Miri – 4 June 2010 – Among the events organised by Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) to mark the recent Youth Day was an Electronic Exhibition open to its students and the general public.

The 2-day exhibition held in the university’s multipurpose Recreation and Event Centre was organised by the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department of the university’s School of Engineering and Science with support from the University Life Department.

On the first day, it was held exclusively for Curtin Sarawak students, whilst on the second day, it was opened to the public, including students from secondary schools throughout Miri.

According to organising chairman and fourth-year ECE student Sia Yee Yu, the event was aimed at promoting the achievements of the ECE Department and the benefits of studying electrical and computer engineering at Curtin Sarawak; introducing secondary school students to current technology; displaying products ECE students have entered in various competitions in the previous semester; getting ECE students involved in the practical segment of the exhibition; and helping the students relate theories learnt in textbooks to real-world applications.

Following an opening ceremony on the first day, the exhibition showcased a ‘maze clearing’ robot competition, preview and demonstration of Curtin Sarawak’s entry in the international-level ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2010 (RoboCon), a demonstration of final-year ECE students’ projects, as well as lecturers’ research projects, among other interesting activities, over the two days.

 “There was certainly a lot to see and do during the exhibition. As admission was free, members of the public come out in full force on the second day. The students and young children, especially, were thrilled with our robots and other interesting electronic gadgets,” said ECE lecturer Terence Tan.

Exhibits included an ‘intelligent house’, a model of a modern house with an intelligent system; and a smart car that can navigate a given course on its own. Visitors were encouraged to use their mobile phones to remotely control a miniature robotic arm, and there was also some light-emitting art pieces highlighting the artistic and fun side of electronic design.

The highlight was perhaps the robots a team of ECE students from Curtin Sarawak will be entering in the ABU RoboCon, a hotly-contested international event to be held in Kuala Lumpur from 22 to 27 June 2010 that pits teams of undergraduate engineering students from institutions of higher learning and their robots against each other.

The idea for an electronic exhibition apparently came about when organising chairman and fourth year ECE student Sia Yee Yu noticed the outstanding talent and engineering expertise of his fellow students in the ECE Department. He decided an electronics exhibition would be an ideal platform for both ECE students and academics to showcase their discipline and projects. Furthermore, students and the public would get to see examples of the many interesting projects ECE students have worked on, as well as engage with the bright young minds in the ECE Department.

For more information on Curtin Sarawak’s Electronic and Communication Engineering (ECE) Department and School of Engineering and Science, call 085-443939 or visit the university’s website at www.curtin.edu.my.

Student exhibitors pose for a group photo.  

Observing a ‘maze clearing’ robot.

Closeup of a ‘maze clearing’ robot.

Student demonstrating his robot’s capabilities.