Ziva Robotics, (Formerly CST) build autonomous surveillance robots that monitor and patrol perimeters 24-7 proving accountable, accessible and affordable security. Our devices fill the gap between static cameras and unaccountable, expensive manned patrols. Our patent-pending robotic hardware is low-cost, high performance, multi-terrain and customisable to each client, saving up to 92% of patrol costs. We combine autonomous navigation and secure data transmission to reduce the cost and time associated with patrols and alarm response. Our robotic vehicle is sensor agnostic and has applications in agriculture, surveying and even cinematography.

As CFO of the newly developed start-up "Helping Hands", I aim to constantly improve our sustainable triple bottom line whilst maintaining our strong social responsibility as we start up the business! With our customers help will be cleaning up the streets of Edinburgh both environmentally and socially, giving those in need a helping hand."

I have worked twice for this safari camp in the Mana Pools national park of Zimbabwe. I was initially tasked with the installation of the solar water system that feeds the camp and waterhole. The waterhole has since become a lifeline during the dry season for the thousands of animals living in the nearby area. After the water was fixed my roles changed constantly from repairing a variety of the power tools to the laying the concrete and management of the team laying the sewage lines. The entire project was run on a rather tight budget and so where possible I had to use the local resources like fallen trees in the construction plans. I also drove the tractor and game cruiser to collect supplies and during the managers leave for basic anti-poaching patrols whilst in communications with the parks rangers regarding the death of an elephant on the concession and facilitated the ivory collection.

I aided a friend of mine in his MEng design project in which we built and tested an unmanned, underwater robot that was propelled through a biomimicked propulsion method seen in cuttlefish. The robot consisted of 2 sets of 5 rods attached to servo motors with a fins sewn onto the rods and through peristaltic movement could move through the water creating minimal turbulence. During this project I improved my finer soldering and learnt a lot about isolation of power and control circuits to prevent short circuiting in a marine environment.

I was employed as an artisan underneath the head electrical engineer and so worked directly with him and alongside the contract team from Tomra Sorting Solutions during the installation of the Stratus Laser Sorting Unit into the factory. During the team’s leave to Belgium I was in charge of data collection and trial and error fine tuning until their return and the machine’s commissioning. I then moved around the factory and worked with the process control, belt maintenance crew, boiler team and the machine shop where I learnt the art of fabricating replacement parts and ducting.