Students from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) clinched double gold at the Malaysia Grand Invention Expo (MaGIEx) 2025 with two impactful engineering projects aimed at improving road safety and empowering the visually impaired. Their achievements reinforce APU’s strength in nurturing real-world innovators who tackle genuine societal needs.

The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has once again demonstrated its capability in nurturing young innovators who design solutions with real-world impact, after its students secured a remarkable double gold victory at the Malaysia Grand Invention Expo (MaGIEx) 2025. 

The virtual innovation showcase, organised by DIGIT360, a Universiti Teknologi MARA startup, concluded on 16 November and brought together some of the nation’s most creative and forward-thinking minds. 

1st Gold Award – Project CMORE: Redefining Independence For The Visually Impaired 

The first gold-winning project, CMORE, emerged from the collaborative effort of Artificial Intelligence and Mechatronic Engineering students, Leong Yu Hang and Quek Kia Hau. 

Guided by their mentor, Ir Ts Dr Reena Sri Selvarajan, Senior Lecturer at APU’s School of Engineering, the duo set out to address a long-standing challenge faced by the visually impaired: navigating safely and independently in unpredictable environments. 

CMORE presents a next-generation assistive mobility device that integrates LiDAR sensing, AI-driven environmental analysis, and predictive haptic feedback to deliver full 360° spatial awareness. 

Designed as either a chest-mounted device or a pair of smart glasses, the system detects dynamic and overhanging obstacles often missed by traditional mobility aids. By incorporating intelligent route planning, voice assistance, and a modular, accessible design, CMORE bridges a critical gap between conventional tools and modern smart-navigation technologies. 

The result is a system that empowers the visually impaired community with enhanced independence, safety, and confidence — demonstrating APU students’ empathy-led approach to engineering innovation. 

2nd Gold Award – Project STEERX: Ai Vision-Based Navigation For Safer Roads 

The second gold medal was awarded to STEERX: AI Vision-Based Navigation for Safer Roads, created by Mechatronic Engineering students Ng Yan Hong, Pang Wei Meng, and Kevin Hoe Jian Vei, who were also mentored by Dr Reena, whose expertise spans nanotechnology, biosensors, microelectronics, and AI for biomedical systems. 

The trio engineered a compact and affordable system designed to reduce lane-change collisions across everyday vehicles in ASEAN. 

Powered by an NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano and a four-camera Sony IMX307 configuration, STEERX offers real-time lane detection, vehicle tracking, and blind-spot monitoring — features typically found only in high-end vehicles. With its easy-to-retrofit design, the system presents practical applications for mass-market cars, buses, rideshare vehicles, and logistics fleets. 

By supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 3, 9, and 12, STEERX shows strong potential for wide societal impact, particularly in enhancing road safety and promoting sustainable transportation. 

Winning two gold medals at MaGIEx 2025 underscores APU’s standing as a hub for purposeful innovation. It reaffirms that transformative ideas are not bound by age or seniority, but by curiosity, courage, and the commitment to solve real challenges faced by communities. APU’s engineering curriculum, research culture, and mentorship ecosystem continue to equip students with the mindset and technical expertise to create meaningful solutions. 

Reflecting on the team’s achievements, Dr Reena shared her admiration for the students’ persistence and vision. “These achievements demonstrate that innovation often begins with a single bold idea. With the right support, guidance, and belief in their own potential, students can develop solutions that create meaningful and lasting change.” 

“I am also deeply grateful to our Head of School, Assoc Prof Ir Dr Sivakumar Sivanesan, for his steadfast encouragement and moral guidance, which have played a crucial role in making these successes possible,” she concluded.