Western News: September 05, 2017

4 Tuesday September 5 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
News
High-tech help from library
RAVI SANYAL’S creation might
look like a toy monster truck.
But it’s really a hi-tech remote
controlled robot worth thousands
of dollars.
The creation of Halswell
entrepreneur, Mr Sanyal, is used
by home inspection companies
to remotely check house foundations.
And it was developed with 3D
printing expertise found at Te
Hāpua: Halswell Centre.
Earlier this year Mr Sanyal’s
company Techmatics Ltd was
working on developing the
specialised robot when they encountered
frustrating problems
with the supplier they were using
for 3D printing.
While researching other options,
Mr Sanyal found to his
surprise that the library, which
has access to seven network
3D printers, had the skills and
resources he needed.
He was given help and advice
from Danny McNeil, a Christchurch
City Libraries learning specialist
who helped him improve
the design.
Mr Sanyal was impressed with
the print quality and the support
he was given.
“We needed to make a particular
case for it and it had to
be done on CAD but we were
having problems with a local
supplier,” Mr Sanyal said.
ROBOT: (Left to right) – Ravi Sanyal with Techmatics software
developer Nathan Sinclair and city council learning specialist
Danny McNeil.
“Halswell library has been fantastic.
It just really helped us out,
we printed 10 prototype cases for
the camera on their 3D printer.”
Mr McNeil said many people
are unaware how up-to-date the
libraries are with new technology,
particularly with their 3D
printers, which are great prototyping
units and use biodegradable
plastic.
City council head of libraries
and information Carolyn
Robertson said this case demonstrates
what the library service is
capable of.
“Having our library staff work
on these kinds of projects means
they are helping to support the
economic contributions of local
entrepreneurs, making the city a
better place for people, business
and investment.”
Techmatics, which also
develops websites and apps and
recently received funding from
Government agency Callaghan
Innovation, has sold several
different versions of the robot
developed with the library’s help.
Mr Sanyal has plenty of other
hi-tech ideas in the pipeline
and plans to use Te Hāpua:
Halswell Centre library again
to 3D print future design prototypes.
“We want to innovate things
that make life easier for people
– if we can help the community
we’re interested,” he said.
Assaults on parking
wardens high in west
•From page 1
It comes as the number of assaults
and abuse being reported
by the city’s parking wardens
has increased in the past year, in
spite of them being given body
cameras to wear.
But the city council said the
new technology has encouraged
staff to report incidents more,
because the footage provided reliable
evidence.
The 21 parking wardens were
given the body-mounted cameras
in April last year. They can be
activated if staff think their safety
is at risk.
“Our experience has shown
that the body worn cameras have
increased safety for our staff
by lessening the seriousness of
WESTERN NEWS
DETERRENT: City
council parking
compliance officer
Luke Lee holds
one of the body
mounted cameras
that are aimed at
deterring assaults
and abuse.
PHOTO: CCC/
NEWSLINE ​
incidents and discouraging undesirable
behaviour,” city council
transport operations manager
Aaron Haymes said.
He said previously a number of
incidents went under the radar,
but the cameras now provided
reliable evidence.
“This means it’s more likely
that somebody will be held to
account for their actions, and that
encourages staff to report.”
Mr Haymes said the city
council was always working on
initiatives that reduced the risk of
staff being harmed.
“We want to make sure our
staff make it through their work
day safely and get to go home
at the end of each day to their
families.”
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