Thumbs up: (From left) Zi Jun, Er, Zi Quan, Ooi, Ng, Malaysia AI Robotics Society president Prof Jeffrey Tan Too Chuan, Kwan, Liew, Tan, Chong and Toh striking a pose.
AS household use of robots grows, so does the demand for smarter, more capable robotic systems.
Showcasing their synergy and innovation, two teams from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) designed their service robots with practical applications in mind.
Their efforts saw the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) students earning accolades at RoboCup Malaysia 2025 recently.
In the @Home Education category, undergraduates Liew Kai Hin, Chong Ken Wai, Charles Toh Chao Wei and Tan Yong Ji emerged champions with a service robot built on a delta omni-drive base, which enhances movement precision and stability, enabling more refined motion control strategies in a simulated home environment.
They also clinched the Best Presentation Award at the RoboCup Symposium, demonstrating not only technical prowess but also strong communication skills in conveying complex research.
Another LKC FES team – comprising Lim Zi Quan, Lim Zi Jun, Er Kai Sheng and Ooi Soo Jack, who are at different stages of their academic journey – also shone at the symposium, taking home the Best Paper Award.
Competing in the Open Platform League category, the team developed an omni-directional four-wheel swerve drive system coupled with a custom five-axis robotic arm, focusing on advanced mobility and manipulation.
Expressing their joy at their success, both teams said their shared desire to deepen their understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics through hands-on experience had been the driving force behind their participation.
“We participated in the competition to apply our theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges, collaborate as a team, and explore innovative robotic designs.
“The competition has inspired us to continue improving and contributing to UTAR’s research in robotics and AI,” they said in a Nov 4 press release.
Both teams, who received trophies and certificates, also expressed appreciation to their mentors, including Assoc Prof Dr Kwan Ban Hoe and Dr Danny Ng Wee Kiat, for their guidance.
RoboCup Malaysia 2025, organised by the Malaysia AI Robotics Society and held at Universiti Malaysia Perlis from Aug 14 to 18, is part of a global initiative that serves as a platform for advancing AI and robotics education.
It aims to foster the development of service and assistive technologies that are highly relevant to future domestic applications, particularly through benchmark tests conducted in non-standardised home settings.
