From left: Lim Zi Jun, Er Kai Sheng, Lim Zi Quan, Ooi Soo Jack, Dr Danny Ng, President of RoboCup Malaysia (Malaysia AI Robotics Society) Prof Jeffrey Tan Too Chuan, Dr Kwan, Liew Kai Hin, Tan Yong Ji, Chong Ken Wai, and Charles Toh Chao Wei
In a landmark achievement underscoring its strength in engineering and innovation, UTAR secured three awards at the RoboCup Malaysia 2025 competition, held from 14 to 18 August 2025 at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP). This accomplishment highlights the University’s commitment to advancing robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) through rigorous academic training and cutting-edge research.
The competition, organised by the Malaysia AI Robotics Society (MARS), brought together leading academic institutions and innovators to promote the development of intelligent robotic systems. UTAR students from the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) emerged victorious, earning first place in the RoboCup Malaysia Open 2025@Home Education category, along with the Best Paper Award and Best Presentation Award at the RoboCup Symposium 2025.
From left: Tan Yong Ji, Liew Kai Hin, Dr Kwan, Dr Danny Ng, Charles Toh Chao Wei and Chong Ken Wai
The winning teams comprised an impressive cohort of undergraduate and postgraduate students. In the @Home Education category, team members Liew Kai Hin, Chong Ken Wai, Charles Toh Chao Wei, and Tan Yong Ji displayed outstanding synergy and innovation. Their winning entry featured a service robot designed with a delta omni-drive base, which enhanced movement precision and stability, enabling more refined motion control strategies in a simulated home environment.
From left: Lim Zi Quan, Lim Zi Jun, Er Kai Sheng, Ooi Soo Jack, Dr Kwan, Liew Kai Hin, Tan Yong Ji, Chong Ken Wai, and Charles Toh Chao Wei
Simultaneously, the RoboCup Symposium recognised the scholarly contributions of Lim Zi Quan, Lim Zi Jun, Er Kai Sheng, and Ooi Soo Jack with the Best Paper Award. Another team—consisting once again of Liew Kai Hin, Chong Ken Wai, Charles Toh Chao Wei, and Tan Yong Ji—clinched the Best Presentation Award, demonstrating not only technical prowess but also exceptional communication skills in conveying complex research.
RoboCup Malaysia, part of a global initiative, serves as a vital platform for advancing AI and robotics education. It aims to develop service and assistive technologies that are highly relevant to future domestic applications, particularly through benchmark tests conducted in non-standardised home settings. UTAR’s participation spanned two categories: the Open Platform League (OPL) and the @Home Education league. The latter serves as a bridge for junior and novice teams venturing into more advanced robotics challenges.
The students’ motivation stemmed from a shared desire to deepen their understanding of AI and robotics through hands-on experience. Reflecting on their journey, the teams remarked, “We participated in the RoboCup Malaysia competition to apply our theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges, collaborate as a team, and explore innovative robotic designs. The competition inspired us to continue improving and contributing to UTAR’s research in robotics and AI.”
Their projects showcased engineering ingenuity. The OPL team developed an omni-directional four-wheel swerve drive system coupled with a custom five-axis robotic arm, focusing on advanced mobility and manipulation. These designs underwent rigorous real-world testing during the competition, providing valuable feedback that will inform future refinements and research.
The achievements were recognised with trophies and certificates, symbolising not only technical success but also the high standard of education UTAR imparts to its students. The students’ mentors, including Assoc Prof Dr Kwan Ban Hoe and Ir Dr Danny Ng Wee Kiat, played pivotal roles in guiding the teams, further reflecting the University’s strong support for experiential learning and innovation.
These accolades reaffirm UTAR’s position as a leader in engineering education and its active role in addressing global challenges through research and talent development. They also align closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), advancing both national progress and international excellence in robotics and AI.
Lim Zi Quan, Er Kai Sheng and Ooi Soo Jack presenting their poster
Chong Ken Wai, Tan Yong Ji and Liew Kai Hin presenting their poster
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