Nigerian 17 year old boy invents remote-controlled robot, hopes to become an Engineer

Isah Auwal Barde, a clever 17-year-old Nigerian lad, created a remote-controlled robot out of trash that were once thought to be waste.

Isah Auwal Barde, who recently completed his secondary schooling, aspires to be a top engineer and an authority on artificial intelligence. Auwal started to develop himself by creating a robot as part of his effort to realize his dream.

He created a robot that uses a robotic exoskeleton remote control, a technology that lets the user interact with the robot to operate it.

Auwal Barde explained to NAN, “It took me two years to invent the robot utilizing local components including DC motors, copper wires, pipes, corrugated cardboard as well as aluminum, among others. The robot is powered by electricity.

He wants to study robotics engineering so that he may help Nigeria address its security issues.

He declared, “I want to be a robotics engineer so that I may create robots that can be used to address security issues plaguing the nation.”

Although Auwal was unable to recall how his interest became so stong in Robotics, his father, Malam Auwal Barde, said he recalled that his son was around 8 years old when he started bringing scraps into the house and building what he termed as “toys” with them.

Auwal Barde narrated that he was supported by his father and brother to gather and assemble all the components of the robot.

“My father and mother sponsored me, and my brother as well motivated me through the journey; whenever I felt like giving up, he encouraged me to be persistent. There were times I got bored doing that work but he inspired me,” he said.

Explaining how he made the about 3-feet tall robot which was demonstrated, Isah said he made use of local items in creating it including motors, cardboard, some LEDs, copper wires, aluminium, tires, nuts, and pipes.

“It cost me almost N30,000 but it’s not everything I bought from the market I attached to the robot.

Sometimes, I had bought things in the market and on getting to the house, I would realize it would not be of use to the robot, then I’d divert it to another thing.

Some of the motors I bought got spoilt in the process. I have been to Jakara Market (a local market in Nigeria) about five times, and with as much as N3,000 on each occasion,” he explained.

Explaining further, he explained that he got the idea first from movies and the how-to-do it from YouTube videos. “…even though in the movies, you will only be seeing how the robot is moving not the way it’s been made or processed.

And also, in movies there are fictional things and at this level, I can’t do that but to the best of my ability I was able to produce this.”

“My next step is to ensure the robot moves around. And I have the dream to make a robot that is artificial intelligence based, what they call humanoids, so it can control itself and help people as well,” he stated.

Isah Auwal Barde stated further that he wants to study robotic engineering or mechatronic engineering and hopes to secure admission abroad.

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There isn’t a university in Nigeria that offers courses in robotic engineering or mechatronic engineering, which is something I wish to study.

I therefore intend to enroll at a university abroad that provides this kind of program because they have better resources and provide more hands-on training in the area I selected.

“I still want to go abroad to study, even though my parents have no money to take me there.

Isah pleaded for assistance, saying, “I want to appeal to the government, people, and corporate organisations to come to my aid so that I can one day make my country proud.