Swinburne FYP Day

It is our privilege to receive an invitation to participate in the esteemed Swinburne FYP presentation day that happened on 28^th May 2024 where dedicated students showcase the culmination of their extensive research and relentless efforts during their final year project.

A total of 110 students presented their projects, either individually or in groups, with approximately 10 projects from the mechanical faculty alone. Notably, this year’s research projects predominantly revolve around materials research, highlighting the importance of this field.

Several projects have forged invaluable collaborations with industrial partners, enabling students to work closely with them. In fact, some students have gone a step further by implementing their research prototypes in actual buildings, thereby obtaining more realistic and impactful outcomes from their studies.

Some of Swinburne alumni have generously shared their experiences and insights on completing their FYP amidst the challenging conditions of the MCO period. They have emphasised the need for students to thoughtfully chart their own course, avoiding blindly pursuing academic goals while realizing the significance of engaging in social activities as well.

Group engineer has been a project suppoter fro these years, to encourage more students to further study to PHD level.

Mr.Chen, Director of SunVision, receiving a token of acknowledgement for allowing students to run their project study related to their company product.

Our partner company, CENTEXS institution, share some details on the short course they can provide to all the graduated students, up skill themselves, free for all the Sarawakian.

The energy training course is from CENTEXS.

Dr. Chai, after completing his PHD study and currently working in OSRAM R&D team.

Dr. Karen completed her PHD study in China, the changes of environment allowed her breakthrough her limit and able to find her place in Chinese Corporate Company.

Dr. Alfred managed to complete his PHD study during the MCO period and is currently working in Sarawak Energy R&D department.

Main Event Detail

After the opening session, the project group were separated in separate groups based on their course. As a representative from IME, I’ve decided to go to the mechanical presentation section as the project is closed to our industry.

Among the projects we have observed, one particularly stands out as the most compelling. The students have utilised Raspberry Pi computers to collect data for their research, analyzing the growth of fungi and molds in specific areas of a building. They have not only presented their findings but also proposed solutions based on their study.

Furthermore, some projects have involved the use of CFD solutions, such as SOLIDWORKS flow simulation to optimise airflow in buildings and diminish the growth fo fungi and molds. Scaling up these studies can be achieved by incorporating the appropriate parameters in a virtual environment.

In addition, a few students have conducted research on composite materials, specifically studying the strength of components after introducing bamboo and pineapple extract. This innovative approach explores alternative options for non-biodegradable plastic components, with the aim of determining the yield strength of these items. By accurately determining the properties of composite materials, it becomes possible to input these details as custom materials in software.

This enables running fatigue and static simulations for larger-scale projects before proceeding to costly prototyping, effectively reducing expenses.

Composite materials study conduted from the students, able to sustain more load compared to the conventional concrete materials.

Explanation from student, why the NCC material is better than the PCL plastic.

Students conducted studies to optimize the resources in industrial areas, to reduce the wastage for the production process.

Let us conclude

It is truly an inspiring day, witnessing the innovative approaches employed by these students in conducting their research, whether in physical labs or on premises. Their adept use of technology throughout the project duration showcases their commintment to expanding their research capabilities. These project samples have the potential to serve as valuable resources for industrial testing, offering industrial partners alternative solutions for replacement parts. This not only enhances the credibilty of the students’ research projects but also fosters unconventional problem-solving approaches for industrial challenges.

Collaboration with industrial partners presents an opportunity for universities to engage in more industrial research projects, providing students with hands-on experience in tackling real-world issues. We encourage all industrial partners in Malaysia to seize the chance to participate in this final year project event. By doing so, you not only support the students but also have the chance to identify and nurture budding engineering talents who may contribute to your organisation in the future.

– Henry Chai, Senior Application Engineer.