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About

Stephen Marais is a robotics engineer whose work bridges the gap between practical mechanical design and autonomous locomotion for search and rescue. His research centers on the development of robust, field-ready robotic platforms, with a particular focus on legged locomotion and manipulator arms for disaster response. Marais’s most significant contributions include the design and construction of the RATEL Urban Search and Rescue Robot at the University of Cape Town, where he pioneered the use of adjustable backlash duplex worm gears in manipulator arms to enhance precision and durability. His work on hexapod walkers, including reflex-assisted walking algorithms, has advanced the ability of legged robots to navigate uneven terrain, a critical capability for inspection and rescue missions. With over 25 citations across his key publications, Marais has also contributed to open-source education through the evaluation of the AR3 robot arm for the CSIR’s Learning Factory, helping to democratize robotics training in South Africa. His hands-on, build-and-test approach has produced tangible platforms that demonstrate how low-cost, durable robots can be deployed in real-world emergency scenarios.