Having personally witnessed the unfortunate event of a visually impaired person falling due to the limitations of the white cane that couldn’t detect a hole in front of him, Wina Wong Poh Yoke, a Bachelor of Computer Science student at INTI International University, felt a deep sense of responsibility. This incident inspired her to find a solution. It led to the creation of Robotic Guide for the Blind (ROBOGUIDE), a blind guiding robot designed for safety and to assist individuals with visual impairments.
ROBOGUIDE was designed to assist people with visual impairments navigate their surroundings.
Wina went to the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) to better understand the difficulties people with visual impairments face. Afterwards, she created safety features for ROBOGUIDE, a specialised robot developed to assist individuals with visual impairments. These features include the robot’s ability to detect obstacles and halt automatically to ensure user safety. Furthermore, users can customise the robot’s functions to their particular requirements via mobile app customisation and Bluetooth connectivity.
Wina recounted her experiences during the prototype phase, saying, “At times, I felt overwhelmed with responsibilities. In addition to my academic assignments and final year project (FYP), I participated in multiple competitions simultaneously. This often meant staying up late to complete all my tasks.”
Acknowledging her challenges, especially in an unfamiliar field, she admitted, “Learning Arduino and basic electronics from scratch was a huge learning curve for me with no prior robotics experience.” However, she persevered, leveraging research and mentor advice to overcome obstacles and complete the project.
Wina highlighted the significance of a strong support system from family, friends, and her lecturer, Dr Malathy Batumalay, who described her as “independent and hard-working, always giving her best for the team.”
Wina with her lecturer and supervisor, Dr Malathy Batumalay, at the QS Higher Education Summit event.
Her dedication paid off when she won the Gold Medal for the Information Technology category and eventually emerged as champion at the Innovation Development through Educational Activities (iDEA’2023) competition, organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Additionally, she received the Gold Award at the Graduate Digital Invention, Innovation, and Design (GDIID2023) Competition organised by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
Wina’s sense of responsibility to address challenges faced by the visually impaired led her to emerge as the champion of the iDEA2023 competition.
Reflecting on her achievements, Wina expressed, “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.”
Wina’s aspirations extend beyond recognition. She shared, “My vision for this project is to encourage my peers and fellow innovators to work towards creating a better world that is inclusive for everyone.”
Her success extended beyond academia; she represented INTI alongside the Civil Engineering Department at IDEERS2023 in Taiwan and secured awards such as the Best Structural Design Award and the Design Concept Exhibition Award. Additionally, she was invited to become a speaker at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Desa Cempaka Nilai to shed light on the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and showcase her ROBOGUIDE to the bright young kids.
Wina was honoured to present her project at INTI’s Industry Partners Appreciation Dinner (IPAD) 2023 and the QS Higher Education Summit 2023. Humbled by the experience, she said, “It was a valuable experience, and I got to make many new connections in the industry.”
Wina showcased her project at INTI’s IPAD 2023 at Concorde Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
Wina’s achievements were not only limited to her academic pursuits but also her professional endeavours. She secured a position at DELL even before completing her internship. Hanafiah Zain, the Manager of Network System Management at DELL, spoke highly of Wina’s contributions. He said she was highly engaged and always sought opportunities to participate. She showed remarkable resilience and adaptability in handling various assigned tasks, and her consistent respect for her peers created a positive workplace environment.
Wina presented her ROBOGUIDE at a DELL event.
He remarked, “Measuring her level of involvement and potential for further adaptation, her peers here are eager to welcome her as a permanent member. This ensures a smooth start to the transition, reflecting the desire for her continued positive impact on the team.”
Reflecting on her academic journey at INTI, Wina credited INTI for shaping her career goals. She stated, “In this fast-paced landscape, I believe 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 concluded.