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Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]

USING nothing more than a small speaker, pieces of cardboard, electric wires, a motor, plastic wheels, and batteries — all materials found at home — 12-year-old Lamar Peel from Bulawayo created a voice-commanded robot for his school science project.

His innovation, a stand-out among those presented by fellow learners at Morning Star Christian Academy, showcases the ingenuity and resourcefulness of young minds when challenged to think outside the box.

Lamar’s robot responds to voice commands, allowing him to instruct it to perform tasks like dancing. He completed the project as part of a class assignment where students were asked to create inventions using readily available materials from their homes.

Other students came up with projects like a mini-excavator and a battery-powered drone, but Lamar’s robot was one of the most impressive.

From a young age, Lamar has had a natural curiosity for electronics, often tinkering with gadgets around the house.

His fascination began when he was just four years old, fixing broken fans and other household items. This early interest laid the foundation for his current success.

For this project, Lamar taught himself the necessary skills by watching impromptu lessons on YouTube. Within a week, he gathered all the components he needed from his family home in Kumalo suburb and then spent three days assembling the robot.

“When we were given the science project, I didn’t want to settle for something easy like building a fan. I wanted to do something unique, so I decided to build a robot that could follow voice commands, and do several tasks like dancing,” said Lamar.

“I saw a video online where someone connected a small computer circuit board to a motor and wheels, and I thought I could improve on that idea by making a robot that listens to commands through a microphone.”

Lamar programmed the robot’s circuit board himself, ensuring that the microphone’s vibrations would translate into movements.

“Each day I worked on improving the robot, focusing on one task at a time, and it took me a week. By the end of the third day, I had a fully functioning voice-commanded robot,” he explained.

His interest in electronics goes beyond school projects. Lamar’s mother, Ms Lushano Herman, recounted how he once used a shoebox, a small solar panel, and a fan to create a floodlight.

“He’s always been creative, even from a very young age. Nowadays, there are robotics clubs with kits to help kids build robots, but Lamar’s projects come straight from his imagination and whatever materials he finds lying around,” she said.

“His robot was built as part of an in-class project that they were given after writing their Grade Seven exams to build anything of their choice using readily available materials.”

Ms Herman admits that she sometimes worries about what household item Lamar might disassemble next.

“There’s always something missing in the house that he’s taken apart for one of his projects. One time, he used a five-litre container and broken propellers from an old fan to create something that looked like a drone, and it flew around our yard!”

Lamar’s uncle, who owns an electric appliances shop, has also played a role in nurturing his interest. The two often spend time together, piecing together various electronics.

“His uncle owns an electric appliances shop and the two of them are always around each. I think that’s where Lamar’s love for building things really took off,” said Ms Herman.

Lamar, who dreams of becoming an electrical engineer, is well on his way to realizing that goal. His creations, from the voice-commanded robot to a homemade floodlight, are a testament to his talent and passion for innovation.

A quick search online reveals that similar robotics kits, like the ones Lamar essentially built from scratch, can retail for anywhere between US$65 to US$300—proving that creativity and resourcefulness can be just as valuable as expensive materials.