Nigerian Schoolgirls Create AI Robot That Can Talk, Walk And Gesticulate
A group of secondary school girls from the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC) Sagamu, Ogun State, have created an artificial intelligence (AI) robot that can talk, walk and gesticulate.
The robot, named ‘Okikiola-Sagamu’ or Kiki-Saggy for short, was unveiled to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo, in Abuja on Monday.
The project, which involved 10 students and a few staff members, took about seven months to complete. The students said they were inspired by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to find innovative solutions.
According to the students, Kiki-Saggy stands at a height of six feet, weighs 60kg, and has a maximum speed of 10km per hour. The robot can also interact with humans using natural language processing and facial recognition.
The students explained that they used artificial intelligence and machine learning to program the robot, which was their first successful trial. They said they learned the skills from their teachers, especially the school principal, Dr Muyibat Olodo, who also led the robotics team.
They also acknowledged the support of Coderina, a capacity-building organisation that leverages robotics and other emerging technologies to empower young learners and teachers across Africa.
At the unveiling ceremony, Olodo praised the students for their creativity and ingenuity. She said that technology is aiding innovation and paving the way for a brighter future. She added that the futuristic fields are empowering students to unleash their creativity, problem-solving skills, and technological prowess.
