Winners’ pose: Adeline (third from left) with (from left) Ng, Ahmed, Ahamad, Mohammed Fadhi and Irfan at the event.
USING robots to deliver food is no longer the stuff of dreams.
In the digital age, it has been made possible through intelligent automation.
As efforts are ongoing to achieve the best possible outcomes, a team from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) recently proved they have what it takes to push the boundaries of technology.
In fact, they outshone 95 teams and over 450 participants from various countries to clinch the Innovation Award in the tertiary category at the RoboRoarZ 2025 competition.
The international event, held at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) from January 23 to 24, challenged participants to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of “Smorphi”, a reconfigurable robot designed by the SUTD, to complete a simulated food delivery task in the shortest time possible within a complex maze.
Innovative: The team’s prototype of a multifunctional transformer robot for food delivery.
Team APU – comprising Ng Soon Teck (Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering), Ahmed Abdelkoudous Anteur (Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Hons), Ahamad Muhamad Musthafa (Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Science (Cyber Security)), Mohammed Fadhi Puzhangarayillath Safeer (Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) (Artificial Intelligence)), and Irfan Muhammed (Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Science with a specialism in Data Analytics) – stood out with a transformer robot that demonstrated agility, adaptability and problem-solving capabilities.
According to a press release from APU, the students’ award-winning project was inspired by the rising demand for automation in the food industry.
“Recognising the complexities involved in food processing, packaging and delivery, the team envisioned a multifunctional robotic system capable of seamlessly switching between tasks such as food handling, sorting and packaging.
“By integrating AI-driven automation, the students aimed to enhance efficiency, minimise human intervention and revolutionise industry operations,” it read.
It added that under the mentorship of APU School of Computing senior lecturer Dr Adeline Sneha John Chrisastum, the team navigated challenges effectively and enhanced their creative problem-solving skills through guidance in AI integration, design thinking and prototyping.
“On top of that, regular feedback sessions helped them refine their robot’s functionality and adaptability, which played a pivotal role in shaping the project’s innovative capabilities,” it said.
Adeline highlighted that the team’s achievement at the design-focused reconfigurable robotics challenge positions APU as a frontrunner in cutting-edge research and industry-driven education, unlocking new opportunities for strategic collaborations, research grants and technological advancements.
“This achievement is more than a trophy; it showcases APU’s hands-on, interdisciplinary approach, equipping students to tackle real-world challenges and shape the future of robotics and automation,” she said in the press release dated March 3.
The next edition of the RoboRoarZ 2025 competition will be hosted at the APU campus in May.
