Thirty-one Year 3 students from the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) presented eight functional prototypes at the annual Group, Design and Make (GDM) Prototype Exhibition, held on 5 May 2026. The projects were evaluated by 24 academic staff and eight industry visitors, including members of UNM's Industry Advisory Board (IAB) from organisations such as Shell Malaysia and Daikin Malaysia.
Unlike a typical coursework module, GDM challenges our Mechanical Engineering students to engage in an end-to-end engineering design process. This includes identifying a user need, developing a statement of requirements, fabricating a working prototype, and presenting a commercially viable solution. Several of this year's projects were undertaken in direct collaboration with industry partners, grounding the work in genuine real-world challenges. Three projects stood out for their functionality, practicality, and quality of execution.
The Impact Test Rig for Shoe Insoles, developed in collaboration with the Malaysian Rubber Board, addressed a gap in affordable performance testing for footwear manufacturers. The team designed a compact, low-cost rig capable of simulating repeated impact conditions similar to running, complete with a graphical user interface for performance evaluation.
The Solar Powered Water Purification Unit for Remote Areas, developed with Aire Master Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd, tackled clean water access in underserved rural communities. The team delivered a portable, standalone unit integrating solar energy generation with water purification for off-grid and disaster-affected areas. For student Jyreh Ashwyn Jiwa, whose team drew inspiration from a metal dustbin after their original design was rejected, the project was deeply personal: "The ability to engineer something that makes a difference... and being hands on with actual machinery and metalworks made me feel like it was my own brainchild."
The Automated Modular System for Adaptable Tray Handling addressed a range of industrial issues faced by small and medium-sized enterprises, specifically cost, scalability, and productivity. Through an affordable automation system, a bakery tray handling system integrates with existing machines to enable continuous operation.
Other projects spanned an equally ambitious range of real-world applications: a Rainwater-Powered Clean Energy System for residential use, a Modular Climbing Robot for warehouse automation developed with YDT Automation Sdn Bhd, an Autonomous Aero-sub Rescue Drone for flood response, a Rooftop Solar Panel Cleaning System, and a Remote-Controlled Compact Land Vehicle designed for hazardous environments.
The GDM Prototype Exhibition reflects UNM's ongoing commitment to producing graduates who are not only technically competent, but ready to apply their skills to challenges that matter. Such showcases also underscore the importance of bridging the gap between university learning and the demands of industry and society.
Posted on 21st May 2026