RAIL Lab Robotics Manager

Managing the Robots in the RAIL Lab

As the RAIL Lab Robotics Manager, I oversee the robots in one of Africa’s leading robotics research groups. My role is ensuring the robots are well maintained, have easy-to-run demos ready, and be able to assist any students looking to use them for their research.

Robotic Fleet Management

I am responsible for maintaining a diverse fleet of robots, ensuring they are ready for experiments and demos:

• SoftBank Pepper: Humanoid robot for HRI research.
• Clearpath Husky: UGV for outdoor navigation.
• Unitree A1: Agile quadruped for locomotion research.
• BlueRobotics BlueROV2: Underwater vehicle for marine robotics.
• ABB YuMi: Dual-arm collaborative robot.
• Drones: Various aerial platforms for research.

Documentation & Infrastructure

• Knowledge Base: Built and maintained the RAIL Lab Documentation Portal, writing comprehensive guides on “Getting Started,” hardware usage, and simulation setups.
• Tutorials: Created hands-on tutorials for ROS, Gazebo, and physical robot operation to onboard new students quickly.
• Safety: Implemented and enforced lab safety protocols for handling high-voltage batteries and heavy machinery.