Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) Mechatronic and Electrical & Electronic Engineering students — Lai Keng You, Pua Jun Yu, Kannan Uthaya Kumar, and Rohit Thomas — won fifth place and a RM1,000 cash prize at the Shell Malaysia competition with MOTOSAFE, an intelligent motorcycle hazard detection system aimed at reducing road accidents.

Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) proudly announces its achievement as one of the Top 5 finalists in the Shell Malaysia #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge 2025, a national-level innovation competition focused on road safety and youth-driven solutions.

This year’s challenge saw participation from 26 public and private universities across Malaysia, making APU’s placement among the top five a remarkable accomplishment. 
The competition spanned 10 weeks, during which student teams developed innovative solutions to address pressing road safety issues in Malaysia.

The APU team’s project, MOTOSAFE, by Mechatronic Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Engineering students Lai Keng You, Pua Jun Yu, Kannan Uthaya Kumar, and Rohit Thomas, is an intelligent motorcycle hazard detection and collision avoidance system developed to address the alarming rate of motorcycle-related accidents in Malaysia, which account for over 60% of road fatalities.

This impactful project was guided by a dedicated mentor comprising of Head School of Engineering (SoE), Associate Professor Ir Dr Siva Kumar Sivanesan and his team Assistant Professor Ir Ts Dr Alexander Chee Hon Cheong, Ir Ts Dr Denesh Sooriamoorthy, and Ir Ts Dr Yvette Shaan-Li Susiapan.

Over a span of 10 weeks, the team engineered a solution that integrates AI-powered pothole detection, blind spot monitoring, haptic feedback alerts, and helmet-integrated safety features such as HUD alerts and LED visibility.

“MOTOSAFE aims to enhance rider awareness and response time, contributing to safer roads nationwide,” said Keng You, representing his team.

“This was our first time joining the competition, and we are happy to have secured fifth place and received a RM1,000 cash prize from Shell Malaysia.

“More importantly, our innovation was recognised for its potential to save lives and contribute to safer roads nationwide.”

He added that the competition gave them valuable practical experience that complemented their studies.

“For example, it allowed us to apply engineering design and problem-solving skills in a real-world project.

“It also met our expectations by allowing us to test our technical knowledge beyond the classroom.”