TAR UMT Crowned Champions at the ASEAN Youth Robot Challenge 2025
The team consisted of students from various disciplines, including mechatronics, material manufacturing and computer sciences.
Published 07 Nov 2025
Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT)’s vibrant Makers Club recently emerged as champions in the 16kg multibot category at the ASEAN Youth Robot Challenge 2025 (ASEAN Y-RoboC’25).
Held in July, the competition was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in conjunction with Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN 2025, aimed at promoting technological and engineering skills among ASEAN youth. For the students of TAR UMT, it was more than just a competition; it was the culmination of countless hours of hands-on work, problem-solving and teamwork.
“As soon as we were crowned champions, we were absolutely relieved considering how much time and effort we put into building and modifying the robots in time for the competition,” said team leader Aingkaran a/l Selvam, a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Hons) student. “Even though six members were officially registered for the competition, this success belongs to every club member contributing and helping us every step of the way.”
The club, which has been involved in combat robotics competitions since 2023, has developed a strong culture of collaboration and perseverance. Megan Chong Mae Gern, a student from the Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Hons) programme, shared, “For every problem we encountered, we had members brainstorming solutions, giving suggestions and helping in every way possible. We persevered because none of the members thought of giving up, despite the setbacks and challenges.”
Their success was also supported by TAR UMT’s well-equipped facilities, which gave students access to advanced tools for designing and fabricating custom parts. Tham Y-Herng, from the Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Hons) programme, acknowledged the importance of these resources, sharing, “We are also thankful to TAR UMT for having the necessary equipment like the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine which we used to manufacture our own custom parts in order to modify and improve the robot designs, and make modifications to the robots. On top of that, we have to credit our club advisors, Ir Dr Chiew Tsung Heng (Programme Leader, Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FOET)) and Mr Tan Yong Li (Lecturer, FOET) for always supporting our club activities and aspirations.”
Mr Tan Yong Li, a lecturer from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FOET), highlighted how the experience brought together students from various engineering disciplines. “Our club members demonstrated that they can bring together their diverse set of knowledge and skills from their respective fields such as mechatronics, material manufacturing, electronics engineering, programming and computer sciences – which they apply to the process of building effective and functional robots,” he said. “On top of that, access to the facilities means students are already proficient in handling the machines and manufacture the parts they need themselves. This do-it-yourself, innovative and problem-solving mindset is what we are looking to cultivate through our club activities.”
What began as a shared passion for robotics has grown into something far more valuable. The students of TAR UMT’s Makers Club are not just building machines, they’re building future-ready skills, resilience and a strong sense of community. Their success at ASEAN Y-RoboC’25 is just one milestone in what promises to be a long legacy of creativity and technological achievement for TAR UMT.
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Amelia Ho
Always wandering, always wondering.
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