Design Skill Competition 2021 - Malaysia

Asia Pacific University IMechE Student Chapters was honoured to collaborate this year’s Design Skill Competition 2021, with IMechE Young Members Section Malaysia and Monash University Malaysia IMechE Student Chapter. The Design Skill Competition 2021 was virtually organised on 27 November 2021.

The main aim of the competition was to cultivate their ability to work in teams, use their creativity and analytical skills to invent, design and turn ideas into products build based on various criteria provided, among young engineers. And the core objective of this Design Skill Competition is to provide the young engineers from different Universities across the nation to experience, learn and cultivate their skills in 3D modelling and designing, by using SolidWorks as their design software

This 3D designing knowledge especially with the aid of SolidWorks software is a crucial tool looked forward to and appreciated in most engineering-based companies and institutions especially in today’s virtual world. With that in mind, this Design Skill Competition, which was held fully online via MS Teams, welcomed all degree seeking IMechE Student Affiliates to use this challenge as a stepping-stone to bolster their future career as an engineer on a professional aspect while enabling them to exchange tips and tricks on how to design faster and maintaining industrial standards and accuracy. Nine teams consisting of two members from six different Universities competed this year.

At the end of the elaboration on the rules and regulations as well as the procedures of the competition to the participants, the teams were provided with the topic of the design as the competition commenced. All teams were required to begin with the hand sketching of design based on the topic given, that is to design a robot that can assist in farming lands and fields of wheat. The robot's design had to be capable of completing the project's requirements. Once sketches were completed, the teams were given a duration to submit their final design and model respectively.

The teams final design submissions displayed exceptional creativity and professionalism abided by the criteria provided. On behalf of APU IMechE SC, IMechE YMS Malaysia and MUM IMechE SC team, we would like to sincerely thank our judges, Ir. Dr. Chua Yaw Long, Ts. Noor Shieela Binti Kalib, Mr.Yip Yau Kean and Mr.Teh An Liang, who volunteered to support in judging this event.

Team ‘Infinity’ representing Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation took the first place. Their design was chosen as the winner as it demonstrated a high level of inventiveness and precision. This helped them to maintain an edge over the rest of their competitors.

Team 'Fantastic 2' from the University of Malaya emerged first runners-up.

Team 'Stardust Mafia' from Monash University Malaysia took third place.

At the end of the competition these three teams, the champions, first-runner-up and second runner up were awarded cash prizes as well as e-certificates. Consolation prizes were also awarded to the winners of the 4^th to 6^th place. Furthermore, as an appreciation for participating in this excellent event, all teams were awarded e-certificates. This would not be possible without the Academic Liaison Officer of APU IMechE Student Chapter, Dr. Arun Seeralan Balakrishnan, Academic Liaison Officer of MUM IMechE Student Chapter, Ir. Dr. Tan Ming Kwang and last but not least IMechE YMS Malaysia Branch.

Finally, yet importantly, a special ‘Thank you’ to Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Ir. Dr. Chua Yaw Long, Assoc. Prof Kenny Tan, APU School of Engineering, and Monash School of Engineering for their immense support in facilitating the event and to APU and Monash management as well.