Corné Prinsloo

MEng (Research), Mechanical Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Short-field take-off enhancement of UAVs using blown flap technology.

• Designing an internally blown Coandă flap retrofit to cut a UAV ground roll from about 100 m to under 10 m.
• Built a fully scripted 2D RANS pipeline in Python (Gmsh, ANSYS Fluent journals) and ran a 98-case flap study.
• Working across fidelity levels, from vortex-lattice (AeroSandbox, OpenVSP, XFLR5) to 2D and 3D RANS.
• Planning validation with a static Coandă bench, a wind-tunnel section model and a propeller traverse.

BEng Mechatronic Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Final-year project: automatic rally detection and video capture for Spikeball using computer vision.

• Control and dynamics: state-space and frequency-domain control, PID design, observers, digital control.
• Embedded systems and electronics: microcontrollers, digital logic, circuit design, electrical drives.
• Thermofluids, mechanical design, systems engineering, numerical methods and data analytics.

AS-Levels

Windhoek Gymnasium Private School

English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry; Afrikaans and Accounting (O-Level).

Laboratory Engineer

Dept. of Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, SU

Responsible for four materials laboratories.

• Run the metallography, microscopy, furnace and powder labs, including safety inductions, operator sign-off and safety report review.
• Moved inventory and equipment booking from spreadsheets to automated Microsoft Lists and Power Automate workflows.
• Order consumables, maintain equipment, write SOPs and liaise with staff.

Vacation Intern

Emcon Consulting Group, Windhoek

• Bills of quantities for lighting and electronic systems; tender evaluation for HVAC, LAN and electrical services; multidisciplinary site visits.

Vacation Intern

Greenplan Consultants, Somerset West

• Modelled buildings in DesignBuilder, ran energy audits and optimised insulation and glazing to SANS 10400-XA.

Vacation Intern

Robotic Handling Systems, Brackenfell

• Assembled, wired and programmed an ABB robot-based machine, including I/O module code and printer error-checking logic.

Co-founder and Facilitator

Ukubayi Leadership Programme

• Designed a four-module, 12-session values-based leadership programme accredited by SU’s Unit for Experiential Learning. Wrote all materials and lead the sessions.

Cluster Convenor

Wimbledon Cluster, Stellenbosch University

• Co-lead six student communities; responsible for governance, elections and reporting.

Primarius

Helshoogte Men’s Residence

• Chaired the 16-member house committee, represented residents to the university and oversaw events, sport and logistics.

House Committee Member

Helshoogte Men’s Residence

• Registrar and Editorial portfolios: administration, constitution, a weekly newsletter and a termly magazine.