Robots thrill MRSM students at Swinburne Sarawak

KUCHING – Students from the Robotics Club of Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Kuching were thrilled by robotic projects when they visited Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus today, (29 April, 2011-Friday).

The 24 Forms 1, 2 and 4 students were treated to a view diverse range of engineering projects that were designed and built by the university’s final year students. These included a self-balancing suspension for vehicles, prototype of a hover craft and submersible vehicle as well as robotic arms.   

The secondary school students were on campus to learn more about robotics and mechatronics engineering in anticipation of their participation in the Robofair competition which will be held in Perak in July.

Robofair is an annual exhibition that is aimed at creating awareness and interest in robotics.

“It has been interesting and I’m very impressed with the window cleaning robot,” said Mohd Arafi Bin Abdul Taib, 16, referring to a brick-sized robot that was designed to climb and clean windows on high-rises.

“We’ve always looked at the function of robots but today we learned how they are designed,” he said.

Having developed an interest in robots since he was 10 years old, Arafi said he is keen on pursuing studies in electronics and mechatronics.

Jamilah Mohammed Jamil, advisor of the MRSM’s five-year-old Robotics Club, found the program for their visit “very comprehensive” and was impressed with the laboratory facilities. 

“The labs are really good and it was also good exposure for the students. It gives them an idea of what to expect at university level,” said Jamilah.

Professor Nazim Mir-Nasiri of Swinburne Sarawak’s Robotics and Mechatronics program presented a short talk on the program and showed video footages of some final year student projects, much to the excitement of the audience.

-ENDS-