KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 – Innovative AI solutions developed by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) students and researchers took centre stage at the AI Showcase @ FAI Competition 2026, reflecting the University’s commitment to nurturing future-ready talents and producing impactful technologies for society. From autonomous agricultural robots and smart energy management systems to intelligent livestock monitoring and healthcare applications, the competition highlighted how UTM innovations are addressing global challenges through Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The event, organised by the UTM Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), provided a platform for undergraduate, postgraduate, and staff members to transform research ideas into practical AI products with real-world applications. The Ubiquitous Broadband Access Network (U-BAN) Research Group emerged as one of the notable contributors, earning recognition across multiple categories while demonstrating excellence in multidisciplinary research, mentorship and innovation.

Beyond the attractive prizes, winners will also be considered for additional funding opportunities to further develop their projects into impactful innovations and potential commercial products. One of the highlights of the competition was the outstanding participation from members of the U-BAN Research Group, led by Ir. Dr. Hazilah Mad Kaidi.

The research group demonstrated its multidisciplinary strength through active involvement as mentors, project leaders, and researchers across staff, postgraduate and undergraduate categories. Several projects mentored by U-BAN members received recognition, reflecting the group’s commitment to nurturing future AI talents and developing solutions with real societal impact.

The First Prize, with a cash award of RM500, in the Undergraduate category, was awarded to AGROMADANI, under the mentorship of Ir. Ts. Dr Norulhusna Ahmad, with the project team led by Dakshina Narrayana Selvavinayagam. AGROMADANI is an AI-powered autonomous ground rover designed to support precision agriculture through early crop health monitoring and disease detection.

Unlike conventional methods that rely heavily on manual inspections or drone imaging, the rover operates at ground level, allowing it to inspect lower plant leaves and stems where disease symptoms often emerge first. Using computer vision and AI algorithms, the system identifies abnormalities such as discolouration, wilting and disease symptoms in real time.

The autonomous rover can stop at unhealthy plants, record their locations, capture images, and generate alerts for farmers, enabling timely intervention and reducing crop losses. The project represents an affordable and practical smart farming solution that supports sustainable agriculture and food security in Malaysia.

The Second Prize, which carried a cash prize of RM400, was awarded to AutoBMS, mentored by Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Rudzidatul Akmam Dziyauddin, with the project team led by Muhammad Safrul Rosli. The project focuses on developing an AI-driven smart energy management system that synchronises room bookings with HVAC scheduling to improve operational efficiency and reduce energy wastage.

Traditional building management systems often operate using fixed schedules, leading to excessive energy consumption and higher operational costs. The proposed solution utilises multiple AI agents powered by Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and LangGraph frameworks to optimise facility operations while maintaining occupant comfort.

The system comprises an administrative dashboard and a mobile booking application. If implemented across four Pentium Rooms at UTM, the solution is projected to save approximately RM18,132 annually, reduce 39.94 MWh of electricity consumption and avoid 30.92 tonnes of carbon emissions, while significantly reducing administrative workloads.

Another notable achievement came from the AI-Broiler project, which secured a Consolation Prize, carrying a cash award of RM100, in the Postgraduate category under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr Rudzidatul Akmam Dziyauddin, with the project team led by Nur Syazarin Natasha Abd Aziz. AI-Broiler addresses the challenges of manual poultry weighing, which remains labour-intensive, time-consuming and stressful for livestock. The project introduces a novel deep learning framework, Depth-Guided Feature-wise Linear Modulation Weight Regression (DeFiWR), that enables fully automated, non-invasive body weight prediction from top-view images and depth information.

Operating entirely offline, the system provides continuous flock monitoring without requiring internet connectivity. Farmers can observe growth trends, detect health anomalies, improve Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) calculations, and enhance overall productivity while promoting better animal welfare. The project showcases how AI can transform traditional agricultural practices into smarter, data-driven operations.

Beyond the award-winning projects, U-BAN members showcased a diverse range of innovative AI solutions across staff, postgraduate, and undergraduate categories. Their active participation reflects the group’s strong culture of collaboration, mentorship and multidisciplinary research excellence. Covering areas such as smart agriculture, healthcare, energy management, intelligent transportation, robotics and financial technologies, U-BAN continues to foster impactful innovations that address real-world challenges and contribute to sustainable community development.

The AI Showcase @ FAI Competition 2026 reflects the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence’s commitment to creating an ecosystem that encourages innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry-relevant solutions. By providing opportunities for students and staff to transform ideas into functional prototypes, the competition helps bridge academic research with real-world applications. The strong participation and achievements of U-BAN members also highlight the importance of mentorship in developing future AI researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs who will contribute to Malaysia’s digital transformation agenda.

As AI continues to reshape industries and societies, initiatives such as the AI Showcase @ FAI Competition serve as important platforms for nurturing creativity, technological excellence, and impactful research. The UTM FAI congratulates all participants, winners, mentors, and organisers for making the event a tremendous success and looks forward to even more innovative solutions in future editions.

The remarkable achievements of U-BAN researchers and students at the AI Showcase @ FAI 2026 underscore UTM’s growing influence in the global AI research community. By developing innovative solutions for agriculture, transportation, energy and digital services, UTM researchers are contributing not only to national priorities but also to broader global agendas, including sustainable development and technological advancement. Through strong mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful research, UTM continues to empower the next generation of innovators and strengthen its position as a world-class university, driving positive change for communities locally and internationally.

Author: Ir. Dr. Hazilah Mad Kaidi