果冻影院

How Dr Chinemelu Ezeh shaped the future of robotics at 果冻影院 and beyond.

Dr Chinemelu Ezeh (PhD Assistive Robotics 2018) always wanted his future to be in robotics. He says: 鈥淚t all started when I was nine years old. I saw a kids鈥� computer on the news in Nigeria and immediately wanted it. After two years of asking my dad for it, I got my first computer.鈥�

Having spent all his free time teaching himself the basics, including how to write programs, Chinemelu went on to compete in global competitions while in a robotics society at secondary school. Building robots became the focal point throughout his education in both Nigeria and London, with Chinemelu ultimately joining 果冻影院 in 2014 to study for a PhD in Assistive Robotics.

From school to 果冻影院

Assistive robots support their human users to live independent, healthy lives. Chinemelu鈥檚 passion for this subject came from 鈥渞ealising the power of technology to overcome real world problems鈥� and a desire to contribute towards 鈥渃reating an inclusive world where society works for everyone鈥�.

It was while at 果冻影院, based at Aspire CREATe - Centre for Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology,听that Chinemelu developed a smart wheelchair, an achievement he considers to be the highlight of his career so far. Smart wheelchairs are electrical wheelchairs that are equipped with mobile robotic technology to assist the user in a number of situations. Chinemelu鈥檚 smart wheelchair was subsequently used as a prototype for the : a large European collaboration that aims to develop innovative solutions to improve the home care, wellbeing and independence of disabled people.

Since graduating, Chinemelu has gone on to lead a growing team as a Senior Robotics Engineer at Oxbotica: one of the world鈥檚 leading autonomous driving software companies. He says: 鈥湽�冻影院 was critical to getting me to where I am today. I needed those four years of deeply exploring robotics on a fundamentally practical level to become an expert in my field. It is very rare you find people in my profession who have had the amount of practical experience that 果冻影院 enabled me to acquire.鈥�

Chinemelu's supervisors at 果冻影院 were and .鈥湽�冻影院 invested in me,鈥� he听adds. 鈥淔or example, every year I had the privilege of 10 days of practical robotics testing in the laboratory, which is a huge amount. I am really grateful to 果冻影院 - the support I received allowed me to do the things I wanted to do.鈥�

Chinemelu鈥檚 legacy to 果冻影院 was founding the Robotics Society during his time as a PhD student. He says that the society, which has since gone from strength to strength, 鈥渢aught me how to be a leader and inspire people.鈥� As President of the society, he developed and taught beginner robotics workshops to more than 70 students and designed a robotics course for students in schools as part of an outreach programme.

Looking to the future

Chinemelu is sure that robotics will transform our future. 鈥淚f you told people in the past that one day, we would sit on a metal contraption in the sky, they would never have believed you. That is now a reality we completely take for granted. It is amazing that that is even possible in the first place!

鈥淭here is a lot more that we are yet to discover. I like being involved in the process of unravelling the nature of reality. These possibilities are already there, it is just for us to discover them and to be smart about how we get there.鈥�

He has his sights set on becoming a tech entrepreneur, where he can help unearth the new technologies that will transform society. No task is insurmountable for Chinemelu, who says, 鈥渋t鈥檚 about believing you can, and then you will鈥�.

Proud to Be(lieve)

Chinemelu cites his self-belief as the key that unlocked the door to success. Talking during Black History Month in October, he discusses what 2021鈥檚 theme - 鈥楶roud to Be鈥� - means to him. 鈥淚鈥檓 intrinsically proud that I am capable of doing the things I can do, not because I am special but solely because I believe in myself for no reason. There is no precursor to believing in oneself, there is no green light; you have no choice but to do so.鈥�

And to those who may lack the confidence to pursue their dreams? 鈥淏elieve in yourself and assert with no apology that success looks exactly like you. Look for approval within yourself, and only yourself.鈥�