Two Systems Engineering graduates, Josiah Adesola and Samuel Igbinijesu, have developed a prototype drone capable of cleaning mid-rise glass buildings—demonstrating how youthful innovation can redefine engineering practice and inspire alumni support for research-led development.

At the University of Lagos Faculty of Engineering, innovation continues to thrive in both thought and action. Earlier this year, two final-year Systems Engineering students, Josiah Adesola and Samuel Igbinijesu, designed and built a Mid-Rise Glass Facade Cleaning Drone as their capstone project — a novel response to one of the construction industry’s persistent challenges: how to safely and efficiently clean high glass structures in modern urban skylines like Lagos and Abuja.

A Smarter, Safer Alternative

Traditional facade cleaning methods—rope-suspended manual washing and fossil-fuelled platforms—pose high safety risks and incur significant costs. The students’ drone, presented under the supervision of Dr. Oluwafemi Ipinimo and Dr. Comfort Folorunsho, provides an ingenious, sustainable alternative.

The prototype integrates a Pixhawk 2.4.8 flight controller with a Raspberry Pi 4 processing system, combining autonomous flight with a custom-built cleaning module that features a mist nozzle, onboard tank, and diaphragm pump. Controlled through a Flask-based web interface, the drone can scrub, spray, and rinse façade surfaces—all while maintaining flight stability.

Despite the constraints of locally available components, their tests achieved a 1.7:1 thrust-to-weight ratio—sufficient for stable flight—and cleaned approximately 1.175 m² of glass surface in under five minutes. The team’s report notes that the long-term goal is to scale the design for high-rise applications with AI-driven dirt detection and autonomous navigation.

Born from Systems Engineering Creativity

For Josiah Adesola, a Robotics and AI Engineer now co-founding Skibble, and Samuel Igbinijesu, a Product Design and Robotics Software Engineer with UNILAG’s Electric Vehicle Design Team, the project was a test of endurance and ingenuity.

“Every crash, fix, and breakthrough made this moment worth it,” Josiah wrote when sharing their project online. The effort reflects the Faculty’s long-standing culture of hands-on engineering education, where students are encouraged to explore the intersection of mechatronics, AI, and practical design.

Their project also showcases the capacity of UNILAG’s Design Studio as a launchpad for research-led innovation, and how the Faculty’s teaching philosophy continues to evolve with emerging technologies.

Engineering Innovation and Alumni Partnership

The students’ success comes at a time when the UNILAG Faculty of Engineering Alumni Association (UNILAGFEAA) is actively deepening its engagement with the Faculty’s innovation ecosystem.

At the 2025 Alumni Retreat held in Ijebu-Ode, the Dean, Professor Samson Oluropo Adeosun, highlighted the urgent infrastructural and equipment needs of the Faculty—ranging from laboratory refurbishments to research tools. The Board of Trustees, led by Engr. Dr. Oye Eribake, echoed the importance of endowment-driven research funding to make the Faculty a “centre of excellence for teaching and research.”

Projects like Josiah and Samuel’s drone exemplify what this vision stands for: students empowered to innovate, faculty supported with modern tools, and alumni collaborating to sustain progress.

The Association invites all alumni, industry partners, and well-wishers to join hands in mentoring, funding, and promoting student innovation. As Engr. Ayotunde Ogunnoiki, National Chairman of UNILAGFEAA, stated in his Retreat address, “Let us use this opportunity to reflect, strategize, and plan for the betterment of our association and our faculty.”

Supporting young innovators like Josiah and Samuel not only honours the Faculty’s tradition of excellence—it also positions UNILAG Engineering as a beacon of technological creativity across Africa.

For partnership or sponsorship enquiries on student innovation projects, please contact the UNILAGFEAA Secretariat at www.unilagfeaa.org.ng.