By Tupou Vaipulu Jr.

Young entrepreneur, Arthur Cocker of Defiant Robotics, showcased his first robot today in a demonstration for Tonga Power Limited and other parties interested in the bot fully manufactured in Tonga using 3D printing technology. This one is designed to clean solar panels.

Arthur said he has called his prototype robot the ‘Bourke Bot’ after his mentor Jack Bourke, who pitched the idea to him.

Arthur demonstrated the bot's remote control from various devices, with lights that indicates its connection status (green for a server connection, blue for searching, and red for disconnected). Sensors can detect the edge of a flat surface and prevent the robot from falling off the solar pannels by automatically turning around.

Defiant Robotics has been working on this project for the past few months to produce the prototype.

The event was hosted at the Waterfront Restaurant and Lodge supported by family and friends. Representatives from Tonga Power Ltd. and two government ministries (MEIDECC and the Ministry of Lands) attended.

Working on the Tonga Renewable Energy Project with MEIDECC and Tonga Power, Simon Wilson said that it’s great to see a local talent developing fully local technology, “It’s excellent,” he said.

Arthur's mother, Tai’atu ‘Ata’ata expressed her pride in her son’s accomplishments. “As a mother, I’m very proud of all his achievements,” she told Matangi Tonga. "He has worked really hard to be where he is right now."

The prototype was self-financed by Defiant Robotics and is scheduled to be trial tested in December.

From the first story
Arthur said that Defiant Robotics will build robots that will help in maintaining Tonga's solar farms.

“Solar farms in Tonga produce up to 15% of Tonga’s electricity. However, if there’s poor maintenance there will be a 10-20% drop in energy output and Defiant Robotics is willing to take up the challenge and come up with a way for Tonga avoid any kind of drop in energy output. Like anything else, it only works as well as you can maintain it," said Arthur.

“If we get a ‘go ahead’ from Tonga Power, then we’ll begin building and hopefully by March 2024...build 5-10 dedicated cleaning robots.”

They will monitor how well the cleaning robots perform for the next three months. Approximately 60 robots are needed to maintain one solar farm, and if the first 5-10 robots prove to be successful, they'll continue their manufacturing into 2025.

Arthur also has the ability to design and create robotic arms and legs for amputees. He can also design and create apps and websites.