My Experience at the AI EXPO Africa 2023??

On the 2nd and 3rd of November 2023, I attended the AI Expo Africa 2025 , I had the incredible opportunity to attend the event. The event showcased the latest developments in artificial intelligence. It was a truly remarkable experience, and I would like to share some insights from my time at the conference. I met and engaged with different companies.

OMNIPRESENT GLOBAL

This company is a prominent technology firm specializing in the development of enterprise-level electronics and computer software within the telecommunications sector. Their impressive prowess lies in the deployment of cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create innovative products and solutions. During our interaction, their team elucidated the transformative capabilities of their AI technology across diverse industries. Notably, they showcased their latest offering, the Edge server, which involves the deployment of robust computing resources, strategically positioned at the periphery of the network where data processing is demanded. An edge server's physical placement is typically in close proximity to the sources or systems generating the data it processes and stores. This architecture is equipped with a heatsink mechanism designed to dissipate heat generated during operation, ensuring optimal device temperature. This diverges from the conventional server model, where data is often stored and processed within remote cloud servers or centralized data centers. Furthermore, their technological portfolio includes a camera sensor and camera board that are seamlessly integrated with the Edge server. This integration facilitates real-time monitoring of telecommunication towers. In the event of any alterations or anomalies in tower conditions, the Edge server is primed to transmit immediate alerts, providing a robust and proactive approach to tower management and maintenance.

Augmented AI

This start-up company specializes in the exploration and development of various AI technologies. Presently, they are actively engaged in a drone project that involves the integration of sophisticated in-depth camera technology. Their implementation of this project utilizes a #RaspberryPi, a compact and versatile single-board computer known for its computational capabilities and adaptability. In addition to their drone project, the company is also in the process of developing prototypes for self-driving cars. This endeavor represents a significant venture into autonomous vehicle technology, with a focus on pioneering advancements in AI-driven automotive systems. The pursuit of self-driving car prototypes underscores their commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI innovation within the field of transportation.

AlgoAtWork

I had a conversation with Francis Junior Djuimo , a representative from the AlgoAtWork Robotics Academy that specializes in the exploration and development of various AI technologies. This robotics-focused company has provided valuable guidance regarding the selection of batteries for our project needs. Their recommendation is to opt for Lithium-ion batteries as the preferred power source for our devices, a significant departure from the batteries we previously employed. Lithium-ion batteries are chosen for their superior energy density and performance characteristics, making them an ideal choice for our projects. Furthermore, during our discussions, the topic of self-generating energy for our devices as they operate in motion was explored. As a result, we arrived at the concept of integrating brushless DC electric motors. The application of brushless DC motors represents a potential solution to harness kinetic energy and convert it into electrical power, thereby enhancing the autonomy and sustainability of our devices while in operation. This innovative approach holds promise for advancing the self-sufficiency of our robotic systems.

TutHub.io

This company boasts cutting-edge AI technologies, showcasing remarkable innovations in the realm of robotics. One of their standout creations is a large-scale agricultural drone, purpose-built for precision plant irrigation, which leverages DJI hardware. This agricultural drone employs advanced AI algorithms for efficient plant watering, optimizing agricultural processes. In addition, the company has engineered a sophisticated system for eye detection. This system is meticulously developed using the Python programming language, harnessing the power of the MediaPipe library, a Python library that provides comprehensive support for perceptual computing and real-time object detection. The implementation of technology represents a noteworthy application of computer vision and machine learning within the field of eye detection, illustrating their commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI-powered visual recognition systems.

Geekulcha

This company is actively engaged in technological innovation, frequently employing both Arduino and Raspberry Pi in their projects. Notably, they undertook a project centered around the creation of an automated greenhouse. What's intriguing about their approach is the simultaneous utilization of both Raspberry Pi and Arduino, with Arduino serving as a replacement for the more commonly used NodeMCU. This integration of Arduino and Raspberry Pi showcases their versatility in hardware selection and underscores their commitment to customizing solutions to meet specific project requirements. The automated greenhouse project is a prime example of their ingenuity in merging these platforms to create efficient and tailored solutions.

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

This organization has engineered a substantial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or aircraft, noteworthy for its considerable size and capabilities and can carry up to 10kg. The construction of this aircraft involved the integration of high-performance components, specifically the HiKey970 and LimeSDR. The HiKey970, known for its powerful system-on-a-chip (SoC) and processing capabilities, forms the computational backbone of the aircraft. Its robust computing power ensures optimal performance for the various functions of the drone aircraft. In addition, the LimeSDR, a sophisticated software-defined radio (SDR) platform, has been seamlessly integrated into the aircraft's design. This SDR technology enhances communication and signal processing capabilities, providing the aircraft with the flexibility to adapt to a wide range of applications and scenarios. The combination of the HiKey970 and LimeSDR underscores their commitment to building a high-performance, versatile, and technologically advanced drone or aircraft. This project reflects their technical prowess in the aerospace domain.

Epigos AI

Epigos.ai is a prominent data management and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions provider, specialising in a spectrum of critical tasks, including data annotation, model training, model deployment, and data labelling. Among their noteworthy projects, they showcased an AI model tailored for pothole detection on road surfaces. The foundation of this project involves the deployment of drones, which capture video footage of roadways for data acquisition and analysis. The AI model developed by Epigos.ai is engineered to employ advanced computer vision techniques, leveraging the collected video data to identify and pinpoint potholes on road surfaces. This cutting- edge technology highlights their proficiency in data management, AI model development, and the integration of drone-based data acquisition methods to address real-world challenges in road maintenance and safety.

BlazeGard

Blazergard is a technology company specializing in advanced fire detection systems that employ proactive alert mechanisms. Their system is designed to pre-emptively identify potential fire- initiating elements before an actual fire event occurs. This early warning system leverages a webcam, which interfaces with their dedicated application.

The webcam is seamlessly integrated into the Blazergard system, capturing real-time visual data for analysis. This data is processed by their proprietary algorithms, which are engineered to identify and assess fire hazards or potential ignition sources. Once a potential threat is detected, the system promptly triggers alerts, notifying users through instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp or SMS. Blazergard's technology represents a sophisticated approach to fire prevention, utilizing computer vision and early warning algorithms to enhance safety and prevent fire incidents.

Arm

An industry-leading semiconductor and software design firm, offers an extensive array of hardware components and software solutions, contributing significantly to the technology landscape. Among their notable offerings are diverse Arduino models, Raspberry Pi computing platforms, Sony's Express Camera, and the high-performance Arm Ampere server architecture. These components collectively empower developers and innovators in various industries. In addition to its hardware portfolio, Arm showcased offerings such as Arm Education, Arm Developer Hub, Arm Developer Program and Embedded Learning Challenge – these host of initiatives serve as a knowledge-sharing platform where experts Peter Ing and Stephen Ozoigbo delve into the intricacies of ARM's diverse product ecosystem. Participants gain a comprehensive understanding of ARM's components, software tools, and development methodologies.

Furthermore, Arm recognises and rewards active participation, offering prizes to individuals who engage in the Arm Developer Hub sessions. This initiative encourages deeper exploration and utilisation of ARM's technology stack, fostering innovation and technical excellence within the developer community

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In conclusion, I am deeply grateful to Prof. Oludayo Olugbara and the remarkable team at the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics for affording me the invaluable opportunity to attend AI Expo Africa. This experience has not only enriched my knowledge but also ignited a fervent passion for the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence. I will forever cherish the support and encouragement I received, and I am eager to carry the insights gained here forward on my journey in AI.

Cc: Stephen Ozoigbo Philip Adzanoukpe from Epigos AI Kamogelo Kingsley Kgwedi from Geekulcha Community , Ritesh Kanjee from Augmented AI Monwabisi Gaga from BlazerGard, Dr Nick Bradshaw Durban University of Technology The Embedded Learning Challenge .