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Wina Wong Poh Yoke was aghast when she saw a blind person falling right before her eyes due to a hole in the ground.
Inspired to find a solution to the limitations of a cane, the INTI International University computer science graduate invented a robot to safely guide the visually impaired.
The Robotic Guide for the Blind (Roboguide), a robot with the ability to detect obstacles and come to a stop to ensure the user’s safety, was developed after a visit to the Malaysian Association for the Blind to better understand the difficulties people with visual impairments face. Users can customise the robot’s functions to their specific requirements using an app and Bluetooth connectivity.
Wong, who recently showcased Roboguide at Dell where she secured a position before completing her internship, admitted feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities during the prototype phase.
“In addition to my academic assignments and final-year project, I participated in multiple competitions simultaneously. This meant that I had to stay up late often so that I could complete all my tasks,” she said in a press release from the varsity.
As she had no experience in robotics, Wong had to learn how to use an electronic prototyping platform and basic electronics from scratch.
She persevered, leveraging research and mentor advice to overcome obstacles and complete the project.
Her dedication paid off when she won the Gold Medal (Information Technology category) and was crowned champion at the Youth and Sports Ministry’s Innovation Development through Educational Activities (iDEA’2023) competition, and bagged the Universiti Teknologi Mara Gold Award at the Graduate Digital Invention, Innovation, and Design (GDIID2023) competition last year.
“My vision for Roboguide is to encourage my peers and fellow innovators to work towards creating a better world that is inclusive for everyone.
“Seeing the project come together successfully was incredibly satisfying.
“It reinforces that challenges are integral to the learning process, and each obstacle is an opportunity to learn something new,” said Wong who, together with INTI’s civil engineering students, represented the varsity at the “Introducing and Demonstrating Earthquake Engineering Research in Schools (IDEERS) 2023” in Taiwan.
The team returned with the Best Structural Design Award and the Design Concept Exhibition Award.
Wong was also invited to speak about the Fourth Industrial Revolution at SMK Desa Cempaka in Nilai and to showcase Roboguide to the young talents. In addition, she presented her project at INTI’s industry partners appreciation dinner and the QS Higher Education Summit last year.
Describing the experience as invaluable, she said the exposure allowed her to make many new connections in the industry.
“In this fast-paced landscape, future graduates should have a good combination of adaptability, strong communication skills, problem-solving, and a thirst for knowledge.
“The continuous desire to learn new things and collaborate effectively with team members is crucial in navigating the dynamic professional world,” she said, when asked for her tips on success and employability.
