Students win first prize at IMechE SEAR Innovation Challenge 2023

Chong Kai Wen (left) and Ong Li Kang (right)

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours student Chong Kai Wen and Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Honours student Ong Li Kang from UTAR Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) emerged as the winners of the IMechE South-East Asia Region (SEAR) Innovation Challenge 2023, which was held on 23 September 2023. The competition required the participants to design a mud and rubbish decluttering mechanism that works efficiently for flooding issues.

After the participants submitted their proposed solutions in the initial stage, the announcement of the top five teams with the best solutions was made. These teams then progressed through stages via poster voting and final pitching sessions. Chong Kai Wen and Ong Li Kang, who formed one team, secured the first position, earning a cash prize of 350 British Pounds along with a certificate.

Chong and Ong walked away with a certificate each

The team explained, “Our proposed solution used permeable pavement as the primary filter to prevent mud and rubbish from entering the drainage system. The drainage system consists of IoT-connected sensors, such as water level sensors and flow rate sensors for continuous monitoring of water flow and alerting the public when a flood occurs. Lastly, a slurry pump will be activated during a flood to pump excess water away and prevent flooding.”

They added, “We joined this competition to push the boundaries of innovation and make a real impact. It was an opportunity to showcase our dedication to creating a sustainable solution. Winning this competition is an incredible achievement for us. It validates all the hard work and countless hours we put into our research and project. We’re thrilled and humbled by the recognition. The significance of winning this competition goes beyond the trophy or prize money. It amplifies the importance of our research and the potential it holds for solving critical environmental challenges.”

Proposed design

The poster of the team

The poster of the challenge