PUTRAJAYA, A group of Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) students were crowned champions of the Malaysian Combat Robot Doubles competition held in conjunction with the 2023 National Malaysia Techlympics Finals here today.
Team leader Muhammad Fikri Haffizadin Abdul Hamid, 21, told Bernama that they did not expect to bag the first prize of RM20,000 as it was the first time they took part in the competition.
“We are very happy with our victory. And also because we can go back and sleep after having spent several sleepless nights worrying about the performance of other competing robots,” he said, adding that the team took a week to make the first robot, but only a day to complete the second.
”We are proud of our efforts and very thankful to the university and our families not only for their moral support but also financial assistance in buying the parts needed to make the robots. But this is a pleasure experience for all of us, most who are first timers,” the first-year TAR UMT Mechatronic Engineering diploma student said.
The team’s robots beat second-placed National Youth Higher Skills Institute’s Team Herobotic, who take home RM15,000, medals and certificates, and third-placed Balik Pulau’s Higher Skills College’s Team Wolfbot who take home RM10,000, medals and certificates.
National Science Centre director Mohammad Fuad Rahman told Bernama that the combat robot competition was one of three signature competitions organised by the centre, adding that the hands-on building of the robots by participants through open hardware platforms required the application of their wireless technology knowledge and also robot design with innovative and creative features.
”A special arena with safety features was prepared for the actual batte between robots. Each team had two combat robots,” he added.
The Malaysia Techlympics is an initiative by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) to empower science, technology and innovation through fun approaches, aimed at instilling high impact skills and innovation through competition among youth.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency