3 Mechanical Engineering Students Win First Place in Young Innovator Challenge 2024

This morning (December 28), Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) hosted the Final Round of the 2024 Young Innovator Challenge. Organized by HUST in collaboration with various organizations, businesses, and technical universities, the competition fosters learning and research through creative activities.

The DNA Mechatronics team, comprising Mai Ba Nghia, Tang Hoang Duc, and Le Duc Anh from Cohort 66 of the School of Mechanical Engineering, HUST, won first prize with their project: Haptic feedback arm in virtual space.
 

“Made in Vietnam” dream product for rehabilitation technology

The idea for the haptic feedback arm stemmed from the team’s specialized lab research and team leader Mai Ba Nghia’s personal experience with arm rehabilitation. The team faced a challenging journey, starting from scratch with limited resources and completing the project in just three months.

The device combines advanced technology with medical science to support upper limb rehabilitation through virtual reality. It addresses drawbacks in Vietnam’s rehabilitation services by offering interactive exercises for patients recovering from mobility impairments. The integrated sensors gather critical data, including grip strength, finger vibrations, and motion range, enabling doctors to monitor recovery progress and adjust treatments effectively.

“We hope this product paves the way for medical technology in Vietnam in creating a comprehensive rehabilitation ecosystem "by Vietnamese, for Vietnamese" - team leader Nghia shared.

Young Innovator Challenge: Launchpad for technological breakthroughs

Assoc. Prof. Huynh Dang Chinh, Vice President of HUST and Head of the Organizing Committee, highlighted the strong support from experts and faculty from various universities. Under the theme “Innovation for Life”, the Young Innovator Challenge 2024 achieved record participation, with over 400 students trained, 80 practical research projects, 11 funded initiatives, and 5 outstanding projects advancing to the finals.
 

The annual Young Innovator Challenge fosters creativity, interdisciplinary thinking, and the development of practical ideas, products, and innovative management solutions with startup potential. Since 2019, the competition has expanded nationwide, attracting entries from technical and business university students eager to turn concepts into entrepreneurial ventures.
 

Now in its 7th season, the competition introduced a Debate Round for the top three teams, challenging participants to showcase critical thinking, persuasive skills, and adaptability under sharp questioning from rivals.
 

Teams presenting their projects at the 2024 Young Innovator Challenge Finals.

With total prizes exceeding 250 million VND, teams will also receive support to refine their products for BK Start-up Day (March-June 2025).
 

* First Prize: DNA Mechatronics Team, HUST - for the Haptic feedback arm in virtual space. * Second Prize: BK MIC Team, HUST - for the Automatic eggplant stem cutter. * Third Prize: Sleep Team, HUST - for the Layered embedded system for respiratory disease diagnosis on FPGA. * Consolation Prize: Green Choice Team, Nguyen Tat Thanh University - for Durian waste recycling product; CAKESTEM Team, HUST - for AI robot Crab-Vie and programming course.