Innovation as a process: the example of traffic robots in Kinshasa

Innovation as a process: the example of traffic robots in Kinshasa
The act of innovation is often described as a process [1, 2, 3, 4].  The process consists of a succession of activities which starts with someone looking for an opportunity for a valuable new product or action, and ends with people getting the new product or doing the new action.  Table 1 presents innovation as a process, with activities put into four stages that follow each other.
 
Table 1: Innovation as a process
- Stage 1: Find an opportunity for a new product or action, and find ideas that may help to respond to the opportunity
- Stage 2: Assess the opportunity and ideas to see whether they are valuable and whether the ideas can be developed
- Stage 3: Develop the best ideas
- Stage 4: Benefit from the product or action developed from the ideas
 
It is sensible to describe innovation as a process for a number of reasons.  Firstly, the act of innovation consists of activities that follow in a natural sequence.  For example, ideas have to precede their development into a product, and the development of a product has to precede its launch in a market.  Secondly, the activities that make up innovation require different skills and equipment, so it is sensible to consider them separately.  An example here is that advertising is used in the final stages of innovation when a product is sold, but is not used in the earlier stages when a product is designed.  Thirdly, the process separates activities into different stages, and managers can examine performance at the end of each stage before deciding whether to continue with the innovation.  An example here is that after assessing the value of an idea, a manager can decide whether to develop the idea into a product.
 
Most innovation can be considered as a process, whether it is done by a very large company or a single individual.  For example, a person who works alone offering flexible services to tourists is often highly innovative.  They adapt their services to the requirements of the tourists, and may offer sightseeing, travel advice, or translation.  The person’s innovation may be described as a process using the stages in table 1.  They find a tourist who may present an opportunity for work, and find whether the tourist would like any services, such as sightseeing.  If the tourist makes any requests, the person assesses whether they can provide the service.  They then develop a plan for satisfying the request, such as visiting major monuments, and propose it to the tourist.  If the tourist likes the plan and the price of the service, the tourist will purchase the service, and the person benefits from the payment.
 
Traffic robots in Kinshasa
The process can be illustrated more clearly by a specific example of innovation: the introduction of traffic robots in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.) [5, 6, 7].  The traffic robots are machines for controlling and monitoring traffic, and have a distinctive human shape.  They were introduced in 2013 [8].  They were designed by a team led by the entrepreneur and industrial engineer Thérèse Kirongozi [9].
 
The problem that Kirongozi’s team solved was easy to find.  Kinshasa is a mega-city with a population exceeding ten million people, where traffic security is a public health hazard according to Kirongozi [10].  She wanted to create something that allowed better control of the chaotic traffic and that provided assistance to traffic police [11].
 
Having identified Kinshasa’s traffic security as an important problem, Kirongozi tried to find ideas that could be developed into a solution.  The “Women’s Technology” association, of which Kirongozi is the president, discussed the issue [12].  They organised a trade fair for Congolese inventors, who could propose ideas for addressing the Kinshasa traffic problem [13].
 
The trade fair gave Kirongozi the chance to assess the proposed ideas.  She liked one idea that proposed a robot with moving arms, which was demonstrated by a working model [14].  She also liked another idea that showed a model vehicle [15].  These two ideas were selected for further development.
 
It wasn’t certain that the ideas could be turned into a product that helps to solve the traffic security problem.  However, the models presented at the trade fair allowed Kirongozi to assess some of the mechanics and appearance of possible products [16].  Additionally, her skills as an engineer and entrepreneur reduced the risk of bad management [17].  It was also not certain that the Kinshasa authorities would want to buy the final product.  However, the benefits from improved traffic security were clear, and a robot product would be original and may be able to capture the whole Congolese market for automated traffic control [18, 19].
 
To develop the ideas, Kirongozi set up a laboratory [20, 21] without government funds or orders [22].  She hired a team of four engineers, including the engineer who proposed the original robot idea [23].  They combined the model robot and the model vehicle that Kirongozi had seen at the trade fair, and built prototypes from them [24].
 
Two prototypes were provided free on two crossroads in the city, and the city authorities provided feedback to the development team on how to improve the robot [25].  After further development [26, 27], the team produced a commercial product that met specifications for traffic control, user-friendliness, and robustness.  Some features of the early versions of the robots are shown in table 2; the robots may also be customised to meet specific demands and are subject to ongoing development [28].
 
Table 2: Features of the early versions of the traffic robots
Traffic control
- Contains four traffic lights for vehicles and pedestrians
- Rotates to regulate traffic from different directions [29]
Monitoring of traffic and compliance with regulation
- Stores or transmits live video to police [30, 31]
Power
- Powered entirely by solar energy [32]
Pedestrian-friendliness
- Issues visual and verbal instructions, and plays music [33]
Safety
- Monitors traffic using cameras to determine when it is safe for pedestrians to cross [34]
Robustness
- Has an aluminium cover to withstand tropical conditions [35]
Appearance
- Has a human shape that is close to science-fiction robots
 
The traffic robots initially did not financially benefit Kirongozi.  She offered them for sale to the Kinshasa authorities, but the authorities were reluctant to purchase [36].  She gave the authorities two prototypes for free, and motorists praised the prototypes [37, 38].  She adapted the prototypes to meet the authorities’ requirements, and pushed for new contracts in Kinshasa, elsewhere in the D.R.C., and internationally [39, 40, 41].
 
Kirongozi’s persistence brought benefits after a time.  The Kinshasa authorities purchased three traffic robots in 2014-2015 at a price of around US$27,500 (24,000 Euros or 44,000,000 D.R.C. Francs at the exchange rate of 1 March 2019) [42], and subsequently purchased more [43].  Others have been installed in major cities across the country [44, 45, 46, 47] with various designs [48, 49].
 
The traffic robots have brought non-financial benefits too.  The number of traffic accidents has reportedly fallen in the areas of Kinshasa where the robots were installed [50].  Ten skilled permanent jobs and several trainee jobs in robot assembly have been created in Kinshasa [51].  Kirongozi has shared her business experiences in many press interviews, and won business prizes [52, 53].
 
Kirongozi continues to innovate the traffic robots.  They have improved technically [54, 55] and new designs have been introduced [56, 57].  Robot prices in 2018 were as low as US$10,000 (9,000 Euros or 16,000,000 D.R.C. Francs at the exchange rate of 1 March 2019) [58].  Kirongozi is also looking to use her team’s skills in robotics in other sectors, such as the military, toxic waste handling, and road cleaning [59].
 
References
The Youtube videos, as well as links [4] and [52], are in French.  All links are active.
[1]…https://www.uk-cpi.com/news/the-innovation-process/
[2]…https://online.rivier.edu/5-stages-of-the-innovation-process/
[3]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/contenu/formations/mpa/materiel_pedagogique/defi_innovation/processus_innovation.html
[4]…https://www.kmu.admin.ch/kmu/fr/home/savoir-pratique/gestion-pme/innovation/etapes-processus-innovation/processus-innovation.html
[5]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.startup.cd/innovation/robot-roulage-circulation-innovation-100-made-in-rdc/
[6]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.radiookapi.net/actualite/2013/06/28/kinshasa-presentation-dun-robot-regulateur-de-la-circulation-alimente-lenergie-solaire/
[7]…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phLXQ0iq_e8
[8]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.radiookapi.net/actualite/2013/06/28/kinshasa-presentation-dun-robot-regulateur-de-la-circulation-alimente-lenergie-solaire/
[9]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=15
[10]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=36
[11]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[12]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=42
[13]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=55
[14]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=59
[15]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=72
[16]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=59
[17]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=15
[18]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[19]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/03/dr-congo-turns-robots-combat-traffic-20143205531424870.html
[20]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=100
[21]…https://youtu.be/nb_gVn2zGAM?t=46
[22]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[23]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[24]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=78
[25]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[26]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.radiookapi.net/actualite/2013/10/21/kinshasa-robot-regule-la-circulation-routiere-au-carrefour-du-boulevard-triomphal/
[27]…www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/mar/05/robocops-being-used-as-traffic-police-in-democratic-republic-of-congo
[28]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/274151/economie/rdc-therese-izay-et-son-robot-100-made-in-kin/
[29]…https://youtu.be/itiR3RdswtU?t=62
[30]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.radiookapi.net/actualite/2013/06/28/kinshasa-presentation-dun-robot-regulateur-de-la-circulation-alimente-lenergie-solaire/
[31]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[32]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[33]…https://youtu.be/itiR3RdswtU?t=169
[34]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[35]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[36]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[37]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20140319-rdc-robots-kinshasa-remplacent-policiers-circulation/
[38]…https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/mar/05/robocops-being-used-as-traffic-police-in-democratic-republic-of-congo
[39]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/274151/economie/rdc-therese-izay-et-son-robot-100-made-in-kin/
[40]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.radiookapi.net/emissions-2/linvite-du-jour/2015/03/04/therese-iza-kirongozi-parle-de-deploiement-des-robots-roulages-kinshasa/
[41]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=158
[42]…https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/mar/05/robocops-being-used-as-traffic-police-in-democratic-republic-of-congo
[43]…https://youtu.be/nb_gVn2zGAM?t=26
[44]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/274151/economie/rdc-therese-izay-et-son-robot-100-made-in-kin/
[45]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://habarirdc.net/therese-kirongozi-mere-robot-roulage-congolaise-innovation-rdc/
[46]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.laprunellerdc.info/2018/06/25/sud-kivu-bukavu-a-son-robot-roulage-intelligent-pour-reguler-la-circulation-routiere/
[47]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.forumdesas.org/spip.php?article15402
[48]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.laprunellerdc.info/2018/06/25/sud-kivu-bukavu-a-son-robot-roulage-intelligent-pour-reguler-la-circulation-routiere/
[49]…https://youtu.be/nb_gVn2zGAM?t=73
[50]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.forumdesas.org/spip.php?article15402
[51]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.startup.cd/innovation/robot-roulage-circulation-innovation-100-made-in-rdc/
[52]…https://twitter.com/RTNC_nationale/status/960446783204847617
[53]…https://youtu.be/YexxPR77K0w?t=20
[54]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.radiookapi.net/actualite/2013/10/21/kinshasa-robot-regule-la-circulation-routiere-au-carrefour-du-boulevard-triomphal/
[55]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/274151/economie/rdc-therese-izay-et-son-robot-100-made-in-kin/
[56]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.laprunellerdc.info/2018/06/25/sud-kivu-bukavu-a-son-robot-roulage-intelligent-pour-reguler-la-circulation-routiere/
[57]…https://youtu.be/nb_gVn2zGAM?t=73
[58]…https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.forumdesas.org/spip.php?article15402
[59]…https://youtu.be/itiR3RdswtU?t=288