UTM A Prove mettle, Crowned Champions Of Robocon Malaysia 2025
BATU PAHAT, June 19 (Bernama) -- Despite early setbacks during the prototype development phase, the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) A team refused to give up and went on to emerge as champions of the 2025 Malaysian Robocon Competition at university level.
Team leader Moh Nian Chun said he and his five teammates constantly sought solutions to ensure their robot functioned smoothly, in line with this year's competition theme - 'basketball match'.
The student from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering said the idea to build two robots with distinct roles – one as an attacker and the other as a defender – began in November, and both robots were successfully completed within six weeks.
'In the beginning, our robot, which was made of steel, had problems moving smoothly due to its weight.
'We had to change materials several times, and after a few demonstration sessions and input from senior students, we finally chose aluminium as the robot's main material,' he said when met after the prize-giving ceremony here today.
The prize-giving ceremony was held at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and officiated by Deputy Director-General of Higher Education (Governance and Development), Ahmad Rizal Adnan, together with UTHM Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Rashid Abdul Razzaq.
Moh said the team also conducted several trial demonstrations to prepare for the actual competition, and their continuous efforts paid off when they were crowned champions and will now represent Malaysia at the international level.
'Our next challenge is to compete in the ABU Robocon International Competition, which will be held from Aug 23 to 25 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. We will do our best to bring glory to the country,' he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Rizal said the competition, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) since 2002, is not merely a robotics contest but a strategic platform to foster a culture of innovation and technology among undergraduates.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
5 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Bornean elephants not pygmies, expert clarifies
Nurzhafarina Othman KINABATANGAN (June 22): The idea that Bornean elephants are related to the ancient pygmy elephants is a misconception, says elephant conservationist Dr Nurzhafarina Othman, who clarifies that no such pygmy species ever existed in Sabah. 'The term 'pygmy' was popularised through a scientific publication in 2003, likely to attract public interest. However, it needs to be corrected to prevent confusion,' she told Bernama. Dr Nurzhafarina, a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, explained that the Bornean elephants are indeed smaller than other Asian elephant subspecies, but noted that calling them pygmy elephants is inaccurate. 'True pygmy elephants were much smaller, about waist-high to humans and are long extinct,' she said. She urged the public and media to stop using the term 'pygmy' when referring to Bornean elephants, stressing that this misnomer overshadows their unique status as a distinct subspecies. 'The Bornean elephant, classified as Elephas maximus borneensis, is a special treasure unique to Sabah. Mislabeling them risks undermining their conservation,' Dr Nurzhafarina added. Currently, the species is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with an estimated 250 individuals remaining in the Kinabatangan area. Dr Nurzhafarina noted that ongoing research into the elephants' genetics, behaviour and habitat needs is critical for their protection. 'Understanding these elephants on their own terms and not through the lens of outdated myths , is key to effective conservation efforts,' she said. The conservationist also highlighted efforts to address human-elephant conflicts through habitat restoration and experimental food corridors but emphasized that education and accurate information are just as important to securing the elephants' future. 'The story of the Bornean elephant should be one of pride and preservation, free from confusion and misrepresentation,' she concluded. -Bernama
Barnama
6 hours ago
- Barnama
Cooperatives Urged To Implement Digitalisation Immediately To Remain Competitive
PUTRAJAYA, June 22 (Bernama) -- Coooperatives have been urged to implement digitalisation initiatives immediately and make full use of modern technology to ensure they remain competitive. Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia chairman Datuk Ahmad Norihan Jalal said the current business environment in Malaysia was challenging and required cooperatives to use technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT). 'We cannot be complacent, the business world will continue to change and cooperatives need to ride this wave of change. If cooperatives don't adapt, they will be left behind,' he said at a media conference after attending Koperasi Sahabat Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia Berhad's (Koop Sahabat) annual general meeting here today. Ahmad Norihan said digitalisation would speed up various process in cooperatives, from internal administration to e-commerce, and will not only boost efficiency but open up more job opportunities. 'Digital transformation in cooperatives must be seen as a long term investment. AI, IoT and digital systems aren't new things,' he added. Ahmad Norihan praised Koop Sahabat for launching an AI-based virtual support system, YATI, that was capable of giving immediate feedback and speed up access for its members, stating that the cooperative was brave in being innovative. Meanwhile Koop Sahabat chairman Mohd Najib Mohd Noor announced a dividend of 10 per cent for the 2024 financial year involving a total of RM10.5 million for 449,848 members. 'Our revenue was rather high with a profit of RM37 million, about a 140 per cent rise from the previous year,' he said, adding that the Ar-Rahnu business was the highest contributor to the cooperative's revenue, followed by investments in real estate and housing projects. -- BERNAMA
Barnama
6 hours ago
- Barnama
Japanese Startup Test Kit Shows Promise In Early Cancer Detection
TOKYO, June 22 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- A urine-based cancer risk screening kit developed by a Japanese startup is showing promise in detecting cancer at the earliest stage using non-invasive means, Kyodo News Agency reported. The test kit from Craif Inc., a spin-off from Nagoya University founded in 2018, can also be used to assess simultaneously whether a person is at risk from any of up to seven types of cancer. The product, which does not require a blood test, was able to detect changes in pre-malignant cells among residents of Hokkaido towns in northern Japan to whom the company distributed 100 sets of the "miSignal" test kit free of charge in the year through March 2025. bootstrap slideshow "We were able to detect and treat cancer that was difficult to find by X-ray," said Tatsuya Kato, a professor at the Hokkaido University Hospital, adding the kits would be vital in places such as Hokkaido, where medical resources are sparse. The kit can be used to detect microRNA, a biomarker known for its link to early cancer biology, in a small amount of urine and help screen the risks of cancer in the lungs, colon and pancreas, among others. Results of the survey using the test kits were announced at an annual meeting of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery in May. Among those aged 60 or older who had not taken a lung cancer test for five years or more, a tumour was detected in the lungs of a woman in her 60s that led to a detailed examination and successful surgery. The tumour was diagnosed as a "Stage 0" adenocarcinoma in situ. Precancerous cells in the colon and pancreas were also detected among six people in the survey, according to the company. In Japan, it is estimated that one in two people would develop cancer in their lifetime, while one in four men and one in six women will die from the disease, according to statistics of the National Cancer Centre Japan.
