UTAR students from the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT), the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES), and the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) showcased their innovative prowess by winning several awards at the Tech 4 Good Challenge 2024 Grand Finale under the tertiary students’ category. This prestigious event, co-organised by ViTrox Technologies and UTAR, took place at ViTrox Campus 2.0 in Penang on 6 July 2024, marking the successful conclusion of the Tech 4 Good Challenge 2023/2024.

The Tech 4 Good Challenge is a national platform that encourages young inventors to utilise their skills in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to solve real-world problems. The competition was divided into two categories: secondary school students and tertiary students, with each category tackling issues in three different tracks: Agriculture, Environment, and Well-being through Engineering Design.

A total of five groups from UTAR won awards at the event. Their achievements are a testament to the high-quality education and support provided by UTAR.

Best Poster Design Award: PartTimers

The PartTimers team, comprising Goh Ken How, Ho Joe Ee, and Soh Wen Kai from the Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) programme at FICT, Kampar Campus, won the Best Poster Design Award for their project “Resonate: Intelligent Human Connection Enhancer with Multimodal Emotional Recognition (MER)”. Their structured layout and design effectively conveyed their innovative approach to enhancing human connections through emotional recognition technology.

“Winning the Best Poster Award highlights the effectiveness of our structured layout and design, which clearly conveyed our message. This achievement is a testament to the exceptional education and support we received at UTAR, where rigorous coursework and faculty encouragement honed our skills. The invaluable feedback and guidance from FICT Head of Department of Computer Science Ts Dr Ooi Boon Yaik were crucial in refining our project. This award not only validates our hard work but also motivates us to continue innovating and pushing the boundaries of our field,” said the team.

Agriculture Track First Runner-Up: AgroTech

The AgroTech team, consisting of Lim Jun How, Liaw Yee Wei, and Teow Yee Ting from the Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Honours programme at LKC FES, Sungai Long Campus, secured the first runner-up position in the Agriculture track. Their project, “Revolutionising Agriculture Through Autonomous Technologies and Efficient Battery Management”, impressed judges with its integration of IoT, lithium-ion battery packs, and an AMR Battery Swapping Station to enhance agricultural efficiency and productivity.

The project stood out in the competition due to its innovative integration of advanced technology, including IoT, lithium-ion battery packs, and an AMR Battery Swapping Station. The comprehensive approach addresses a real-world problem in agriculture by offering a practical and forward-thinking solution that enhances efficiency and productivity.

“Participating in the Tech 4 Good Challenge provided us with an invaluable platform to showcase our skills and gain feedback from industry experts. Winning first runner-up in the Agriculture track is a significant honour that validates our hard work and dedication, motivating us to continue developing solutions with a positive societal and environmental impact,” the team enthused.

They added, “Our experience at UTAR was instrumental in our success. The solid foundation in engineering principles and practical skills, along with the support from LKC FES academics like Dr Hau Lee Cheun, played a crucial role in refining our project. UTAR’s emphasis on practical applications and industry-relevant projects prepared us well for the competition.”

The AMR Battery Swapping Station, designed to reduce downtime and optimise battery management in agriculture, also has versatile applications in other industries such as manufacturing and logistics. “Inspired by the need to improve automated farming and aligned with Industry 4.0 initiatives, our project addresses labour shortages and supports sustainability. Minimising battery disposal impact and improving operational efficiency contributes to a safer and more productive agricultural sector,” the team elaborated.

Agriculture Track Second Runner-Up: Ninja Seed

The Ninja Seed team, consisting of FEGT’s Bachelor of Electronics Engineering with Honours student Seow Shen Yang, and FICT’s Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours) Computer Engineering students Ngo Kok Wei, and Ong Niam Chi from Kampar Campus, won second runner-up in the Agriculture track. Their project “AgroSeed AI Grow System” leveraged AI, computer vision, sensor monitoring, IoT, and solar power to address agricultural challenges like resource inefficiency and crop diseases.

The team explained, “The AgroSeed AI Grow System distinguished itself with its advanced integration of AI, computer vision, sensor monitoring, IoT, and solar power, addressing key agricultural challenges such as resource inefficiency, crop diseases, and labour shortages. This innovative system is user-friendly, with customisable parameters that make it accessible even to novices, enhancing both productivity and sustainability in agriculture.”

They further added, “Participating in the Tech 4 Good competition provided a valuable opportunity to apply our knowledge in a practical context, challenge ourselves, and showcase our solution to industry experts. Securing the second runner-up position is a significant achievement that validates our hard work and motivates us to continue innovating.”

They also said, “Our experience at UTAR was crucial to our success. The university’s well-equipped labs and the mentorship of FICT academic Dr Teoh Shen Khang provided the support and resources necessary to navigate the project’s complexities. This solid foundation enabled us to develop a cutting-edge solution that combines AI and renewable energy to optimise seedling growth.”

The AgroSeed AI Grow System offers real-time health monitoring, early disease detection, and automated nutrient management while integrating solar power for energy efficiency. By improving resource use and reducing crop losses, the system promotes sustainability and supports farmers, even addressing labour shortages through remote monitoring capabilities. Its user-friendly design ensures that even beginners can manage it effectively, broadening its impact on agricultural productivity and accessibility.

Well-being Track First Runner-Up: GPT-1000-1

The GPT-1000-1 team, composed of Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours) Communications and Networking students, Kuek En Yee and Kwong Guan Yuan, and Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours) Information Systems Engineering student Lee Li Jie from FICT Kampar Campus, achieved first runner-up in the Well-being track with their project “Enjoyable” under the guidance of FICT academic Dr Aun Yichiet.

Enjoyable is an innovative audio descriptive method for videos, designed to help the blind experience visual content through detailed and immersive sound descriptions. By transforming visual elements into rich, auditory narratives, Enjoyable enables the blind to “see” and fully engage with videos like never before.

The team enthused, “Jumping into this competition has been a wild ride! It taught us so much and helped us grow stronger as a team. We’re all about coming up with solutions that can really help people and make a positive impact. Winning this competition feels amazing, like all our hard work is paying off. We’re super grateful for the chance to contribute to something bigger than ourselves and thankful for finding each other as teammates—everything just clicks with the right crew. Huge shoutout to UTAR for giving us the platform and resources to shine.”

Well-being Track Second Runner-Up: Three of Us

The Three of Us team, comprising Tay Min Min, Lee Jia Ji, and Yuki Tan Lok Yee from the Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) from FICT Kampar Campus, secured second runner-up in the Well-being track with their project “Cancer Survival Application: Deserve a Second Life”. This application integrates advanced AR and AI technologies to support breast cancer patients with features like AR-guided self-examinations, AI-driven chatbot support, and personalised dietary recommendations.

“The Cancer Survival Application, ‘Deserve a Second Life distinguishes itself by integrating advanced AR and AI technologies to support breast cancer patients. The application provides practical features such as AR-guided self-examinations, AI-driven chatbot support, and personalised dietary recommendations, creating a comprehensive and user-friendly tool. This innovative approach addresses the physical and emotional needs of patients, enhancing their quality of life and aiding in their recovery journey,” the team explained.

They also said, “Participating in the Tech 4 Good competition allowed us to showcase our skills and increase awareness of breast cancer. Winning second runner-up is a significant honour that validates the hard work and dedication put into developing the application. It also motivates us to continue making impactful contributions to healthcare technology.”

“Our experience at UTAR was fundamental to our success. The university’s rigorous academic environment, hands-on projects, and the guidance of our supervisor and FICT Deputy Dean Ts Dr Cheng Wai Khuen, equipped us with the skills necessary to develop this innovative solution. UTAR’s support and resources were crucial in turning our vision into reality,” they added.

“The Cancer Survival Application not only empowers patients with knowledge and resources but also helps reduce feelings of isolation and anxiety through its emotional support features. By demonstrating the practical use of AR and AI in healthcare, the application paves the way for future advancements in medical support tools and significantly impacts patient care and well-being,” said the team.

The achievements of these students highlight the excellent education and mentorship provided by UTAR, inspiring future generations to pursue innovative solutions for societal challenges.

In addition to these five winning groups, four more groups from UTAR were also shortlisted and competed in the Tech 4 Good Challenge 2024 Grand Finale. The groups were:

• ‘FurGuardians,’ consisting of Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) students Lim Xuan, Wee Jeng Kai, and Chua Cheng Han from FICT Kampar Campus.
• ‘The Breadwinners,’ consisting of Bachelor of Science (Honours) Software Engineering students Tharani Chandran and Tin Hui Hui from LKC FES Sungai Long Campus.
• ‘Aquaponix,’ consisting of Bachelor of Science (Honours) Software Engineering students Choo Jia Zheng, Lee Chee Jian, and Trevor Yee Han Shen from LKC FES Sungai Long Campus.
• ‘H2Oasis,’ consisting of Bachelor of Science (Honours) Software Engineering students Ting Seung Keat, Woo Khai Ren, and Ong Jia Le from LKC FES Sungai Long Campus.