Afrobotics

Zakary Amekran

Research Mentor: Audrey Bennett
Mentor Department: Not Available, ART
Author(s): Zakary Amekran, Ron Eglash
Session: Session 6 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Creative Project

Abstract

“Designed in Africa, Made in Detroit” is the motto of Afrobotics, a research collective that includes UM faculty, African artisans, and Detroit fabricators, hosted at the MBad Bead Museum in Detroit, MI. Afrobotics combines the creative approaches and traditions of African wire sculpture with our own robot architecture to create innovative products for worker-owned small businesses, both locally in Detroit and across the African continent. Because there is no shipping–they sell the design locally in Africa, and our partners sell them in Detroit–there is a smaller carbon footprint. The end result is economic empowerment for low-income communities, more sustainable forms of manufacturing, cultural revitalization for a beloved tradition, and new forms of culture-based robots for STEM education and entertainment purposes. Afrobots are constructed using wire bending, a fabrication technique with roots in African art that enables cheap, durable, and easily modifiable robot structures and chassis. This method allows students to physically engage with both the cultural origins and mechanical principles behind the robots, supporting their education through hands-on interactions. Current Afrobot designs are inspired by animals native to different African regions with our most successful prototype being designed based on praying mantises. This “Mantis Bot” is a toy-sized robot designed to copy the walking motion of a mantis. Two variants of the Mantis Bot have been produced. The first uses a single DC motor and operates in an analog manner through a simple on/off switch. The second incorporates two DC motors controlled by an Arduino Nano and an infrared receiver, allowing for remote-controlled movement. We aim to support a wide range of learning with these designs, including basic electronics, circuit design, and human-robot interaction which we hope to tie in with lessons on the broader African context from which these designs are inspired. This report details the mechanical design, electronic systems, and educational motivations behind the Mantis Bot alongside other prototypes. Circuit diagrams, images of the prototypes, and further technical analysis are presented, followed by a deeper look into how Afrobots can be deployed as interdisciplinary tools for teaching African art, history, and foundational robotics.