Two teams from the School of Engineering (SoE), Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), proudly secured Silver Awards at the Johor International Innovation, Invention Competition and Symposium 2025 (JIIICaS 2025). 

This prestigious recognition highlights APU’s continued excellence in cultivating engineering talent capable of translating visionary ideas into real-world impact. 

Organised by the Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics (FSKM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor Branch, Pasir Gudang Campus, JIIICaS 2025 brought together 339 innovators from Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. 

The event, strategically supported by the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), and Astro, carried the theme “Bridging Ideas and Reality through Emerging Technologies in Innovation”. 

The competition, which ran online from 7 April to 2 September 2025, culminated in a live broadcast of the closing ceremony and winners’ announcement from UiTM Johor. 

Mentorship and Leadership at the Core

Both award-winning projects were mentored by Ir Ts Dr Reena Sri Selvarajan, Senior Lecturer at SoE, APU, with strong support from Associate Professor Ir Dr Sivakumar Sivanesan, Head of School. 

Their guidance underscores the School’s commitment to pairing technical knowledge with industry relevance, equipping students with the expertise, creativity, and confidence to deliver impactful solutions.

SenseStride: Empowering the Visually Impaired

The first Silver Award was clinched by a team of Diploma in Mechatronic Engineering students – Yong Yan Rui, Lee Foo Sam, Ngwe Sandar, and Sarah Wong Pei Li – with their project “AI-Guided Wearable for Smart Navigation in the Visually Impaired”.

Their innovation, aptly named SenseStride, represents a breakthrough in assistive technology. Unlike traditional tools such as white canes, this next-generation wearable device integrates LiDAR-based obstacle detection, AI-driven environmental analysis, and adaptive haptic feedback. Together, these features deliver intelligent, real-time navigation support, empowering the visually impaired with enhanced independence, safety, and dignity.

While the project is still at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1–2, it marks a promising beginning for these young innovators in advancing inclusive technologies.

Offshore Sentinel: Redefining Industrial Safety

The second Silver Award went to a cross-level team led by Year 4 student Kareshmen Maheswaran (Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering with Honours), alongside Year 3 student Dimoharan Pragash (Bachelor of Computer Engineering with Honours) and Diploma in Mechatronic Engineering students Chandramohan Akshayan and Muhammad Farhan Asykari. 

Their project, “Offshore Sentinel: AI-Powered Wheeled Drone for Unmanned Cable Surveillance on Offshore Platforms”, directly addresses real-world industrial challenges.

This innovation reimagines offshore inspection practices by offering a robust, AI-powered wheeled drone capable of cable surveillance with precision, adaptability, and efficiency. Having undergone industrial-scale validation, the Offshore Sentinel reached TRL 6, positioning it as a game-changing prototype in offshore engineering. 

The team’s work was further distinguished through publication in the JIIICaS 2025 e-Proceedings, reflecting its academic and industrial value.

Advancing the Global Sustainability Agenda

Both projects align strongly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing APU’s commitment to producing solutions that serve both industry and society. 

By pioneering frontier technology, the projects contribute to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), advance SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) through enhanced mobility solutions, and promote SDG 13 (Climate Action) by enabling safer, more sustainable offshore practices.

Beyond Technology: Storytelling and Communication Skills

What sets these achievements apart is not only the technical brilliance of APU students but also their mastery of storytelling and presentation. Winning in a video-based competition format required them to communicate their innovations with clarity, impact, and outreach – competencies that are essential for today’s engineers and innovators.

APU’s Legacy of Cultivating Engineering Talent

The twin Silver Awards at JIIICaS 2025 reaffirm APU’s position as a leading institution in engineering education, where students are nurtured not only in technical expertise but also in critical thinking, creativity, and global outlook. 

Through strong mentorship, an emphasis on sustainability, and exposure to international platforms, APU continues to empower its students to transform challenges into opportunities and ideas into innovation.

Reflecting on the achievement, Associate Professor Ir Dr Sivakumar Sivanesan, Head of School of Engineering, remarked: “At APU, our engineering education is complete and wholesome – we cultivate not only technical competence but also innovation, resilience, and ethical values, ensuring our graduates are fully prepared to contribute to society and industry.”