The pride of UTAR shines again when three teams of students from Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) won one gold and two silver awards at the IEEE R10 Humanitarian Technology Conference (HTC) Innovation Challenge 2024, held from 1 to 3 October 2024, in Kuala Lumpur.
The gold-award winning team was led by Lee Jun Han and consisted of members Tan Yan Xing, Wong Chi Heim, and Chuah Chun Yeh. The team enthused, “Winning has been both humbling and motivating for our team, and we are happy that our project is recognised. We believe we stood out because our project addresses a real need in rehabilitation, providing an affordable and efficient solution. Participating in the competition gave us a platform to showcase our innovation.”
They also expressed, “We are also thankful to UTAR for providing us with the necessary academic and technical support, which was crucial in allowing us to develop a functional prototype and eventually join the IEEE competition. UTAR has provided us with a solid grounding in engineering principles, along with opportunities to work on impactful projects. The support from our lecturers, Ir Dr Goh Choon Hian, Mr Chong Yu Zheng and Dr Chan Siow Cheng, and the resources available at UTAR have been crucial to our success in this competition.”
Lee’s team won gold award e-certificates and complimentary conference publication/presentation. Their award-winning project was titled Development of Pneumatic-Based Exoskeleton System for Ankle Dorsiflexion and Plantarflexion, a project that aimed to develop a pneumatic-based ankle exoskeleton that addressed these issues.
The team explained, “The project fundamentally addresses the need for affordable rehabilitation devices. This is because current exoskeleton systems are often costly, limiting access for patients, especially in low-resource settings. We aim to create a solution that could make rehabilitation more accessible. The exoskeleton is designed for rehabilitation in clinical settings and at home, helping patients improve ankle mobility while reducing the need for expensive, specialised equipment. Additionally, this exoskeleton can reduce rehabilitation costs and increase accessibility, making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Its efficient use of pneumatic systems also makes it an energy-conscious solution.”
The project is in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and well-being, which promotes health equity by making rehabilitation technologies more affordable and accessible, especially in underserved communities. It also aligns with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, as the project aims to provide cost-effective rehabilitation solutions for individuals, who might not have access to expensive, high-end rehabilitation devices, thus ensuring that underserved populations receive the care they need. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, is also considered in their project because it enables home-based therapy, which reduces the need for frequent trips to specialised rehab centres, making it easier for communities with limited infrastructure to support patient recovery locally.
Chong Ying Hang and Lee Di Shen won a silver award for their project titled Pneumatic Based Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) System for Ankle Dorsiflexion and Plantarflexion. The project was specifically designed to aid in ankle rehabilitation by enabling controlled dorsiflexion and plantarflexion movements. It consists of two modes: active and passive. The active mode provides gentle, repetitive motion to the ankle joint, while the passive mode requires the user to apply some effort with their foot to trigger the motion.
They expressed, “We’re truly honoured and excited to have won silver in this competition. The experience motivated us to think creatively and work together as a team, and we’re grateful for the support and encouragement from UTAR and the lecturers, Ir Dr Goh Choon Hian and Mr Chong Yu Zheng. Their guidance really helped us refine our ideas and stand out. We joined the competition because it was a unique chance to challenge ourselves and gain new skills, and this achievement means a lot to us. Winning feels like a reward for all the hard work, and we’re inspired to keep growing and aiming even higher.”
When asked about their inspiration for this project, the team answered, “There is limited research exploring the combination of automated and semi-automated rehabilitation systems, which could enhance treatment options. This project aims to address this gap by proposing a pneumatic-based device capable of continuous passive and active motion, designed to improve accessibility and affordability for a wider range of patients. Next, highly repetitive exercises can lead to physical fatigue for patients and emotional exhaustion for therapists, potentially lowering the quality of care and poor recovery outcomes for patients. The CPM system offers versatile applications in clinical and home rehabilitation settings, providing critical support for individuals recovering from ankle injuries, surgeries, or conditions affecting mobility. In a clinical environment, the system can reduce the physical demands on therapists by automating repetitive motion, while at-home use allows patients to continue their rehabilitation independently, promoting recovery and flexibility.”
They added, “Using sustainable materials like biodegradable PLA filament reduces environmental impact, aligning with responsible production and consumption. This makes the CPM system both effective and eco-friendly. Socially, the project promotes healthcare equity by providing accessible rehabilitation and improving well-being and quality of life across socio-economic groups. Therefore, the project also aligns with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, by enhancing health outcomes through faster recovery, reduced pain, and improved mobility. The project advances SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by fostering innovation in biomedical technology and integrating engineering principles into patient care. It aligns with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by offering a cost-effective and accessible device that reduces healthcare disparities, and it supports SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production through sustainable production practices using durable, eco-friendly materials.”
Another silver-award winning team was led by Chuah Yi Ye and consisted of members Eunice Chua Sing Yern, Amy Wang Mei Yin, and Ang Zhi Ying. They expressed, “This project was part of our UEMB3088 Integrated Design Project (IDP), which is a compulsory initiative for Biomedical Engineering students. Our team attributes this achievement to the unwavering support and resources UTAR provided throughout our journey. We are grateful for the guidance from our lecturers, Ir Dr Goh Choon Hian and Mr Chong Yu Zheng, helpful feedback from test subjects, and the collaborative spirit among our coursemates. Access to UTAR’s labs and materials was crucial in testing and refining our project. UTAR’s commitment to fostering an environment for hands-on learning and innovation played a significant role in helping us reach this milestone.”
Their award-winning project was titled Development of an Automated Inflatable Mattress for Bedsore Prevention. They explained, “The idea for this project stemmed from the pressing need for better bedsore prevention tools in elderly care. Existing methods like manual repositioning are often labour-intensive and may not prevent pressure injuries reliably. By dynamically adjusting air pressure across the mattress in response to real-time sensor data, this solution provides a more effective and comfortable method of reducing pressure sores, ultimately improving quality of life.”
They continued, “Beyond preventing pressure injuries, the system holds the potential to reduce hospital readmissions and alleviate financial pressures on healthcare providers and families. The mattress system’s design allows for broad application, including hospitals, nursing homes, and even home care settings. By ensuring that all patients have access to effective bedsore prevention, this project demonstrates how innovation can improve healthcare accessibility and quality, especially in areas with limited resources. Moreover, this automated mattress system has significant implications for elderly care. It contributes to enhanced comfort, dignity, and overall well-being for elderly patients by helping prevent painful sores and improving sleep quality. Additionally, it eases financial burdens for families and healthcare systems by lowering the risk of bedsores. This project exemplifies how technological advancements in elderly care can improve patient outcomes and set a precedent for future developments in geriatric healthcare.”
The project aligns with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, as the development of an automated inflatable mattress system for bedsore prevention; and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by fostering technological innovation and supporting infrastructure development through the integration of sensors (FSRs) and IoT.
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