenwood High and then UKZN where he completed his BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering.
“I was hugely grateful for the opportunity to study at a prestigious university known for its distinguished engineering departments. The world-class guidance and mentorship I received during my undergrad degree provided a solid foundation for the skills and knowledge I acquired in the field,” said Bright.
He pursued research into Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC).
“The fourth industrial revolution is creating endless possibilities for achievements. I wanted to create something that was different and had the potential not only to change the world we live in, but also the lives of people around me,” he said.
Bright’s master’s study focused on human-robot collaboration for advanced manufacturing systems, entailing the construction and testing of a cost-effective sensory glove which enables workers to collaborate with industrial robots safely in a flexible manufacturing environment.
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The realisation that the combination of human dexterity and inventiveness with the strength and speed of robots could lead to faster, more efficient and more cost-effective manufacturing processes was the motivation behind his studies.
“In South Africa, automation is being used to improve product quality and decrease the cost of goods and services, but the negative is that it has displaced labour desperate for work,” said Bright.
He added, “The concept of humans and robots working together is a solution to bring people back onto the manufacturing floor while upskilling the workforce. To put it simply, it’s about creating an environment where humans and robots can work side by side to create products.”
The blood, sweat and tears over the past two years culminated in Bright being awarded a Master’s degree cum laude.
He is eternally grateful to his parents, fiancé and grandmother for their love and support throughout his academic journey.
“The endless guidance I have received from them has been invaluable. I will be forever grateful for the sacrifices that my parents made to ensure that I had the best opportunities through my career,” he said.
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