Since it launched May 2012, AFRON has 300 members from 25 countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Algeria, South Africa, Egypt, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, as well as affiliated members from the US, Switzerland, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Argentina. With guidance from an esteemed Advisory Board, AFRON’s first project was the “$10 Robot” International Design Challenge (sponsored in part by IEEE RAS) which sought designs for extremely low cost robots for education. The ten winners (and six Honorable Mentions) were announced at Maker Faire New York in September 2012 and reported in WiRed, IEEE Spectrum, Popular Mechanics, and Slashdot; they were exhibited at UC Berkeley.
The African Robotics Network (AFRON) is a community of institutions, organizations and individuals engaged in robotics in Africa. AFRON seeks to promote communication and collaborations that will enhance robotics-related education, research, and industry on the continent. To achieve this, AFRON organizes projects, meetings and events in Africa and at Robotics and Automation conferences abroad. Established in April 2012, AFRON hosts a website, Facebook page, and moderated email list. There are no subscription fees or dues. To join, please visit the website and click “Membership”.
G. Ayorkor Korsah is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Ashesi University, Ghana, where she teaches courses in programming, algorithms, and AI robotics. She completed her Ph.D. work in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, USA. Ayorkor’s research and professional interests range from designing algorithms for robotics planning and coordination to exploring the role of technology in education in developing communities. In 2012, she co-founded the African Robotics Network with Ken Goldberg, to promote communication and collaborations that will enhance robotics-related education, research, and industry on the continent. She also runs the annual Ashesi Robotics Experience (ARX), a pre-college enrichment program aimed at inspiring high school students to pursue careers in science, technology and engineering.