Today we share an interview with Afonso Mendes, a student in the Master’s in Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering.

His interest in technology, in general, began due to the influence of his grandmother: «From a very young age (around 6 years old), she was the one who first introduced me to technology, always being someone who had access to the latest devices», he highlights. Over time, his curiosity to explore this field on his own grew and the roles reversed, with Afonso becoming the one sharing his knowledge with his grandmother.

My grandmother has always been someone far ahead of her time. (...) This process sparked in me a constant curiosity and an increasing desire to understand how technology works.

Afonso Mendes, student in the Master’s in Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering

This interest led him to enrol in the Bachelor’s in Electronic, Telecommunications and Computer Engineering at ISEL. Later, he decided to continue his academic path at Técnico, motivated both by the programme’s curriculum, which currently includes a specialisation in telecommunications, and by the opportunity to take part in a wide range of extracurricular activities. «Técnico stands out for offering students a great diversity of student groups, initiatives and events that align with what I seek for my academic and personal development. I recognised in those opportunities a reflection of my ambitions for the future, which reinforced my decision to follow this path», he explains.

On the other hand, he also highlights that the innovative environment and the strong connection between the School and the business sector played an important role in his decision. From his perspective, contact with the current industrial landscape is essential for the transition into the labour market.

From my point of view, engineers have a significant impact on society through their ability to simplify problems and their constant willingness to solve them. Instead of focusing on complexity, they look for practical, efficient and feasible solutions.

Afonso Mendes, student in the Master’s in Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering

At Técnico, this vision is encouraged from an early stage through contact with real-world problems in courses such as Vehicular Networks, currently taught by Professor Teresa Vazão. In this course, students are challenged to put into practice concepts related to cooperative intelligent transport systems, contributing to the efficiency, safety and sustainability of mobility.

Afonso Mendes was part of the Centurion — Smart Helmet project, which consisted of the development of a smart helmet for electric scooter riders: «the solution integrates vehicle detection mechanisms using GPS and ultrasonic sensors, making it possible to identify the proximity of other vehicles and alert the user in real time. In addition, the helmet includes an LED system that lights up as a vehicle approaches and features sound alerts, providing multiple warning signals to increase hazard awareness», he explains.

The core idea behind Centurion was to create an accessible and effective system that contributes to reducing accidents in urban environments.

Afonso Mendes, student in the Master’s in Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering

This year, the projects were presented at the Vehicular Networks Demo Day, where Centurion was considered the most interesting project from the perspective of the students attending the event.

After the development of Centurion, motivated by his interest in entrepreneurship and innovation, Afonso Mendes challenged his colleagues José Oliveira and Tiago Videira to participate in the BEST Entrepreneurship Experience. After a week of talks, workshops and networking moments, the event culminated in the presentation of solutions and business plans created by the students. The group achieved 1st place on the podium with the project NetCatch: a system based on launching a net to recover drones, preventing the loss of equipment during maritime missions.

«I believe we stood out because we presented a practical solution to a real problem, combined with strong teamwork and effective communication», he says. For the student, communication is fundamental in teamwork, as it prevents mistakes and ensures that requirements and solutions are properly understood and implemented: «an engineer never works alone, they almost always work as part of a team, and therefore knowing how to communicate is just as important as technical knowledge», he states.

Afonso Mendes was responsible for building the business model and preparing its presentation: «Overall, I would say that my contribution was helping connect the technical component with the way the solution is communicated and presented», he explains.

Communication is essential for an engineer: it allows complex technical ideas to be transformed into something understandable for different audiences.

Afonso Mendes, student in the Master’s in Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering

It was also with the goal of developing this skill that Afonso Mendes joined JET: Jornadas da Engenharia Tecnológica at the Oeiras campus. In this year’s edition, he was part of the external relations team, where he was responsible for contacting companies, managing relationships with them throughout the event and promoting networking activities. Additionally, this interest in strengthening connections with industry is also reflected in his role as a NOS ambassador, where he is responsible for reinforcing the connection between the company and Técnico by promoting the company’s values and career opportunities within the School.

On the other hand, in addition to participating in engineering-related activities, the student also seeks to engage in solidarity initiatives. This year, he volunteered with Missão País, where he provided social support to elderly people and children.

Contact with elderly people, often alone at home, in nursing homes or day-care centres, and with children, with all their purity, was very special. These are experiences that help us grow immensely as people and give us a different perspective on life.

Afonso Mendes, student in the Master’s in Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering

If he could speak to his younger self, the student says he would tell him that «life is made of challenges», which contribute to each person’s personal and professional growth. He also adds that effort always contributes to achieving goals, even if only from a long-term perspective.

In the future, he hopes to continue facing new challenges and creating solutions with social impact through technology.

When I compare what I aspired to when I was younger with where I am today, I realise that I have gone far beyond what I imagined, and that is something I am deeply proud of.

Afonso Mendes, student in the Master’s in Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering