APU’s AI-driven robot wins Innovation Award at RoboRoarZ

The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has once again demonstrated its prowess in robotics and AI-driven automation, securing the Innovation Award in the tertiary category at the RoboRoarZ 2025 competition.

The two-day event, held from January 23-24, 2025, at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), saw APU’s team competing against 95 teams and over 450 participants from multiple countries. The competition challenged participants to enhance the Smorphi reconfigurable robot, designed by SUTD, to efficiently complete a simulated food delivery task through a complex maze.

Pioneering AI-Driven Food Automation

APU’s winning entry—a transformer robot designed for food automation—stood out for its agility, adaptability, and problem-solving capabilities, setting a new benchmark in intelligent automation. The robot demonstrated the ability to seamlessly switch between tasks such as food handling, sorting, and packaging, catering to the evolving demands of the food industry.

The team’s inspiration stemmed from the rising demand for automation in food processing and delivery, particularly in response to growing industry challenges. By integrating AI-driven automation, the students aimed to enhance efficiency, minimise human intervention, and revolutionise food industry operations.

Guidance from Experts and Hands-on Learning

Mentored by Dr Adeline Sneha John Chrisastum, a Senior Lecturer at APU’s School of Computing, the winning team consisted of:

• Ng Soon Teck (Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
• Ahmed Abdelkoudous Anteur (Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Honours)
• Ahamad Muhamad Musthafa (Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science (Cyber Security))
• Mohammed Fadhi Puzhangarayillath Safeer (Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) (Artificial Intelligence))
• Irfan Muhammed (Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science with a specialism in Data Analytics)

Through hands-on guidance in AI integration, design thinking, and prototyping, the students refined their transformer robot’s functionality and adaptability. Regular feedback sessions played a crucial role in overcoming design challenges, ensuring their robot excelled in real-world problem-solving.

APU’s Growing Influence in Robotics and AI

Dr Adeline emphasised that this victory solidifies APU’s position as a leader in cutting-edge research and industry-driven education, paving the way for new collaborations, research grants, and technological advancements.

“This achievement is more than a trophy; it showcases APU’s hands-on, interdisciplinary approach, equipping students to tackle real-world challenges and shape the future of robotics and automation,” she said.

The success story serves as an inspiration for APU students to push the boundaries of robotics and AI, reinforcing the university’s commitment to innovation.

Following the success of this year’s event, the next edition of RoboRoarZ 2025 will be hosted in Malaysia, at APU’s state-of-the-art campus in May 2025. This prestigious opportunity further cements APU’s reputation as a hub for technology-driven education and research.