Two teams from Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) made their mark at The GREAT Challenge Demo Day 2025, held at Da Men Mall, Subang. Competing against 36 teams, both UTAR teams, URS-1 and URS-2, successfully secured spots among the top eight finalists and won consolation prizes, each receiving RM1,000 in cash and a certificate. The event, organised by MRANTI, aimed to promote robotics innovation and adoption among SMEs in Malaysia.
Both teams and their robots: MAR mkII (centre) and ISOBOT (right)
The competition, which began on 12 August 2024, challenged participants to develop innovative robotics solutions to address pressing industry challenges. UTAR’s teams took on this challenge with two remarkable projects.
Team URS-1’s project, Multirole Automated Robot MK2 (MAR mkII), was designed to assist retail store owners in stock checking, automating customer ordering systems, and organising product inventory using a real-time database. The robot aims to simplify operations, especially during peak seasons, improving efficiency and customer service.
Team URS-2’s project, ISOBOT, focused on tackling the labour shortage in recycling facilities. By utilising advanced waste sorting algorithms, ISOBOT enhances the efficiency of recycling processes, ensuring minimal contamination and improving the overall quality of recyclables.
Both teams demonstrated outstanding engineering prowess and innovation, reflecting UTAR’s commitment to fostering research and development in robotics.
From left: Ms Evelyn Woon, Mr Safuan, Ooi, Lim Zi Jun, and Lim Zi Quan
Speaking about their participation, Lim Zi Jun, team leader of URS-1, shared, “We saw this competition as an opportunity to challenge ourselves in solving real-world problems using autonomous mobile robots. The experience has been invaluable in pushing our technical and problem-solving skills to the next level.”
From left: Ms Evelyn Woon, Mr Safuan, Luai, Lim Yee Jia, and Kevin Chew
Similarly, Lim Yee Jia from URS-2 expressed excitement over their achievement, stating, “Winning this award reassures us that we are on the right track. It’s not just about the prize—it’s about the learning experience, teamwork, and the opportunity to showcase our ideas.” “This recognition is a stepping stone for us. It shows that our solutions have the potential to solve industry challenges, and we look forward to further research and development in automation,” said Kevin Chew Ken Yi of URS-2.
The awards were presented by Ms Evelyn Woon, General Manager of Marketing at Pavilion REIT, and Mr Safuan Zairi, MRANTI’s Chief Ecosystem Officer. The recognition has motivated both teams to further refine their robotics solutions and explore real-world applications beyond the competition.
The success of UTAR’s teams at The GREAT Challenge Demo Day 2025 highlights the university’s strong emphasis on innovation and technological advancement. Both teams’ remarkable achievements serve as an inspiration for students to venture into the field of robotics and contribute to solving industry challenges through automation.
Congratulations to Team URS-1 and Team URS-2 for their impressive performance and well-deserved recognition at this prestigious competition!
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