“For the passionate, intuitive, innovative and inventive robotics enthusiast”
The Engineering Innovation Recognition Programme (EIRP) is an academic year-long initiative led by the Robotics Society in collaboration with the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering to recognize and encourage independent student-led mechatronics projects.
Many students pursue innovative work outside their academic curriculum, yet often lack formal acknowledgment or support. EIRP provides a structured platform for these projects to be evaluated, showcased, and recognized through tiered awards endorsed by the Department.
By focusing on technical excellence, creativity, and societal relevance, the programme bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world application, cultivating a culture of innovation within the university community.
Recognize and reward innovation by highlighting student-led projects that demonstrate technical excellence, creativity, and societal impact.
Encourage independent learning through the application of engineering principles beyond coursework.
Foster a culture of innovation within the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Enhance student portfolios with formal certificates and digital recognition.
Strengthen community engagement through Robotics Society workshops and showcases.
The programme focuses on mechatronics-related projects, specifically within the fields of:
Electrical & Electronics: Circuit design, embedded systems, microcontrollers, sensors, IoT applications, automation.
Mechanical: Mechanical structures, mechanisms, robotics, actuation systems.
Integrated Mechatronics: Projects combining hardware and software (e.g. robotics, smart devices, assistive technology).
Not within scope:
Projects outside engineering/mechatronics (e.g. purely civil, chemical).
Academic coursework projects (FYP, compulsory lab assignments).
Projects that reuse previously completed work without modification.
Projects intended for external competitions (e.g. hackathons, inter-university contests) are encouraged, as they extend the programme’s impact.
Final determination of eligibility and scope rests with the organising committee.
To ensure the selection of committed and capable teams, EIRP adopts a two-phase enrolment system:
Interested teams must submit their Project Summary via the official Microsoft Form during the registration period.
This stage evaluates feasibility, passion, and clarity of vision – not final proposals.
The top 15 teams will be shortlisted to advance to Phase 2.
Shortlisted teams prepare and submit a detailed proposal.
Upon approval, teams will officially enrol into the programme and receive:
An RM50 Cytron voucher (upon enrolment)
Component loans, subject to availability
200 g of 3D printing filament (PLA) for prototyping support
Only officially enrolled teams will proceed with project development and eligibility for awards.
Eligibility: Open exclusively to UNM students in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, with Robotics Society members given priority. Maximum 15 teams, each with up to 5 members.
Originality: Projects must be original and not derived from coursework or reused work.
Feasibility & Safety: Projects must be safe and achievable within the academic year and realistic budget.
Resourcefulness: Technical guidance will not be directly provided; teams must research and troubleshoot independently.
Documentation: Teams must submit all required documents and media (see Section 9).
Disqualification: Late submissions, plagiarism, unsafe projects, or insincere participation will result in removal.
Loan Policy: Components borrowed must be returned in good condition. Damaged or missing items must be compensated at full cost.
3D Printing Policy: Teams requiring 3D printing must submit their finalized .stl files to the organising committee. Each team is entitled to 200 g of 3D printing filament (PLA) at no cost. Printing requests exceeding this allowance must be covered by the team at their own expense, charged at RM [price]/g.
Funding Expectations:
The RM50 Cytron voucher serves as initial project support upon enrolment.
Participants should expect to bear most costs independently.
Academic Year 2025/26
Week 9–11: Programme Launch & Promotion, Phase 1 Enrolment (Project Summary Submission)
Week 12–13: Evaluation, Shortlisting & Proposal Submission (Phase 2 Enrolment)
Week 14: Proposal Evaluation & Official Team Enrolment
Week 15–26: Project Development Phase & Mid-phase Progress Review
Week 27: Final Submission & Evaluation
Week 28: Final Presentation, Judgement & Prize Presentation
Registration & Summary Submission – Teams submit project summaries via Microsoft Form.
Shortlisting – Committee evaluates summaries based on feasibility and enthusiasm.
Proposal Submission (Phase 2) – Selected teams submit full proposals for enrolment approval.
Official Enrolment – Teams receive RM50 Cytron voucher and access to component loans and 200 g of 3D printing filament (PLA) for prototyping.
Project Development – Teams independently design and build their projects.
Final Submission – Teams submit documentation and demo videos for final screening.
Showcase & Judgement – Physical exhibition and evaluation by judges.
Recognition & Awards – Announcement of award tiers and publicity.
Gold Tier – Exceptional projects with groundbreaking innovation, achieving a score of 85 or higher.
Silver Tier – Advanced projects showcasing innovation and problem-solving, achieving a score of 70 or higher.
Bronze Tier – Foundation-level projects demonstrating solid technical understanding, achieving a score of 50 or higher.
Best Technical Implementation – Exceptional engineering depth and robustness.
Best Innovative Societal Solution – Strong applicability to real-world or community challenges.
Awarded to all teams completing the programme.
Tier winners will be featured on the Department’s and Robotics Society’s official social media platforms to highlight their achievements.
Gold Tier achievers will receive an introduction to lecturers offering Summer Research Internships, providing pathways to future research assistant roles.
Note: Awards may be adjusted or additional categories introduced at the discretion of the organising committee, depending on the diversity and quality of submitted projects.
Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria, with a total of 100 points available:
Technical Complexity & Implementation (30 pts)
Assesses the depth of engineering design, technical execution, and robustness of implementation.
Innovation & Creativity (25 pts)
Evaluates originality, novelty, and the extent of creative problem-solving demonstrated in the project.
Application & Relevance (25 pts)
Clarity of the project’s purpose, relevance to mechatronics/engineering, and potential for educational, demonstrative, or real-world application.
Execution Quality & Documentation (20 pts)
Measures clarity, completeness, and professionalism of the project’s presentation, documentation, and reporting.
Extra +5 pts are awarded for teams in which all members achieve a minimum of 75% participation in Robotics Society workshops.
Must include:
Project Title & Team Members (with leader and affiliation)
Problem Statement / Motivation
Objectives
Scope & Feasibility
Technical Approach
Preliminary Component List
Timeline & Milestones
Maximum 5 minutes
Show functional prototype in operation
Include team explanation and overview of project outcomes
Must be clear and concise
Include:
Executive Summary
Design & Methodology
Implementation Details
Results & Testing Evidence
Bill of Materials (BoM)
Future Improvements
Appendices (schematics, diagrams, code snippets)